Southwest changes policy on support animals

Joining several other carriers that have adopted tough new rules on pets, Southwest Airlines is adopting a new policy for emotional support animals in the cabin, allowing only dogs and cats that are restrained by a leash or kept in a carrier.

The new policy, announced Tuesday by the Dallas-based carrier, also limits each passenger to one emotional-support animal. As for service animals that are trained to assist travelers with physical disabilities, the airline will accept dogs, cats and miniature horses. The policy takes effect Sept. 17.

“We want to make sure our guidelines are clear and easy to understand while providing customers and employees a comfortable and safe experience,” said Steve Goldberg, senior vice president of operations and hospitality at the airline.

The move by Southwest Airlines comes after several airlines, including Alaska, Delta and United, adopted stricter rules on pets brought aboard planes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in May that it wouldn’t take action against airlines that impose restrictions on passengers traveling with emotional-support animals. That announcement was significant because the Air Carrier Access Act requires airlines to allow passengers who believe they need the emotional support of an animal to bring the animal on a commercial flight without paying an extra charge.

But airline officials and psychologists say they believe many travelers who do not have an emotional or physical disability are using the law to transport their pets free of charge.

The new Southwest Airlines policy requires passengers traveling with emotional support animals to present a letter from a medical doctor or a licensed mental health professional, attesting that the passenger must fly with the animal.