Pet Fee Southwest: What the $125 Cabin Charge Covers in 2026

As of August 2026, the pet fee Southwest Airlines charges is $125 one-way per pet carrier on U.S. mainland flights and $35 one-way per carrier between the Hawaiian Islands, according to Southwest Airlines’ Optional Travel Charges page. That pet fee Southwest collects is a cabin-only fare for small vaccinated cats and dogs; the airline does not fly pets as cargo. Book by phone, pay by credit card at the ticket counter, and the fare is refundable if you cancel.

This article is published by Animal Passport and last updated in August 2026. Confirm the current amount when you reserve the animal. Destination animal-health rules are separate from the airline charge.

How much is the pet fee Southwest charges?

Southwest Airlines’ Optional Travel Charges page lists a one-way carry-on pet charge of $125 per pet carrier for U.S. mainland travel and $35 per pet carrier for travel between Hawaiian Islands. Footnote 7 on that page states that Southwest accepts small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs, that in-cabin pets must travel in an appropriate carrier, that each pet carrier counts as a carry-on or personal item, and that the pet fare is subject to change at any time (Southwest Airlines, Optional Travel Charges, as of August 2026).

The same page lists a ticket-counter purchase of a Southwest pet carrier for $58. That $58 figure is the price of the branded carrier, not the travel fare (Southwest Airlines, Optional Travel Charges). Because the fare is one-way and per occupied carrier, a round-trip mainland itinerary with one carrier is $250 in pet fares if both directions are flown.

Southwest’s Contract of Carriage states that all occupied pet carriers are subject to the applicable pet fare, that the fare must be collected at the airport ticket counter, and that a passenger must check the pet in and pay before proceeding to the departure gate. The passenger is eligible for a refund of the pet fare if the reservation is canceled (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage). The Help Center pet policy repeats those payment and refund rules and says payment is with accepted credit cards (Southwest Airlines, Pet Policy).

The pet fare does not buy cargo space, a second passenger seat, extra under-seat room, or a waiver of destination import rules. The Contract of Carriage states that Southwest will not transport pets in aircraft cargo compartments, will not accept pets on international itineraries, and will not accept pets on itineraries between the continental United States and Hawaii (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage).

Which pets Southwest accepts

Southwest may accept small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs at least eight weeks old, contained in a pet carrier, and traveling with a passenger. One pet carrier may be allowed per passenger. The carrier may contain up to two animals of the same species. Unaccompanied minors may not travel with a pet. Southwest reserves the right to limit pet carriers to six per flight, accepted first-come, first-served (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage; Southwest Airlines Pet Policy).

Pets must be healthy, harmless, inoffensive, odorless, and require no attention during the flight. Southwest may refuse a pet that appears incompatible with air travel, including aggressive or disruptive behavior such as excessive barking, growling, biting, or soiling the cabin or gate area. If a pet becomes ill in flight, oxygen will not be administered, and Southwest assumes no liability for the health of carry-on pets (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage; Pet Policy).

How to book and pay

Pet reservations can only be booked by calling Southwest, according to the Contract of Carriage. The Help Center recommends reserving in advance because space is limited (Southwest Airlines). Southwest Airlines Co.’s 25 January 2021 press release lists the reservations number as 800-I-FLY-SWA.

1. Buy your own ticket, then call Southwest to add the pet while space remains (six carriers per flight).
2. On travel day, go to the airport ticket counter with the pet in an approved carrier and pay the pet fare with an accepted credit card before you go to the gate (Southwest Airlines Pet Policy; Airport expectations page).
3. Keep the animal, including head and tail, inside the carrier in the gate area, during boarding and deplaning, and for the entire flight (Southwest Airlines).
4. Stow the carrier under the seat in front of you. Do not sit in an exit row or a seat with no forward under-seat stowage (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage).
5. If you cancel the reservation, the pet fare is refundable under Southwest’s published rules (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage).

You board with your assigned boarding group. Southwest will not hold a flight for a pet-relief stop (Southwest Airlines, Airport expectations when traveling with a pet).

Carrier size and the six-carrier cap

Carriers must be specifically designed as pet carriers, leak-proof, and well ventilated. The animal, including head and tail, must be completely inside and able to stand up and move around with ease (Southwest Airlines, What type of pet carrier can I bring?).

As of August 2026, that page lists these maximum dimensions:

• Southwest Airlines pet carrier: 15 inches long by 10 inches wide by 10 inches high.
• Other pet carriers: maximum 18 inches long by 10.5 inches wide by 10 inches high.

Southwest recommends a soft-sided carrier because under-seat space varies by seat type and location, and space may be more limited in aisle seats (Southwest Airlines). The Contract of Carriage does not publish inch measurements; it requires a carrier small enough to fit under the seat for the entire flight. Confirm dimensions when you call.

A pet carrier counts as either a personal item or a carry-on item. You may board with a pet carrier plus a personal item, or a pet carrier plus a regular-size carry-on bag (Southwest Airlines, pet carrier page and airport expectations page).

TSA screening with a cabin pet

Southwest’s airport page says that at security you hold your pet and walk through the screening device while the carrier is X-rayed, and that carriers are subject to search (Southwest Airlines, Airport expectations). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) FAQ “Can I take my pet through the security checkpoint?” instructs travelers to remove the pet from the carrying case, place the case through the X-ray machine, keep control of the pet with a leash, and remove the leash when carrying the pet through the metal detector. Carriers undergo visual and/or physical inspection (Transportation Security Administration).

In a 14 December 2022 press release, TSA warned never to place a pet in the X-ray tunnel. Officers may swab the owner’s hands for explosive trace detection. Return the pet to the carrier away from the checkpoint (Transportation Security Administration, 2022).

