Southwest Airlines allows small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs to travel with you in-cabin under the seat in front of you. All pets must be carried in an appropriate carrier, as indicated below.
Pets are not allowed to travel in-cabin on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight.
Pets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Six (6) 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 (6) pet carriers per scheduled flight.
Pets must be checked in at the airport ticket counter, however Customers can still secure their boarding pass online, at curbside check-in, the airport kiosk, or the ticket counter.
A pet that engages in disruptive behavior may be denied boarding. Examples of disruptive behavior include (but are not limited to):
For Customers traveling to Puerto Rico, specific requirements may apply.
Flying to Hawaii? Visit our Help Center to learn about rules and regulations pertaining to Hawaii travel.
Customers may take cremated pet remains onboard as carryon items. Cremated remains must be inspected by the TSA at the security checkpoint and cannot be accepted as checked baggage by Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines recommends the transport of remains in a temporary plastic or cardboard container that is typically provided by the crematorium to ensure the item can be cleared by X-ray screening (many urns and opaque containers do not pass the screening process and will not be opened for physical inspection). If a remains container cannot be screened, it is not permitted past the security checkpoint in carryon baggage and must not be placed in checked baggage.
Get your official Southwest Airlines branded pet carrier for $58 (tax included) at any Southwest Airport Ticket Counter or online (tax not included) at Southwest: The Store (not an affiliate of Southwest Airlines Co.). Pet carriers are non-refundable.
Acceptable Pet Carriers:
Pet Carrier Requirements:
Note: Pet carriers are considered either a personal item or a carryon item. A Customer may board the aircraft with either a pet carrier and a personal item or a pet carrier and a regular size carryon bag. A Customer may not board the aircraft with a pet carrier, a regular size carryon bag, and a personal item. The pet carrier must conform to all carryon baggage regulations.
When passing through security, Customers will be asked to hold the pet and walk through the screening device while the carrier is x-rayed.
All pet carriers are subject to being searched by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), other airport security authorities, as well as searches by airline personnel.