Southwest airlines

General   |   Contact Info   |   Baggage Info   |   Traveling with Children   |   Traveling with Pets

Baggage information

Carry-On Allowance: 1 Bag + 1 small personal Item
Each passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, camera, food containers, or laptops. Assistive devices and outer garments do not count as personal items. All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements:
Maximum Dimensions of Carry-on Luggage: 10in x 16in x 24in (length x width x height)

Checked Baggage Allowance: 2 Pieces
Each passenger is allowed two checked bags as long as each bag adheres to the following requirements:
Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/157 cm (length + width + height)
Maximum Weight: 50 lb/23 kg

Overweight Baggage Fees
Fee for any bag weighing 51-100 lb: $50
Bags weighing more than 100 lb will not be accepted. If a bag is both oversize and overweight, passengers will be charged both fees.

Oversize Baggage Fees
Fee for any bag between 63-80 inches: $50
Bags exceeding 80 inches will not be accepted. If a bag is both oversize and overweight, passengers will be charged both fees.

Excess Baggage Fees
Fee for 3rd - 9th bag: $50 each
Fee for bags 10+: $110 each
Excess bags are only permitted if space is available. Contact Southwest for more information if you are traveling internationally.

Children information

Travelling with Infants:
-One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free when traveling with an adult (12 yrs of age or older). Although a boarding pass is not required for the infant, you will need a Boarding Verification Document.
-Affordable Infant Fares are also available that enable a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant and use his/her FAA approved car seat. Online check-in is available if the infant is traveling on an Infant Fare and is age verified.
-A birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants under age two.
-A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.
-For more information, please see Baby On Board (Information you should know when flying with your infant or toddler).

Travelling with children:
-Accompanied children ages two through 11 will be charged the applicable Child’s Fare for the flight (does not apply to unaccompanied children ages 5 through 11).
-Proof of age will be required at time of travel.
-Online check-in is available if the child is traveling on a Child Fare and is age verified.

Travelling with youth:
-Youth who are at least 12 years of age but who have not reached their 22nd birthday can fly to any of our cities, any time of the day or night, at the applicable Youth Fare.
-Proof of age will be required at time of travel.
-Online check-in is available if the youth is traveling on a Youth Fare and is age verified.

Pets

Pet policy
- Southwest Airlines will only accept small cats and dogs in in-cabin that can be stowed under the Customer’s seat.
- The Pet Fare is $75 each way per pet carrier.

What are the kennel requirements?
Passengers may bring a soft or hard-sided pet carrier that is leak proof and well ventilated. The pet carrier must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of the passenger and be stowed in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The dog or cat must be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier with ease.
Window Seat: 19"L x 14"W x 8.25"H
Middle Seat: 19"L x 19"W x 8.25"H
Aisle Seat: 19"L x 14"W x 8.25"H

What health documentation is required?
Southwest does not require a health certificate or any other documentation from the passenger's veterinarian for pets to travel.

Are there any other restrictions?
Passengers are permitted to travel with no more than one pet carrier per person. Each pet carrier can have no more than two of the same species of small cats or dogs per pet carrier.
Southwest Airlines can refuse to transport an animal due to illness, aggressive behavior, poor kenneling, or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer, or destination airports.
Under no circumstances are pets accepted in the cargo bin.

Are reservations required?
Yes. To make reservations for a pet, the Customer will need to call Southwest Airlines at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA  1-800-I-FLY-SWA  and the Customer Representative will gladly create a booking for the pet.

Initially, Southwest's pet policy states that we the airline accept up to five pet carriers per scheduled flight (excluding service animals). However, from time to time, circumstances may allow for more (or fewer) than five pet carriers on a flight during the evaluation period, so reserve your spot well in advance.