Southwest has changed quite a bit in 2026, including its broader fare and baggage structure, but its ordinary pet policy remains relatively simple.
Small vaccinated dogs and cats can travel in the aircraft cabin on domestic flights.
Southwest does not transport ordinary pets in the cargo hold.
As of September 2026, the current one-way pet fare for U.S. mainland travel is:
$125 per pet carrier.
Southwest Pet Policy at a Glance
Current rules include:
- Domestic dogs and cats only
- Minimum age 8 weeks
- Cabin travel only
- No ordinary pets in cargo
- One carrier per ticketed passenger
- Up to two small pets of the same species in one carrier
- Current mainland pet fare: $125 each way
- Pet fare is refundable if the reservation is canceled
- Carrier must stay beneath the seat
- Pet must remain fully inside the carrier
How Much Does Southwest Charge?
For U.S. mainland travel booked under the current 2026 fee schedule:
$125 per pet carrier, each way.
So a normal round trip is:
$250.
For interisland Hawaii travel, Southwest currently lists a lower:
$35 each-way pet-carrier charge.
For Florida travelers, the mainland $125 rate is the relevant one.
The Pet Fare Is Refundable
This is a nice distinction.
Southwest says the pet fare is refundable if you cancel your reservation.
That’s more forgiving than several airline pet charges that are explicitly nonrefundable.
Which Pets Can Travel?
Southwest accepts small, vaccinated:
- Domestic dogs
- Domestic cats
in the cabin on domestic flights.
No rabbits.
No birds.
No guinea pigs.
Minimum Age
Pets must be at least:
8 weeks old.
Southwest Carrier Size
If you use Southwest’s branded carrier, its dimensions are:
15 x 10 x 10 inches
For other approved carriers, the current maximum is:
18 x 10.5 x 10 inches.
Southwest recommends soft-sided carriers because under-seat clearance can vary by seat and aircraft position.
Carrier Requirements
The carrier must:
- Be designed for pets
- Be leak-proof
- Be well ventilated
- Fit underneath the seat
The pet must be completely contained inside, including:
- Head
- Tail
and must be able to stand and move comfortably.
Can Two Pets Share a Carrier?
Yes.
Each ticketed Southwest customer may bring one carrier, and the carrier may contain:
Up to two small dogs
or:
Up to two small cats
as long as they’re the same species and can fit comfortably.
This can make Southwest significantly cheaper for someone traveling with two tiny dogs.
One carrier = one pet fare.
The Pet Stays Inside the Carrier
Southwest requires pets to remain fully inside the carrier:
- At the gate
- During boarding
- During deplaning
- Throughout the flight
If a traveler doesn’t follow the rule, Southwest says the animal may be denied transportation.
Where Does the Carrier Go?
Under the seat in front of you for the entire flight.
It does not go:
- On your lap
- On a spare seat
- Overhead
Carrier Counts as a Bag
Southwest treats the pet carrier as either:
- Your personal item
or:
- Your carry-on item
You may therefore travel with:
Pet carrier + personal item
or:
Pet carrier + regular carry-on.
That’s a fairly traveler-friendly rule.
Seat Restrictions
Passengers traveling with pets cannot sit in:
- Exit-row seats
- Seats without forward under-seat storage
Southwest also notes that under-seat room may be more limited in some seat types, including aisle seats.
If carrier fit is close, a different seat position can matter.
How Do You Reserve a Pet?
Southwest recommends reserving pet space in advance because capacity is limited. The current reservation process directs travelers to contact Southwest to make the pet reservation.
The pet fare is then paid at the airport ticket counter.
So leave enough airport time to stop at the counter.
Southwest Sells a Carrier
Southwest currently sells its own pet carrier at the airport ticket counter for:
$58.
Again, that’s useful if something goes wrong.
We would not make airport morning the first time your dog sees its carrier.
No Cargo Pets
Southwest does not transport ordinary pets in the aircraft cargo compartment.
If the dog is too large for an under-seat carrier, Southwest isn’t an ordinary-air-travel solution.
Behavior Rules
Southwest may deny travel to pets showing disruptive behavior.
Examples in the airline’s current policy include:
- Excessive barking or whining
- Scratching
- Growling
- Biting
- Lunging
- Jumping
- Urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area
Even a pet that meets every carrier rule still needs to be manageable.
Is Southwest Good for Two Small Pets?
Potentially, very good.
Two tiny same-species animals can share one carrier if they fit safely.
That means two small cats might travel under a single $125 pet fare instead of each generating a separate airline pet charge.
Compare that carefully with other airlines if you’re traveling with a pair.
Southwest and Florida
Southwest serves numerous Florida destinations and can be particularly useful for domestic leisure travel.
For pet owners, a nonstop flight into the airport closest to the actual destination is worth considering even when another fare is slightly cheaper.
A pet has already spent enough time in the carrier.
A three-hour drive after landing isn’t ideal if a closer airport was available.
Florida Heat After Landing
Don’t leave the pet inside the rental car while you:
- Pick up groceries
- Get lunch
- Check into another property
Florida heat can make a parked car dangerous very quickly.
See our Florida Pet Travel: Heat Safety guide.
Service Dogs
Trained service dogs follow separate federal air-travel rules.
They are not booked as ordinary $125 pets.
Emotional-support animals do not automatically qualify as service dogs.
See:
Before Booking Southwest
Confirm:
- Dog or cat
- At least 8 weeks old
- Carrier fits
- Animal fits comfortably
- Pet reservation available
- Current fee
- Seat compatibility
- Destination rules
- Return-flight space
Southwest Pet Policy Bottom Line
For most Florida travelers:
Small dog or cat + approved under-seat carrier + $125 each way.
Its biggest advantage for some families is the ability to carry two small same-species pets in one carrier.
And unlike several competing airline pet fees, Southwest’s pet fare is refundable if you cancel.
More Airline Pet Policies
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