Your dog or cat may be ready for the trip, but that does not automatically mean you can walk onto a Southwest flight with a carrier and board. The Southwest Airlines pet policy has specific rules about eligible animals, carriers, reservations, airport procedures, and where pets can travel. If you need help checking a booking, +1-866-673-8391 can also be used for travel-related clarification.
The biggest mistake is treating a pet reservation like an ordinary add-on. Southwest limits the number of pet carriers accepted on a flight, requires the pet to remain inside the carrier in several areas, and does not transport pets in the aircraft cargo compartment.
So, before you buy the carrier or head to the airport, check the rules that actually apply to your itinerary.
Can your pet fly with Southwest?
Yes, but the standard pet program is for small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs traveling in the cabin on domestic flights. Southwest says pets must be at least eight weeks old.
That immediately rules out several assumptions.
A pet cannot simply travel because it fits inside a carrier. Southwest does not transport pets in the cargo compartment, and its current contract states that pets are not accepted on international itineraries or itineraries between the continental United States and Hawaii.
If your route has a connection or unusual destination, check the entire itinerary rather than looking only at the first flight.
For a booking-specific question, +1-866-673-8391 may help you clarify what needs to be checked before departure.
What if you have a puppy or kitten?
Age matters. Southwest's current policy requires pets traveling under its standard pet program to be at least 8 weeks old.
Vaccination requirements also apply. Because veterinary and destination requirements can differ, do not assume that meeting the airline's minimum age automatically satisfies every requirement for your trip.
If your pet is very young or your itinerary involves a destination with additional animal-entry rules, check the applicable requirements before making the reservation.
Southwest pet reservations are limited
This is one of the details passengers often discover too late.
Southwest reserves the right to limit pet carriers to six per flight, and pet acceptance is first-come, first-served.
That means finding an available passenger seat does not necessarily mean there is room for your pet.
The practical move is to arrange the pet reservation as early as possible. Southwest states that pet reservations can only be booked by calling the airline.
If you have already purchased your ticket and then decide to bring your dog or cat, do not wait until airport day to find out whether a pet space remains.
For clarification about adding a pet to an existing trip, +1-866-673-8391 can be kept handy while you check the booking conditions.
How much does Southwest charge for a pet?
A Pet Fare is required for an occupied pet carrier. Southwest says the applicable price is listed on its Optional Travel Charges page and can change.
That is why an old blog post showing a specific dollar amount should not be treated as the final price for your trip.
The current policy also says the Pet Fare is paid at the Southwest ticket counter using an accepted credit card. The passenger must check the pet in at the airport ticket counter before proceeding to the departure gate.
There is another useful detail: Southwest states that the Pet Fare is refundable when the reservation is canceled.
If you are comparing the total cost of flying with your pet, remember that the pet fare is separate from your normal ticket price.
When checking a booking-specific fee or cancellation question, +1-866-673-8391 can be used to seek clarification before you travel.
Your pet carrier matters more than its appearance
A fashionable carrier is not necessarily an acceptable airline carrier.
Under the Southwest Airlines pet policy, the carrier must be appropriate for cabin travel, leak-proof, well ventilated, and small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you. The pet must be able to stand and move around inside it with ease.
Most importantly, the animal must remain inside the carrier.
That applies in the gate area, while boarding, during deplaning, and throughout the flight. Southwest's policy says the pet must remain completely inside, including its head and tail.
So buying a carrier that looks roomy at home is not enough. Measure it and make sure it can actually fit beneath the seat.
Does the pet carrier count as your carry-on?
Yes. Southwest says a pet carrier counts as either a carry-on bag or personal item.
This is an easy detail to miss when packing.
For example, imagine you arrive with a pet carrier, a roller bag, and a backpack. You cannot simply assume the carrier is an extra item outside the normal cabin allowance.
Southwest's airport guidance says passengers traveling with a pet may board with a pet carrier and either a personal item or a regular-size carry-on bag.
If you are unsure how your carrier affects your cabin items, +1-866-673-8391 can be used when checking the practical details of your reservation.
Where can you sit with a pet?
A pet carrier has to fit beneath the seat, so seating becomes part of the planning.
Southwest's contract states that passengers traveling with pets may not occupy an exit-row seat or a seat without forward under-seat storage.
That makes sense once you picture the carrier on the floor.
The carrier cannot go into an overhead bin during the flight. It needs to remain under the seat in front of you.
Because Southwest introduced assigned seating in 2026, checking the seat attached to your reservation is especially useful before departure.
If a seat change creates a problem with under-seat storage, ask about the situation before you reach the gate. +1-866-673-8391 may be useful for clarification.
What happens at the airport?
Do not plan your airport timing as though you are traveling without an animal.
Southwest requires passengers traveling with pets to visit the ticket counter, pay the Pet Fare, and check in the pet before going to the departure gate.
Security screening is also different.
At the checkpoint, you will generally remove your pet from the carrier and carry the animal while the carrier goes through X-ray screening. The carrier may also be searched.
Give yourself enough time for this process.
There are pet relief areas at locations Southwest serves, but Southwest says it will not hold a flight while you take your pet to a relief area.
