Southwest plans to eliminate emotional-support animals on flights

Southwest plans to eliminate emotional-support animals on flights

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2020, file photo, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 takes off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Southwest Airlines expects travel demand to remain depressed in early 2021. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said Thursday, Nov. 19, that means his airline will have a lot more planes than it needs.

CYBERSPACE (AP) — Southwest is the last of the nation’s six largest airlines to stop letting emotional-support animals aboard. The airline says it will still let passengers bring trained service dogs in the cabin — but starting Mar. 1, it will no longer accept support animals. Those who want to bring a dog or cat on as a pet may still do so, but will have to pay a fee — and keep the animal in a carrier that can fit under their seat.

Photo: FILE – In this Oct. 20, 2020, file photo, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 takes off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)