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How to Fly With a Service Dog on Southwest Airlines
Widely known for its excellent customer service, Southwest Airlines is one of the most preferred airlines in the United States. If you’re one of their lucky customers and have a service dog, you’ll find that Southwest Airlines accommodates service dog owners exceptionally well. That said, you may still want to familiarize yourself with the Southwest Airlines service dog policy to ensure a smooth travel process.
About Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airline’s award-winning customer service and employee satisfaction are what the company is known for. Southwest consistently ranks high on FORTUNE’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. The airline also lands routinely on J.D. Power’s top companies for customer service. As an employer, its remarkable dedication to employees ranks the company on the Forbes Best Employer list year after year.
With this kind of reputation for excellence, you know you’ll be traveling with your service dog in comfort on Southwest.
Laws that Protect Your Service Dog While Traveling
As with all US airlines, two federal laws protect you when traveling with your service dog:
1. Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets service dogs apart from pets and protects the rights of people with disabilities. Unlike pets, service dogs undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks for people who have a disability.
2. Air Carrier Access Act
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACA) enables people who have a disability to travel with their service dogs. The airline fees and regulations which apply to pets do not apply to service dogs.
Although these laws exist, airlines may still request prior notification and documentation before flying with a service dog. Prior notice enables the airline to make the reasonable accommodations necessary to fly with a service dog.
How to Fly With Your Service Dog On Southwest Airlines
Pets, emotional support animals, and therapy animals do not qualify under the existing ACA laws. Because of those changes in federal regulations, Southwest only accepts trained service dogs for travel.
Service dogs are individually trained to perform a task for a person with a disability and are welcome to fly the cabin with their handler. Southwest Airlines only recognizes dogs as service animals. Other non-canine service animals must fly as pets.
Step 1: Booking a Flight
When traveling with a service animal, Southwest allows customers to notify the airline in advance through the “Special Assistance” link, which is accessible through the Passenger & Payment page (when booking online) or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) before the travel date.
Step 2: Filling Out the Form
Southwest Airlines requires completing the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form before flying with a service dog. If you purchase your ticket in advance, you must submit your form at least 48 hours in advance to Southwest.
U.S. DOT Service Animal Travel Form
The U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form attests to the health, training, and behavior of the service dog that is traveling. The U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form must be completed accurately and presented at the gate or ticket counter before boarding on the day of travel. The form is available on the Southwest Airlines website and at airports.
Southwest Airlines requires a U.S. DOT Service Animal Form dated on the ticket purchase date or afterward. Be especially careful to thoroughly complete the form, as an incomplete form is grounds for denial of transport. Southwest does not allow you to replace the form by simply using an ID card, registration, or service animal vest.
Step 3: Arriving at the Airport
At the airport, the individual traveling with the trained service dog must present the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Travel Form to the ticket counter or gate agent. Keep in mind that the gate agent will not ask you to disclose your disability but may ask fact-finding questions as to what tasks your service dog performs.
Step 4: Boarding and In-Flight
As with all airlines, space and safety are vitally important. The following regulations apply to service dogs while on-board:
- Individuals with service dogs may not sit in an emergency exit seat.
- The service dog can not obstruct the exit of their handler or others in the event of an emergency.
- If traveling with an animal carrier, the carrier must be safely stowed under the seat in front of the handler while the plane is taking off, landing, or taxiing.
- A service dog may sit on the customer’s lap as long as the animal is no larger than two-year-old.
- The service dog may not obstruct the aisle or occupy a seat.
- The service dog may not consume food off the tray tables.
- Service dogs who are disruptive, aggressive, or pose a safety or health issue may be asked to travel as pets.
Other Considerations When Flying with a Service Dog on Southwest
Some locations may have additional health regulations for dogs, so do check the animal requirements for your destination. In addition, all U.S. airports have animal relief stations available. Feel free to have your animal utilize a relief station before and after flying.
For more information on how to fly with a service dog on Southwest Airlines, take a look at the customer service site or call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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Please stop asking people to “make” their pet a Service Animal by paying for your unnecessary ID. The law only requires the person to be legitimately disabled and have a trained dog.
How do I submit my DOT service dog traveling form to Southwest?
There is no fax number included with the information that I can see.
Thank you
Beth
You will have to present the DOT form when you check-in at the ticket counter or gate agent.
It used to be that you could e mail your paperwork. With the exception of American Airlines( after submission with first flight, you are given an ID # for your dog, and it is good for duration of rabies vaccine period, thereby allowing you to bypass the ticket counter and go straight to TSA), you must now check in at the ticket counter with each flight with your service dog. I’m told this is because the staff want to observe behavior of the animal, visually certifying acceptable behavior. The DOT paperwork is an attestation document that you are disabled and that your dog meets the “minimum” of acceptable public behavior. This is a direct result of people trying to take “pets” that exhibit behaviors that no “real” service dog would show.
How do I travel with 2 service dogs, do I need to buy a extra ticket?
You do not need to buy an extra ticket but both service dogs must be comfortably accommodated in your foot space. If that is not possible, you may want to purchase another seat for more room.
My service dog is a full size Golden Retriever? How will i travel if the dog is full size?
Your dog will be allowed to sit in your foot space. If it is too large for that, the airline may accommodate you by placing you next to an empty seat if that is feasible.
Request more leg room. Certain flights offer this option.
My service dog is a Lab, about 63#. You need a bulkhead seat to accommodate your dog. I always get a bulkhead, window seat, so his tail does not accidentally get run over with one of the drink/food carts or people stepping on the tail or paws. It is best to train at home placing you dog in a corner, so that he/she becomes accustomed to utilizing very small spaces. If you get a regular seat, you will literally have your feet ON TOP of your dog. You may advise crew this is not acceptable, but if you plan in advance this will never be an issue. We fly domestically and internationally quite often and never have a problem if you clarify while booking your seat as to your needs.
I will start by saying I love dogs, I don’t have one because I travel way too much. I fly at least 80 flights annually and have shared many flights with dogs. My problem is that SW states that your dog should be in a pet carrier that will fit under the seat. If it does not, then it should be a certified and trained Service Animal. It seems like most people are just going on line and buy a cheap vest and putting it on any old mutt they can find and trying to pass it off as a Service Animal. I don’t mean to call anyone Stupid, but putting a vest on an untrained dog DOES NOT MAKE HIM A SERVICE ANIMAL !!! When your dog jumps up and grabs a sandwich out of my hand and commences to smear it all over the floor ,I’m sorry but that is not a Service Animal. Service animals do not do that, they are well trained and disciplined. Go by the rules like everyone else and leave your dog at home or put him in a kennel unless it is a true Service Animal. I’ve already lost one sandwich, I can’t afford to lose any more
No one should fake having a service dog, it is both unethical and potentially against the law. A service dog can also be removed from the airport or flight if it is misbehaving. If you are having trouble with a passenger’s service dog, we recommend notifying the gate agents or flight attendants immediately.