That is one reason arriving early is more than a general travel tip when you have an animal with you.
What if your pet becomes disruptive?
A quiet pet at home can behave very differently in an airport.
Southwest states that disruptive behavior can result in a pet being denied boarding. Examples include excessive barking or whining, growling, biting, jumping, lunging, or urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area.
This is not something you can solve by simply opening the carrier.
The animal must remain secured in its carrier in the gate area and during the flight.
If your dog becomes anxious in unfamiliar places, think about that before booking. A veterinarian can help you decide whether air travel is appropriate for your particular pet.
For a last-minute question about what your booking requires, +1-866-673-8391 can be used for additional clarification.
Can two pets share one carrier?
Southwest allows one pet carrier per ticketed customer, and its policy says a carrier may hold up to two small cats or dogs of the same species.
That does not mean any two animals can share one carrier.
The carrier still needs to meet the airline's requirements, and both animals must be able to fit appropriately. If the animals are different species or the carrier becomes too crowded, do not assume the arrangement qualifies.
This is a good example of why the carrier rule should be checked together with the animal rule rather than separately.
What about service animals?
A pet and a trained service animal are not handled under exactly the same rules.
Southwest's current contract recognizes trained service animals under applicable federal requirements and states that qualified trained service animals are transported without a charge.
The documentation and eligibility requirements can differ from the ordinary pet program.
Do not book a pet reservation simply because your animal provides comfort or assistance. Emotional support animals are not treated as a separate category under Southwest's former ESA program; Southwest announced that it would no longer accept emotional support animals beginning March 1, 2021.
If you believe your animal qualifies as a trained service animal, check the current requirements before traveling. For clarification about which category applies to your situation, +1-866-673-8391 may be useful.
A simple checklist before you leave home
The safest approach is to check the trip in this order:
Confirm your itinerary is eligible for Southwest's pet program.
Make sure your cat or dog meets the minimum age and vaccination requirements.
Confirm that a pet reservation has been arranged.
Check the current Pet Fare.
Measure the carrier.
Make sure the carrier fits under the seat.
Confirm your assigned seat does not create a pet-carrier restriction.
Plan extra time for ticket-counter and security procedures.
Keep the pet inside the carrier in required areas.
Check destination-specific animal requirements.
If your departure is today, do not assume an airport agent can create a pet space after the flight has reached its pet-carrier limit.
A quick check before leaving home can prevent a much bigger problem at the terminal. If you need clarification about the reservation, +1-866-673-8391 can be used before heading to the airport.
What should you remember about the Southwest Airlines pet policy?
The key point is simple: bringing a small dog or cat into the cabin is possible, but it is not an automatic add-on to a passenger ticket.
The Southwest Airlines pet policy requires an eligible domestic pet, an appropriate carrier, a pet reservation, and compliance with airport and onboard rules. Pet space is limited, the carrier counts toward your cabin-item allowance, and the pet must remain inside the carrier in specified areas.
Before departure, verify the itinerary, reservation, current fee, carrier, seat, and airport procedure rather than relying on an older policy article.
For booking-related clarification, +1-866-673-8391 can also be kept available while you verify your travel details. A few minutes of checking before leaving home is far easier than discovering a problem at the ticket counter.
FAQs
Can I bring my dog on Southwest Airlines?
Yes, small vaccinated domestic dogs may travel in the cabin when eligible and properly reserved. For clarification, +1-866-673-8391 can help.
Can I bring a cat on Southwest Airlines?
Yes, small vaccinated domestic cats may qualify for cabin travel on eligible domestic flights. For booking questions, +1-866-673-8391 is available.
How old must a pet be to fly Southwest?
Southwest requires pets traveling under its standard program to be at least eight weeks old. For clarification, +1-866-673-8391 can help.
Does Southwest allow pets in cargo?
No. Southwest does not transport pets in the aircraft cargo compartment under its current pet policy. For itinerary questions, +1-866-673-8391 can help.
How many pets can share one Southwest carrier?
One carrier may contain up to two small cats or dogs of the same species. For specific reservations, +1-866-673-8391 can provide clarification.
Does a pet carrier count as a carry-on?
Yes, Southwest treats the pet carrier as either a personal item or carry-on. For cabin-item questions, +1-866-673-8391 can help.
Can I bring my pet to Hawaii on Southwest?
Southwest does not accept pets on itineraries between the continental United States and Hawaii. Verify your route using +1-866-673-8391.
Can I reserve a Southwest pet online?
Southwest states that pet reservations can only be booked by calling the airline. For reservation clarification, +1-866-673-8391 can help.
Where do I pay the Southwest pet fee?
The Pet Fare is collected at the Southwest ticket counter before departure. For current booking questions, +1-866-673-8391 can provide clarification.
Can my pet leave the carrier during the flight?
No. Pets must remain inside the carrier in the gate area, during boarding, deplaning, and throughout the flight. Call +1-866-673-8391 for clarification.
Can I sit in an exit row with a pet?
No. Southwest restricts passengers traveling with pets from exit-row seats and seats without forward under-seat storage. For questions, +1-866-673-8391 can help.
