As a result of the final rule which was issued by the Department of Transportation of the United States — which amends the Air Carrier Access Act regulation pertaining to the transportation of service animals via airplane — emotional support animals will no longer be accepted for new travel by Southwest Airlines to become effective as of Monday, March 1, 2021.
Southwest Airlines to No Longer Accept Emotional Support Animals Aboard Its Airplanes
Only official service dogs will be permitted for transportation aboard airplanes on flights operated by Southwest Airlines as of Monday, March 1, 2021, as bona fide service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability.
Furthermore, Southwest Airlines will accept a maximum of two service dogs per passenger in the cabin, which includes psychiatric service dogs. Customers will be required to complete an official form from the Department of Transportation — which will be available at the official Internet web site of Southwest Airlines beginning Monday, March 1, 2021 — attesting that his or her animal is a legitimate service dog; is trained and vaccinated; and will behave appropriately for the duration of the journey.
For reservations which are booked:
- Greater than 48 hours prior to travel, customers must submit the completed form via e-mail message.
- Fewer than 48 hours prior to travel, customers must submit the completed form in person to the Customer Service Agent upon arrival at the airport.
Southwest Airlines will continue to accept emotional support animals under its current policy for reservations booked prior to Sunday, February 28, 2021, for flights on or before Monday, March 1, 2021. No emotional support animals will be accepted for travel after Monday, March 1, 2021.
Summary
Do not be surprised if other airlines soon adopt a similar policy to the one announced by United Airlines — which follows similar policies which were announced by Delta Air Lines on Friday, January 8, 2021; by Alaska Airlines on Tuesday, December 29, 2020; by American Airlines on Tuesday, January 5, 2021; and by United Airlines on Saturday, January 9, 2021 — pertaining to the banning of emotional support animals aboard its airplanes.
Meanwhile, I have written extensively over the years pertaining to service dogs and emotional support animals in the form of articles posted here at The Gate — including:
- United Airlines to No Longer Accept Emotional Support Animals Aboard Its Airplanes
- Delta Air Lines to No Longer Accept Emotional Support Animals Aboard Its Airplanes
- American Airlines to No Longer Authorize Emotional Support Animals Aboard Its Airplanes
- Alaska Airlines to No Longer Accept Emotional Support Animals Aboard Its Airplanes
- No More Free Transportation of Emotional Support Animals Via Airplane: Final Rule Issued by the Department of Transportation of the United States
- Emotional Support Animal Bites Guest at Hotel: Who is Responsible?
- Banning Emotional Support Animals From Airplanes: Your Comments Requested by the Department of Transportation
- Another Example of Why People Register Their Pets as Emotional Support Animals
- Not One, But TWO Huge Emotional Support Dogs In the Same Row in Business Class
- Final Statement on Emotional Support Animals Aboard Airplanes Issued by Department of Transportation of the United States
- Flight Attendant Bitten by Emotional Support Dog
- Man Bitten By Emotional Support Animal Sues Airline For Damages
- Emotional Support Animals Banned on Long-Haul United Flights — And…
- Emotional Support Animals Banned on Long-Haul Delta Flights — And…
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By Southwest Airlines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By JetBlue Airways
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By American Airlines
- Passengers To Be Limited to One Emotional Support Animal on Delta Air Lines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By Alaska Airlines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals By United Airlines
- Enhancements Added to Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals and Service Dogs By Delta Air Lines
- Stricter Requirements for Emotional Support Animals and Service Dogs By Delta Air Lines
- In Defense of Emotional Support Animals? Not Exactly
- Forget Hamsters. How About True Emotional Support From an Airline?
- Can an Emotional Support Animal Be Used as a Threat?
- Why It is NOT Time to Ban Emotional Support Animals From Airplanes
- Confession by Pet Owner: “Emotional Support Dogs” are “B.S.”
- Emotional Support Animals: More Evidence of Faking
- Support Animals Versus Allergies: Here We Go Again
- Woman Forcibly Removed From Airplane Reignites Support Animals Versus Allergy Debate
- Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals: A Pig Continues The Debate
- Service Dog Denied Permission to Board an Airplane? Yeah — When Pigs Fly! Oh, Wait a Minute…
- When Pigs Fly: Somebody Tell The Sun That This is 2017
- Passengers Applaud as Boy Allergic to Dog is Removed From Airplane
- Update: Misinterpretation of Applause From Passengers Over Allergic Boy? What Really Matters is…
- Service Animals: Your Comments Requested by the Department of Transportation
- Delta Air Lines to No Longer Accept Pets as Checked Baggage
- Service Dog Denied Permission to Board an Airplane? Yeah — When Pigs Fly! Oh, Wait a Minute…
- Video: Woman Escorted Off the Airplane By Police Because of Her Unruly Dog
- Can Orphaned Parrots, Crows and Ravens Qualify as Service Animals?
- Service Animals Bill: Could a Legal Decision Arrive in Florida as Soon as Tomorrow?
- Service Animals Bill Unanimously Passes in Florida Today; To Become Law on July 1, 2015
- Court Rejects Ruling of Air Canada Separating Dogs From Allergic Passengers
- Dog Days in Flight, and How to Avoid Paying a Fee for Your Dog
All photographs ©2013, ©2016, and ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
