Southwest Airlines carries dogs and cats in the cabin. The service is paid: 125 USD per flight.
Direct flights reach 15 countries, but flying there and taking a pet are different questions: the destination country has its own entry rules.
Southwest Airlines pet policy: flying with a dog or cat
Cabin
Allowed
- Carrier
- 25 × 27 × 46 cm
- Fee
- 125 USD per flight
The carrier's rule+
- Southwest accepts small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs ONLY IN THE CABIN and ONLY ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS: no pets are transported in the cargo compartment at all.
- The pet must be at least 8 weeks old.
- One carrier per ticketed customer, holding up to TWO small cats or dogs of the SAME species.
- The pet, head and tail included, stays inside the carrier at all times — in the gate area, during boarding, in flight and on deplaning; the carrier is stowed under the seat.
- An unaccompanied minor may not travel with a pet.
- Space is limited — book in advance by phone.
- Fee: USD 125 per carrier each way on the U.S. mainland and USD 35 between the Hawaiian Islands; paid at the ticket counter by card and refundable if the reservation is cancelled.
- A pet may be denied boarding for behaviour — scratching, whining, barking, growling, biting, lunging, or urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area.
- The carrier separately warns that animals with heart disease, anxiety disorders or brachycephalic airways tolerate flying less well.
- The 'domestic flights only' restriction was moved into the `domestic_only` field on 04.09.2026; the carrier's wording was re-checked the same day in a live browser.
- Carrier dimensions were entered on 04.09.2026: before that the field was empty alongside the weight limit, and the engine never offered the cabin on any flight.
- The limit for any carrier is 46×27×25 cm (18×10.5×10 in); the carrier's own branded bag is smaller, 38×25×25 cm (15×10×10 in).
Hold
Not allowed
The carrier's rule+
- Southwest has NO hold carriage for pets: the carrier states plainly that no pets are transported in the cargo compartment.
- The only option is the cabin, and only on domestic flights.
Flying Southwest Airlines?
A personal plan combines the airline's rules with the destination's
Before you buy a ticket
The conditions that send people back to the ticket desk: closed destinations, breeds, heat limits and how early the pet must be booked.
Countries with no petsNone
Snub-nosed breedsNot stated in the rules
Banned breedsNot stated in the rules
Heat embargoNot stated in the rules
Species acceptedDogs, cats
Booking noticeNot stated in the rules
Where it flies — and whether pets can come along
Southwest Airlines flies direct to 15 countries according to the schedules. Flying there is not the same as taking a pet: the destination country has its own entry rules, and the carrier itself closes some routes to animals.
| Country | Cities | Cabin | Hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 113 | ✓ | no pets |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 3 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 2 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 2 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇦🇼 Aruba | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇧🇿 Belize | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇨🇺 Cuba | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 1 | no pets | no pets |
| 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | 1 | no pets | no pets |
The destinations with the most cities are shown; countries where pets are not carried are always shown. A country's entry requirements are on its own guide.
Sources
Every number above comes from the carrier's official page. Check it before buying: airlines change the rules without notice.
Airline's page ↗
Rules checked: September 4, 2026
Airline's page ↗
Rules checked: September 4, 2026
Quotes from the rules: 1+
Southwest Airlines Pet Carrier - dimensions: 15" (L) x 10" (W) x 10" (H). Other pet carriers with maximum dimensions of 18” (L) x 10.5” (W) x 10” (H).
Carrier size
FAQ
Can I fly with a dog in the cabin on Southwest Airlines?+
Yes.
How much does the cabin fee cost?+
125 USD per flight.
Are snub-nosed breeds accepted?+
No hold restriction is recorded.
Для редактора (в демо): текст — 0 слов;
цифр, набранных руками мимо данных: 0.
Все числа и даты в тексте — подстановки из справочника; правило поменяется — текст поменяется сам.