05-04-2021
02:29 PM
Good Afternoon Middle Seat, Thank you so much for being so responsive Yes sir/mam I have read ever line on that page and clicked every link prior to posting. It is just somewhat nerve racking to spend money to book flights, taking off work, packing, driving 2+ hours to the airport, parking, making reservations in the destination city, setting up meetings in the destination city and all the other outliers that come with traveling to rely on a form being approved at the airport. When we get there we are prepared to respond to the inquiries mentioned in the below section At the airport A Customer traveling with a trained service animal must check in with a Ticket Counter or Gate Agent and present the required form. In order to accept an animal as a trained service animal, airlines must determine both that the Customer seeking travel is an individual with a disability and that the animal is trained to perform a task(s) or work related to the disability. Our Employees may ask fact-finding questions to determine whether an animal is a trained service animal or eligible to be accepted as a pet. For example, we may ask whether the animal is required to accompany the Passenger because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. A Customer may be asked about the nature of the animal at different points throughout the journey. But it would relieve 99% the of anxiety and be very helpful if there were a way we could visit with a Southwest employee prior to booking to confirm everything. Because we cannot travel without our PSDs and visiting with a representative would insure we have done everything correctly and there are no issues to worry about when we arrive at the airport 🙂 Thank you again for all of your help! Cheers
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05-04-2021
11:33 AM
Hello SW Family and much LUV Hold times are 2+ hours so thought this forum might be a better Avenue for my detailed question. My wife has a trained Psychiatric service animal and I have a trained Psychiatric service animal. Sometimes my wife and I fly together - sometimes we take business trips separately. But each of us always flies with our respective service animal because each dog is trained to do a specific yet different task for either of us. We are familiar with the requirement to fill out the -U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form- and if applicable the additional relief form (on flights over 8 hours) We want to be the best and hassle free passengers we can be and take all the right steps. Here are My questions in order to accomplish that goal: Can we submit the [U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form] prior to the flight and get approval?...that way when we get to the airport there are no issues/holdups/snafu’s! A couple other airlines (gasppp, don’t worry we barely fly anything else other than luv ❤️ - especially with our new companion pass!!) will allow you to submit your service animal DOT form and provide you with an ID card / number that can be used on other flights after being approved - Does southwest do something similar? If preapproval is not an option - Is the [U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form] the only item we need to bring to the airport with us? Looking forward to a lovely response from NicoleAshley, one of the other excellent moderators or the amazing fellow travelers that give great responses! Cheers y’all!
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