THE POLICY

For the safety of all animals, Flight Angels, fellow passengers, and airline personnel, the following policies must be met.

Animals must --

be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned
be in good health and have a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)
CVI/HC must be uploaded to the FB chat for the animal no later than 24 hours prior to the day of transport unless other arrangements are approved *
display social behavior
be up to date on all vaccinations
fit comfortably in an airline-approved, soft-sided carrier (no metal bars) which fits underneath the airline seat, (see SWA Pet Policy)
not engage in disruptive behavior (scratching, excessive whining or barking, growling, biting, lunging, urinating, or defecating in the airline cabin or gate area)
be bathed, clean, and free of odors (carrier must be clean)
NPOG (No Paws on the Ground) for animals under 16 weeks
Private Screening at TSA Security is required for felines and
have Pawdicures before transport (felines only).

No animal can weigh more than eighteen (18) pounds.

No more than two (2) animals of the same species are allowed

per carrier with a combined weight of twenty (20) pounds.

The Rescue Partner must pay the one hundred and twenty-five-dollar ($125) Pet Fare to the Flight Angel, via PayPal, 48 hours in advance of transport. The Flight Angel will pay SWA on the day of travel at the Ticket Counter. Please provide the following items -

(Supply List):

A copy of the valid CVI signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, uploaded to the Facebook Group Message
An airline-approved, soft-sided pet carrier. The carrier must be new or gently used. The carrier must be free from damage, tears, holes, cross-contamination, or any odors. The zipper must be in working order,
Harness and leash
Applicable medications and supplements
Small blanket
A small amount of food and/or treats
Pee pads
Waste bags
Small toy or comfort item.

The Rescue Partner, Flight Angel & Transport Coordinator must –

have a working cell phone
be available during all phases of the transport and be on FB Messenger
be flexible with drop-off and pick-up times
meet inside the terminal for both drop-off and pick-up
meet 2 hrs before departure
drop-off person must stay until the flight has departed in case of an unexpected cancellation
Flight Angel must pay Pet Fare at the SWA Ticket Counter and upload the printed receipt to FB Messenger
maintain reflective communication on the day of transport. (Contacting a Flight Angel outside the FB Group Message or privately is not allowed without the knowledge of the SWATT Coordinator.)

Please follow the SWA Social Media Policy.

Approved Rescue Partners – must be a 501c3 nonprofit.

It is the responsibility of the Rescue Partner to comply with local, state, and federal guidelines, registration, regulations, or requirements. SWATT is released from any liability.
IMPORTANT: Reaching out to a SWATT Flight Angel for transportation outside of the program or for personal use is deemed a violation. Flight Angels who are part of the SWATT program are not allowed to provide transportation for any SWATT-approved Rescue Partner without prior approval, as this also constitutes a violation. Such actions may jeopardize the organization within our program and put them at risk.
Note: The Rescue Partner understands that SWATT has the right to re-evaluate its partnership with any organization in the SWATT Program and to cancel a transport at any time, at our discretion.
As of April 6, 2026, Southwest Airlines officially updated the Employee Travel Privilege Policy (ETPP) to include SWATT (Southwest Animal Transport Team) as a Company-Approved Organization. This update formally recognizes the SWATT program and provides long-term protection for participating Flight Angels.

This explicit recognition strengthens the partnership between Southwest Airlines and SWATT and ensures that properly coordinated SWATT transports are supported and protected under Company policy.

Important Notice: Requests made directly to a SWATT Flight Angel for animal transportation outside of the SWATT program, including requests for personal or independent transports, are not permitted and may constitute a violation of Southwest Airlines policy.

Flight Angels participating in the SWATT program may not arrange or conduct animal transports outside of SWATT coordination when using Southwest Airlines travel privileges.

Such actions may jeopardize an individual’s travel privileges and could impact their participation in the SWATT program.

Participants acknowledge/agree to comply with these requirements.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

SWATT utilizes our flight privileges to fly small cats and dogs under the seat. This is done on a space-available basis. We are the last to board after paying passengers have been seated. That said, we are unable to provide a guarantee for any scheduled flight or date. Changes can occur up until the time of boarding and therefore all parties must be available and flexible if schedules should change.

We ask all parties to be familiar with Facebook Messenger because all transport communications are completed via that platform.

The sender will provide an airline-approved soft-sided carrier (max dimensions 18”L x 11”W x 10.5”T) unless SWATT can provide one.

If SWATT provides a carrier that was donated to us from Southwest Airlines, is can ONLY be used for a SWATT-approved transport.

Please see the required supply list. Please provide any volunteers involved with your organization with the above information and ensure they visit the website.

The transport experience is stressful for any pet, and for that reason, we will discuss sedation with you for the pet. Please be prepared to secure this from your vet at the time you receive your health certificate. We have found Benadryl not to be consistently reliable. We ask that all pets be crate-trained and have spent time in the airline-approved carrier before the travel date.

Please be prepared to be “on call” and willing to Drop Off and Pick Up at whatever hour is dictated by available seats. Drop Offs and Pick Ups are only at the airport.

NOTE: I, said Rescue Partner named above, submit the information provided is honest and accurate. I understand the conditions of a transport and will abide by the policy, terms and conditions or be subject to removal from the program and consideration for future transports. I understand that SWATT has the right to re-evaluate a partnership with any organization in the SWATT Program and has the right to cancel a transport at any time at its discretion.
NOTE: Compensation for animal transports is not permitted.

All transports must be conducted through the SWATT program and must comply with Southwest Airlines' Pet Policies and the Southwest Airlines

Employee Travel Privilege Policy (ETPP).

All participants in the SWATT program are expected to

uphold and comply with the Southwest Airlines Code of Conduct and the Employee Travel Privilege Policy (ETPP)

while utilizing travel privileges.

It is the responsibility of the Rescue Partner to comply with local, state, and federal guidelines, registration, regulations, and requirements. It is the responsibility of the Rescue Partner to ensure the animal is temperamentally fit to fly and not a flight risk.

SWATT, as an organization, and SWATT Flight Angels

can not be held liable.