All Aboard: Pets Now Welcome on Southwest Airlines

Posted on June 2, 2009 in Animals, Business/Law

After years of enforcing a strict no-pet policy, Southwest is opening its cabins to cats and small dogs. Animals are still barred from the cargo hold, but for a fee they can fly along with their owners in a suitable carrying case.

Southwest’s new program, P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Welcome on Southwest), allows pets on board for an additional service charge of $75 each way. This program is similar to at program launched by JetBlue in 2008, JetPaws, that charges $100 each way for small pets. Unlike JetBlue, Southwest does not award frequent flyer miles to travelers’ furry companions.

The P.A.W.S. program is another effort by Southwest to boost their ailing profit margin through additional fees. Other new programs include a $25 service charge for unaccompanied minors (previously free), and doubling the fee for additional or overweight checked baggage from $25 to $50.

Southwest is promoting the new program with an adorable YouTube video featuring Ace the dog and Frankie the frisky kitten.