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Booking a flight for your pet travel? Travelling with your pet brings along various challenges, from their health check-ups to vaccinations to paperwork, and much more. Every airline has its own set of rules and regulations which are mandatory to follow. If you are planning your pet travel with Southwest Airlines, then have a look at the detailed Southwest Airlines pet travel policy.

Allowed Pets

Southwest Airlines accepts small domestic cats and dogs that can travel only in the cabin with a customer. These pets must be vaccinated. 

Destination Restriction

• Pets are not accepted on flights to and from Hawaii.
• No pets are accepted on international flights or on any itinerary where an international flight is included.

Pet Age Requirements

The pet must be at least 8 weeks old to travel on Southwest Airlines.

Behavioural Requirements

A pet must not be disruptive. Examples of disruptive behaviour that would result in a pet being denied boarding include scratching, growling, biting, lunging, etc., and excessive whining/barking.

Travelling with Minors

Unaccompanied minors are not allowed to travel with pets.

Pet Relief Areas

All Southwest Airlines destinations have a pet relief area. Southwest Airlines will not delay a flight to permit customers to take a pet to a pet relief area. 

Pet Carrier Rules

1. Carrier Size and Specifications:

• Pet carriers must fit under the seat in front of the passenger.
• Dimensions are crucial—the carrier must not be more than 18.5 inches long, 13.5 inches wide, and 9.5 inches high.
• The carrier should be leak-proof and can be either soft or hard-walled. It should have proper ventilation holes for the pet to be able to breathe properly.
• Pets must be able to fit comfortably in their travelling kennel. They should be able to freely stand up, turn around, and lie down in their kennel.

2. Carrier Guidelines:

• Pets must remain in their carriers when travelling, including in the gate area, during boarding, and for the duration of the flight.
• Only one pet carrier is acceptable for a single-ticketed passenger. A maximum of two pets of the same species is allowed per pet carrier.
• A pet carrier can be considered either a personal item or a carry-on item. Passengers can board with a pet carrier and a personal item or a pet carrier and a standard-sized carry-on bag.

Number of Pets Per Flight

As a rule, no more than six pet carriers are permitted on any one flight. The individual number may vary based on the flight. Pets are accepted until all available slots are filled in the order they are received.

Reservation and Fees

• Reservations:

Since there is only a limited number of pets permitted to fly on one flight, passengers must make a reservation for a space for their pet. A pet reservation is mandatory.

• Pet Fare:

1. The pet fare is refundable if the passenger cancels their reservation or if the flight is cancelled, passengers can visit the ticket counter to receive a refund.
2. The pet fee is to be paid at the airport ticket counter on the day of travel. Credit cards are accepted for payment.

Security and Boarding Procedures

• Security Screening:

All pet carriers are subject to security screening. Remove your pet from the carrying case, holding your pet, and pass the empty case through the x-ray machine.

• Boarding Policy:

Southwest Airlines does allow open seating. Customers travelling with a pet cannot sit at an exit seat or a seat without under-seat storage.

By having your pet meet the following requirements, you will help create a safe and easy journey for them while on board at Southwest Airlines. Even after following all the guidelines, there are various small details that you need to adhere to for a seamless pet transportation process. If you want to make your pet's travel hassle-free for your pet and avoid any monetary losses because of non-compliance with the pet relocation rules and regulations, partner with a reliable and expert pet relocation company. AirPets is one such reliable and expert company offering you trustworthy pet-transportation services.

Why Choose AirPets?

You cannot trust anyone to take the responsibility of moving your pet family to a different location. You can always rely on AirPets when it comes to moving your pets abroad. The following are the reasons why you can rely on AirPets as your pet relocation company for the safe travel of your pets.

• Years of Experience

“Experience is the teacher of all things” - Julius Caesar.

Surely, there is no better guarantee of credibility than experience. Pets relocation is among the services that AirPets has done for many decades. Therefore, we are seen as the most reliable partner for people moving to distant locations with their furry families. By removing all ambiguity from the process of relocating your pets, we make sure the whole transaction goes well.

• Customized Services

Every pet is unique! AirPets, being aware of the individual needs of each pet, offers tailored services. Our primary concern revolves around choosing the right travel kennel and travelling schedule which will ensure a comfortable journey for your pets.

• Process Driven

AirPets is aware of every step involved in the relocation of your pet. The process adheres to all the rules and regulations that are required to be fulfilled for relocating pets to different locations. We assure you that we shall observe all required procedures to meet your expectations. With our process-orientated approach, your pet is assured of its safety and welfare during the relocation procedures.

With AirPets Adherence to Southwest Airlines' pet policy is a Breeze!

AirPets makes sure that your pet is safe and comfortable throughout its journey. We are well versed with the rules and regulations of Southwest Airlines for carrying your pets on their flights. So, if you are planning to relocate your furry friend, consider hiring professional services like AirPets who can ensure the safety and comfort of your pet throughout the process. To get in touch with us, call us at +91-9257-123-123 or write to [email protected] for a professional consultation.