Southwest Airlines Community

Hello Southwest Airlines,   I recently read about your decision to allow "service ponies" onboard flights and I'm concerned.  First, let me get one thing straight: I understand that some of your passengers may need a support animal out of medical necessity; that's entirely valid.  However, I'm one of your passengers on the opposite side of the spectrum: I'm severely allergic to certain animals (horses being one of them) and cannot be around them out of medical necessity.    Horses can and unfortunately have caused me to suffer anaphylactic reactions.  If you're unfamiliar with this, it's a severe reaction that can lead to seizures, the airway swelling to the point of being unable to breath, loss of consciousness, etc.  More unfortunate still is that these reactions can occur within 1-2 minutes of being exposed to the allergen.   Now, my allergies didn't develop until I was in my late teens, so I've experienced both sides of the issue.  When I was younger, I didn't get why one of my friends couldn't come to my house because we had a dog, how another couldn't sit on grass, or how another couldn't eat a single peanut.  It's tough being sympathetic when the physical side effects haven't even occurred (yet could be fatal if they did).   And now that I have allergies, I can't tell you the number of times I've been in a situation when others have tried to make me feel badly or embarrassed because I've had to ask them to cater to my allergies. I've witnessed others go through the same.  To put it very eloquently, it sucks.   My point is, though I'm sure you already grasp it, is that while I don't want to assume the worst about potential future situations, I have to.  Just as your customers who suffer from medical issues that require a service animal have to think ahead to assure their health and safety, I, and anyone who suffers from severe allergies (or many other medical issues), have to do the same.  It's unfortunate, but it's a part of our lives.   So, my question to you, as a business that must cater to your customer's needs, especially medical, is: how are you going to handle the situation when I (or any of your passengers with severe allergies) are placed on a flight with a passenger who needs an emergency support pony?  ... View more