DALLAS (AP) – Emotional support animals are also no longer able to roam freely in the Southwest Airlines cabin.
The airline said on Monday it will allow passengers to bring trained service dogs into the cabin, but it will no longer accept support animals from March 1.
Customers who wish to bring a pet dog or cat on board must pay a fee and the animal must be kept in a travel basket that fits under an airplane seat.
The move follows a decision by the Transportation Department to overturn years of regulation and have airlines ban animals that owners claim provide emotional support. Airlines said some passengers have abused the old rules to avoid pet fees.
Southwest is the last of the country’s six largest airlines to change his animal policy after the action of the transport department.