Want to take your pet with you on your next Southwest Airlines flight? It's going to cost you more. The fee is shooting up by $20.
Southwest Airlines is raising its pet travel fee from $75 per flight to $95 starting with flights on Jan. 15, 2014. The airline blames high costs on having the raise the fees, the Associated Press reports.
The airline allows passengers to bring a vaccinated cat or dog that fits in a carrier that can go under an airline seat. Only six pets are allowed per flight and they are accepted on a first-come basis. Each passenger is allowed one pet carrier, but one carrier may carry up to two cats or two dogs. The airline also sells pet carriers for small dogs and cats for $48.
Southwest stated letting pets fly in 2009. Despite the raise in fee, the airline still charges less than most airlines. For instance, United, Delta, American and US Airways all charge $125 each way and JetBlue and Alaska airlines charge $100.
"We are incrementally increasing our pet fares to be competitive with the rest of the industry," said Southwest spokesman Dan Landson.
Pet Fares are nonrefundable and may not be applied toward future-date travel if unused.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
