Southwest Airlines
Psychiatric Service
Dog Policy

Southwest Airlines Main Takeaways:

Trained psychiatric service dogs fly free on Southwest with completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form.
Emotional support animals are no longer recognized as service animals and must travel as pets with extra fee.
Service dogs must be task-trained to perform specific work for your disability, not just provide comfort.
Only dogs qualify as service animals; no other species accepted as service animals.
DOT form must be presented at ticket counter or gate on day of travel, dated on or after ticket purchase date.
Service animals must remain harnessed, leashed, or tethered at all times in airport and on aircraft.
Service animals in training are not accepted and must travel as pets under Southwest’s pet policy.

Understanding Southwest Airlines’ Service Animal Policy

Southwest Airlines welcomes passengers with disabilities traveling with fully trained service dogs on all flights. Service dogs travel free of charge in the aircraft cabin and receive full protection under federal disability laws. This guide covers current regulations, required documentation, and what to expect when flying with a psychiatric service dog on Southwest.

The Air Carrier Access Act: Federal Law Governing Airline Policies

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), enacted in 1986 and codified at 49 U.S.C. § 41705, prohibits discrimination against air travelers with disabilities. Enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation through 14 CFR Part 382, the ACAA applies to all U.S. airlines and foreign airlines operating flights to or from the United States.

The law requires airlines to allow trained service dogs in the cabin at no charge, provide boarding assistance, and make reasonable accommodations for passengers with disabilities. Southwest complies fully with ACAA requirements and ensures equal treatment for all passengers traveling with service animals.

Important Policy Change: Emotional Support Animals No Longer Recognized on Flights

Southwest Airlines modified its animal travel policies following U.S. Department of Transportation rule changes. This fundamental change affected how airlines handle emotional support animals on all flights.

Before Policy Change: Old ESA Rules

Service animals and emotional support animals both flew free in the cabin
ESA letters from mental health professionals were accepted as sufficient documentation
Various animal species were accommodated at no charge
Minimal documentation requirements for ESAs

After Policy Change: Current ESA Rules

Only trained service dogs are recognized as service animals
Emotional support animals are no longer recognized as service animals
ESAs must travel as regular pets with applicable fees and restrictions
PSDs (task-trained) still qualify for free accommodation
Stricter documentation requirements including DOT Service Animal Form

Psychiatric Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals

The key distinction is task training. Psychiatric service dogs must be individually trained to perform specific tasks or work for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, such as interrupting panic attacks, reminding you to take medication, providing deep pressure therapy during anxiety episodes, guiding you to safety during psychiatric episodes, waking you from nightmares, or creating physical barriers in crowded spaces. If your dog only provides comfort without performing trained tasks, it’s classified as an emotional support animal and must travel as a pet with applicable fees and restrictions.

Advanced Notice

Southwest does not require advance notice for service dogs, but you may add service dog information when booking your reservation to help streamline your check-in process. You can tell Southwest in advance if you’ll be traveling with a trained service dog by managing your reservation online.

You must present the completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form at the ticket counter or gate on the day of travel. The form must be dated on or after the date you purchased your ticket.

Contact Southwest by phone at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). You can also manage reservations online at southwest.com. If your itinerary includes flights operated by partner airlines, contact those airlines separately to confirm their service dog guidelines.

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Southwest Airlines Service Dog Requirements

DOT Service Animal Form Requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form is mandatory for service dogs on Southwest flights. You must present a completed digital or printed form at the ticket counter or gate on your day of travel. The form must be dated on or after the date you purchased your ticket.

A service animal vest, harness, ID card, or registration certificate will not be accepted in place of the form. You are required to check in with a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the ticket or departure gate counter to present the required form.

Southwest employees may ask fact-finding questions to determine whether your dog is a trained service dog or eligible to be accepted as a pet, including asking what work or task your dog has been trained to perform.

Training Requirements for Service Dogs

Southwest accepts only fully trained service dogs that are individually trained to perform tasks or work for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. Dogs are the only trained service animals Southwest accepts. Service animals in training, emotional support animals, and therapy animals may qualify to travel as pets in accordance with Southwest’s pet policy.

Health Certificate Requirements

Acceptance restrictions, policies, and documentation requirements for trained service dogs vary by destination when traveling to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or internationally. You’re responsible for researching and complying with the animal travel and acceptance laws, requirements, and procedures of each location on your itinerary. Your animal may be refused transportation if you do not comply.

If you are traveling on a Getaways by Southwest vacation booking, be sure to check with your hotel/airport transportation and rental car supplier for details about traveling with a trained service dog before travel.

Behavior Standards During Flight

Your trained service dog must be harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered to you at all times at the airport and onboard the aircraft. They must also be trained to behave and under your control.

