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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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So….there is no requirement with Southwest Airlines to submit the form at least 48 hours prior to flight? I only need to bring the completed form on the day of travel? I have read 48 hours in advance and I really dont want anything to go wrong at the airport, as in being told that I was supposed to submit the form 48 hours in advance. Thank you!
You should submit the DOT form at least 48 hours before your flight. If you book a flight that is within 48 hours of departure, you can submit the form at the gate.
It previously was a requirement to deliver completed form to airlines for their review in he time frame you mentioned. With updates this is no longer required that the 48 hr. rule is in effect. The new form can be presented at the ticket counter. You are now attesting to the fact that your service animal meets the minimum of behavioral requirements for public access as defined by the airlines. If you are interested in having met the maximum requirements as defined in ADI( Assistance Dogs International), check out the behaviors tested and required for their certification. This is the true test of “real “ service dogs, not pets dressed by their fraudulent owners. I applaud the airlines for their diligence in weeding out the poorly behaved “pets” that try to fly under the guise of service dogs.
How do I go about sending my DOT paperwork 48hrs before my flight?
Or do I do like I’ve people saying just to bring the paperwork but I don’t want to have any problems.
Thank you,
Julie
Most airlines will have either an email address or a web portal where you can send or upload the DOT form. You can also submit it to the counter before your flight. It’s recommended to have a copy with you during travel. For more info on the DOT form please see this link: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-use-the-dots-service-animal-air-transportation-form-to-board-flights/
Hi Julie, I fly 2 times a week with my service animal and I bring my dot form with me and date it. In front of them, I have never had a problem. James Knight
It says that you’re allowed to have two service dogs. But it says the dog cannot occupy a seat. Normally with my one dog they will just lay at my feet or under the seat. What would the situation be if i had two dogs with me?
Depending on the size of your dogs, both could sit at your feet, or one in your lap and the other at your feet. If you have two particularly large service dogs, the flight staff may be able to move you to a seat that has an empty seat next to it so you have additional room for your dogs.