Southwest Airlines Community

@honduh8 wrote:   Well the rules have changed since 2020. ESA's a no longer allowed.   You certainly have the right to fly with your service dog, and by your description of your situation you do need a service dog.   I hope you find a way to control your seizures, but if not you do have your 130 pound friend there to help out. A very good friend indeed.   All the best to you...   ... View more

You probably don’t know that, as of today, 56% of US population is injected. A lot of nurses got fired because they refused to be injected. Ask “why”?  ... View more

@LainieMorales posts from passengers who think they have the right to board first make me crazy. Most of those who are pre~boarding early would give anything to not be in this position. Please remember to focus on your self, utilize pre~boarding, and enjoy every moment with your loved ones.  Life is way too short. Who cares what other passengers are saying.  ... View more

I'll add one more voice asking Southwest not to change their policy in response to the new FAA rule. Mental and emotional disabilities are real, and ESAs make a huge difference for many people. My wife included. There has to be a way to screen out the bad actors without punishing people who needs the emotional support of a dog to be able to travel, but whose dog doesn't perform a "task" as a service animal does. ... View more

Blake, now I'm scratching my head.  I guess I can't say that SWA knows everything about when other departments do what, but to end a sale during maintenance doesn't sound like best practices to me.  Book today and did see a price increase that makes me frown.    ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: You are correct as I pointed out in another thread about whether SW would still allow ESAs.   There will not be ESAs.  and animals will be treated in accordance with the existing  pet policy   The statement "there will not be ESAs" is incorrect.   Just to be clear, as I think maybe you're still confused -- nothing about the new ruling bans ESAs. The ruling removes the government protections that required ESAs to be accepted. But it does not ban any carrier from allowing them, and/or crafting specific policies for them.       ... View more

I had a mixed response since my original post. On three check-in experiences, the agents did not like the letter. One didn't like it because I kept it in a plastic protective cover. Another felt that my psychiatrist's letterhead "wasn't her definition of letterhead." (It looks just like any other psychiatrists' letterhead. But she thought it should have a logo.)  In each case, a supervisor rectified the problem and I was able to fly with my dog. In the third case, the agent was astonishingly out of line. I received a thoughtful response from Southwest, making it clear that the agent was mistaken. Southwest has no rule about logos, typefaces, etc. My psychiatrist thought it was ridiculous and condescending. I have two upcoming trips on Southwest. I have a little folder with the ESAN letter, but I also have a copy of the letter from Southwest's corporate offices stating that the letter meets their requirements.  ... View more

Very useful content information is provided by you. Most people don't know about an Emotional Support Animal Letter. ... View more

The headline on this thread is a bit incorrect, so just for clarity:   The DOT proposal would allow airlines to ban all emotional support animals if they choose.    It would require that airlines allow on board only trained service animals, to be defined as dogs that have received individualized training to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. For example, a seeing eye dog who accompanies blind passenger.   Trained psychiatric service animals would be included, however emotional support animals would not.   Obviously, this proposed change is controversial.   I tend to support the change, having seen a proliferation of pets traveling on board posing as emotional support animals. While I do realize and respect that some passengers require an emotional support animal, I'm hopeful that consideration will be made in the classification of trained psychiatric service animal to accommodate those with legitimate needs and appropriate documentation.   I encourage everyone with concerns to address them to the DOT. Members of the public have 60 days to comment on the proposed rules.   ... View more

Possibly true but probably not. Preboarders and families would also board ahead of them. ... View more

The dog should have never been let out of the kennel. Don't see how this has anything to do with SWA.  Congrats on your marriage!  Hope you are on your honeymoon and celebrating.  ... View more

I love the open seating policy at Southwest. Keep it up SWA!  ... View more

Sorry -- you're right. I've corrected my post -- they will only reinstate if the unposted activity is from the last 6 months.   Sorry to hear you lost your points.     ... View more