A dog that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, disrupts cabin service, or engages in disruptive behavior will be refused transportation. Your dog is not permitted to block any exits or exit paths, extend into the aircraft aisle, occupy an aircraft seat, occupy a tray table, or encroach upon a neighboring seat. Service dog relief areas are available at each of the locations Southwest serves.

Seating Rules for Service Dog Handlers

After boarding, you may sit anywhere onboard the aircraft except for in an emergency exit seat. Your dog must be sitting at your feet or in your lap (if it is no larger than a child under the age of two). If your dog is using a carrier, it must be stowed under the seat in front of you for taxi, takeoff, and landing.

Southwest flights with assigned seating (those departing on or after January 27, 2026): Depending on the type of fare you purchase, you may be able to select the seat that will best accommodate you and your trained service dog at the time of booking. If you require a bulkhead (first row) or other specific seat because of your trained service dog, please call Southwest after booking but no later than 24 hours prior to your flight’s original scheduled departure.

No Fees for Service Dogs

Service dogs travel completely free under federal disability laws. Southwest cannot charge for cabin access, documentation processing, or any disability-related accommodations. You only pay for your own passenger ticket.

Emotional Support Animals: Traveling as Pets on Southwest Flights

Southwest no longer accepts emotional support animals as service animals. Your emotional support animal must travel as a regular pet with all applicable fees and restrictions.

Pet Fees

The pet fee is $125 each way per pet carrier for U.S. Mainland flights. For interisland Hawaii flights, the pet fee is $35 per pet carrier. Pet fares are refundable if you cancel your reservation and your pet does not travel, or if your flight is canceled and you choose not to rebook. Contact Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) to process pet fare refunds.

Pet Carrier Size Requirements

Southwest Airlines accepts small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs to travel as pets. Your pet must fit comfortably in an airline-approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. Maximum carrier dimensions are 18.5″ L x 13.5″ W x 8.5″ H. Both soft-sided and hard-sided carriers specifically designed as pet carriers are acceptable. Carriers must be leak-proof and well-ventilated. The official Southwest Airlines branded pet carrier measures 17″ L x 10″ W x 9.5″ H and is available for purchase at Southwest ticket counters for $58 per carrier.

Pet Travel Requirements

All in-cabin pets must be carried in an appropriate carrier. Each pet carrier counts as a carryon or personal item.
Southwest allows only one pet carrier per ticketed passenger. The carrier may contain two cats or two dogs and must be of the same species per carrier.
The cat or dog must be completely inside the pet carrier and be able to stand up and move around the carrier with ease.
Pets must be secured in the pet carrier at all times while in the gate area, during boarding and deplaning, and they must remain in the carrier for the entire duration of the flight.
Six pets are allowed per flight with a limit of one pet carrier per paying customer traveling on the same flight. However, from time to time, circumstances may allow for more or fewer than six pet carriers per scheduled flight.
Pets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.
Pets must be checked in at the airport ticket counter.
Customers can still secure their boarding pass online, at curbside check-in, the airport kiosk, or the ticket counter.
The pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of the customer and be stowed in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

Southwest’s Travel Requirements

Southwest has different requirements based on where a passenger travels with a pet or service dog.

Domestic

For domestic U.S. flights, standard service dog policies apply. Dogs must have a completed DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form presented at the ticket counter or gate on the day of travel.

Hawaii: Acceptance restrictions, policies, and documentation requirements vary when traveling to Hawaii with trained service dogs. Check with Southwest Airlines for specific Hawaii requirements before travel.
Puerto Rico: Acceptance restrictions and documentation requirements may apply. Contact Southwest Airlines for destination-specific requirements.
Interisland Hawaii: For interisland Hawaii flights, the pet fee is $35 per pet carrier. Standard service dog policies apply with destination-specific requirements. Contact Southwest Airlines for Hawaii-specific documentation and acceptance requirements.

International

Acceptance restrictions, policies, and documentation requirements for trained service dogs vary by destination when traveling internationally. You’re responsible for researching and complying with the animal travel and acceptance laws, requirements, and procedures of each location on your itinerary. Your animal may be refused transportation if you do not comply.

Pets are not allowed to travel in-cabin on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight. Only service dogs are permitted on international flights with proper documentation. Contact Southwest Airlines at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) to confirm destination-specific requirements before booking international travel with a service dog.

US Inbound

Dogs entering the U.S. must meet CDC requirements. All dogs (including service animals) regardless of origination country or vaccination status must:

Appear healthy
Be at least 6 months old
Be microchipped (proof required)
Have a completed CDC Import Form receipt

Additional documents are required for dogs entering the U.S. from high-risk countries according to the CDC. Port of entry is determined by vaccination status. You’re responsible for researching and complying with all animal travel and acceptance laws, requirements, and procedures when entering the United States. Visit cdc.gov/importation/dogs for country classifications and complete requirements.