Southwest Airlines only allows small cats and dogs to fly in the cabin, tucked in an approved carrier under the seat in front of you, and it has no program for shipping pets as cargo. Because Southwest's route map covers mostly the continental United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, it simply cannot move a pet to Europe, Asia, Australia, or any destination that requires crated cargo transport and country-specific import paperwork.

Southwest's Cabin-Only Policy, in Practice

Southwest permits one small vaccinated cat or dog per passenger, charges a pet fee of roughly $95 to $125 each way, and caps the number of pet carriers allowed per flight, so seats can sell out for pet owners even when the flight itself has room. The carrier must fit completely under the seat, which rules out most dogs over about 20 pounds. There is no option to check a pet as luggage and no cargo hold program at all, unlike United's PetSafe or Delta Cargo, both of which accept larger pets in temperature-controlled cargo holds on select routes, including long-haul international ones.

Why the Route Network Is the Real Problem

Even if Southwest offered cargo shipping, its network wouldn't help most relocating families. Southwest does not fly to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or most of South America, so anyone moving overseas needs a carrier with genuine long-haul capacity, such as Lufthansa, Qantas, American Airlines, or Air France, or a dedicated pet shipping route booked through a relocation specialist. International cargo movement also has to comply with the IATA Live Animals Regulations, which set crate sizing, ventilation, and labeling standards that Southwest's cabin-only operation was never built to handle.

What International Relocation Actually Involves

Moving a pet abroad typically requires far more than booking a flight. A licensed veterinarian must issue an export health certificate, often endorsed by USDA APHIS, and the destination country's own import permit or health certificate rules must be satisfied before the animal ever reaches the airport. Typical requirements include:

  • ISO-compliant microchip and up-to-date rabies vaccination records
  • A USDA-endorsed export health certificate, usually valid for just 10 days
  • An IATA-compliant travel crate sized correctly for the animal
  • Advance booking with an airline that actually accepts live cargo on the route
  • Country-specific import permits, titer tests, or quarantine arrangements

Because these pieces have to line up in the right order and within tight timeframes, most families relocating internationally use a full-service pet shipper rather than trying to book a commercial flight themselves.

Choosing a Realistic Alternative

For an international move, working with a company that manages the entire door-to-door process, the kind of service a dedicated pet air transport provider offers, tends to save both stress and money compared to piecing together flights and paperwork alone. Specialist shippers such as PetAir UK's relocation team handle crate-approved airline bookings, customs documentation, and layover logistics that a domestic-focused carrier like Southwest was never designed to manage.

What to Ask Before Booking Any Airline

Before assuming any airline will work for an overseas move, ask directly whether it accepts live animals as cargo on the specific route you need, not just whether it allows pets somewhere in its network. Many travelers discover too late that a carrier's pet-friendly reputation applies only to domestic or short-haul flights. It also helps to ask about seasonal embargo dates, minimum connection times for cargo transfers, and whether the crate size you own actually meets that carrier's published dimensions, since requirements differ meaningfully between a cabin-only operation like Southwest and a full international cargo carrier.

Can I bring my dog to Mexico on Southwest in the cabin?

Yes, if the dog is small enough to fit in an approved carrier under the seat and meets Southwest's health and vaccination documentation for the destination; larger dogs are not eligible since Southwest has no cargo option.

Does Southwest ever ship pets in the cargo hold?

No. Southwest has never operated a checked-pet or cargo pet program, so any animal that cannot fly in an approved in-cabin carrier cannot travel with Southwest at all.

What's the realistic cost of shipping a pet internationally instead?

Professional international pet relocation, including crate, airline cargo fees, and paperwork handling, typically runs from $2,000 to $5,000 or more depending on the pet's size, destination, and whether a layover requires a ground handler.