@dben wrote: My wife and I traveled with her emotional support dog a week ago, and a Southwest gate agent told us that the airline had decided to stop allowing ESAs on board as permitted by the new DOT reg that becomes effective on January 11, 2021. However, I haven't seen any public announcement from Southwest about this. Can I get some clarification on this? At the current time, no changes have been made yet to Southwest pet, service, and ESA policies. I suspect those policies will be updated at some point, and before they are Southwest will issue an announcement. But for now the current policies remain in place.
... 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