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international itineraries

Southwest’s destination page states that pets are not allowed on flights to or from Hawaii, that pets are accepted on flights between Hawaiian Islands, that pets are not allowed on international flights or any itinerary that includes an international flight, and that customers traveling to Puerto Rico may face specific requirements (Southwest Airlines, Destination requirements for traveling with pets). The Contract of Carriage matches the Hawaii and international bans.

Hawai‘i is rabies-free. Chapter 4-29, Hawaii Administrative Rules, governs importation of dogs, cats, and other carnivores. Animals that meet pre- and post-arrival requirements may qualify for the 5 Day Or Less quarantine program, including possible direct release at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu) after inspection. Animals that do not meet those requirements may be quarantined for up to 120 days. Direct airport release in Honolulu is listed at $185 when documents arrive at least 10 days before arrival, or $244 when they do not (Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Animal Industry Division). Those state fees are not Southwest’s pet fare, and Southwest’s ban on mainland-Hawaii pet carriage is not a shortcut around quarantine.

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) states that it does not endorse health certificates for movement of pets across state or territorial lines. Interstate requirements are set by the destination state or territory, including Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. USDA APHIS also states that the United States does not issue pet passports for international travel; it issues health certificates that confirm a pet meets the destination country’s requirements (USDA APHIS, Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling With Your Pet).

Service dogs versus the pet fee

A trained service dog is not a pet under U.S. airline disability rules. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines a service animal, under the Air Carrier Access Act, as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. Species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and service animals in training are not service animals. Airlines may require a U.S. DOT form attesting to the animal’s health, behavior, and training (U.S. Department of Transportation).

Southwest’s service-dog page says dogs are the only trained service animals it accepts, and that service animals in training, emotional support animals, and therapy animals may qualify as pets. Handlers must present a completed U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation form, dated on or after the ticket purchase date, at the ticket counter or gate; a vest or ID card is not a substitute (Southwest Airlines, Traveling with a Service Dog).

On 25 January 2021, Southwest Airlines Co. announced that, effective 1 March 2021, it would accept only trained service dogs and would no longer transport emotional support animals as a separate category; those animals may travel only if they meet the paid cabin pet rules (Southwest Airlines Co., 2021). Law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and military working dogs follow separate Contract of Carriage rules and are not the standard pet fare.

How Southwest’s fee compares with other U.S. airlines

The table uses passenger-facing pages opened in August 2026. Fees are one-way unless noted. Airlines change prices; confirm at booking.

Delta’s consumer Pet Travel Overview lists $150 USD/CAD for tickets issued on or after 8 April 2025, while a Delta agency pet-policies page lists $200 USD for similar domestic travel; confirm the amount at check-in. On the pages compared here, Southwest’s $125 mainland cabin fare is lower than American’s $150 carry-on pet fee (Southwest Airlines; American Airlines; Delta Air Lines).

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR) are the worldwide standard for transporting live animals by commercial airlines, with the current edition in effect as of 1 January 2026 (International Air Transport Association). IATA does not set Southwest’s dollar fare.

Health papers versus a pet passport

For a typical Southwest mainland itinerary, the airline’s published pet pages emphasize species, age, vaccination, carrier fit, behavior, and payment. USDA APHIS does not set a single federal health certificate for owner-accompanied pets moving from one U.S. state or territory to another; the destination state or territory does (USDA APHIS). Ask your veterinarian and the destination state animal-health official whether a certificate of veterinary inspection is required for your route, including Puerto Rico if that is your destination.

An EU pet passport under European Union pet-movement rules, and the United Kingdom scheme historically known as the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), are government veterinary-travel documents. They are not Southwest’s pet fare, and they are not the Animal Passport product. Because Southwest does not accept pets on international itineraries, an EU pet passport will not get a cat or dog onto a Southwest international flight (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage; USDA APHIS).

Animal Passport is not an airline travel document

Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record that uses muzzle biometrics. A nose print is treated as unique, like a fingerprint. Capture is phone-based. The record binds owner, breed, estimated age, body condition, and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score. Body condition is scored 1–5 from a side-profile photo. The product was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan in August 2025 so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. It is not a government-issued travel document, not a veterinary diagnosis, and not legal advice. For more field notes, see Animal Passport blogs.

Do not present those records to Southwest as a substitute for the airline’s pet reservation, ticket-counter payment, or the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation form.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the pet fee on Southwest Airlines?

As of August 2026, Southwest Airlines lists $125 one-way per pet carrier on U.S. mainland flights and $35 one-way per carrier between Hawaiian Islands, and says the fare can change at any time.

Is the Southwest pet fee per pet or per carrier?

Per occupied carrier. One ticketed customer may bring one carrier holding up to two small cats or dogs of the same species (Southwest Airlines).

Is the Southwest pet fee refundable?

Yes, if you cancel the reservation, according to Southwest’s Pet Policy and Contract of Carriage.

Does Southwest allow pets in cargo?

No. Southwest will not transport pets in aircraft cargo compartments (Southwest Airlines Contract of Carriage).

Can I take a pet to Hawaii on Southwest?

Not on flights to or from Hawaii. Pets are accepted only between Hawaiian Islands, at $35 per carrier (Southwest Airlines).

Do I need a pet passport for a Southwest flight?

No. USDA APHIS states that the United States does not issue pet passports; destination states set interstate animal-health rules.

Does an emotional support animal fly free on Southwest?

No. Since 1 March 2021, Southwest treats emotional support animals as pets if they qualify under the cabin policy; trained service dogs use the DOT form and are not charged the pet fare.

What size pet carrier does Southwest allow?

Southwest’s Help Center lists 15 × 10 × 10 inches for its own carrier and a maximum of 18 × 10.5 × 10 inches for other carriers, and recommends a soft-sided carrier.