The policy changes are scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 17.
Southwest Airlines will change its policies regarding emotional support and service animals in an effort to provide clearer guidance to customers, according to a press release.
“We welcome emotional support and trained service animals that provide needed assistance to our Customers,” said Steve Goldberg, Senior Vice President of Operations and Hospitality in a press release. “However, we want to make sure our guidelines are clear and easy to understand while providing Customers and Employees a comfortable and safe experience.”
We’re updating our policies for Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or trained service animals effective September 17,2018.
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) August 14,2018
In terms of the safety for both Southwest’s customers and employees, all emotional support and service animals are to be trained to behave in a public setting and must be under the control of the handler at all times. Southwest reserves the right deny boarding privileges to any animal that engages in disruptive behavior.
“The ultimate goal with these changes is to ensure Customers traveling with service animals know what to expect when choosing Southwest,” said Goldberg. “Southwest will continue working with advocacy groups, Employees, Customers, and the DOT to ensure we offer supportive service animal guidelines.”
