Southwest Airlines reportedly boots passenger off flight after cat defecates

A woman’s social media post has gone viral after she claimed she was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight due to her pet cat’s accident in its carrier during a turbulent landing, according to Newsweek and the New York Post.

The woman, identified as Alex, shared her experience on X, which has since been viewed over 20 million times.

Alex described the scenario involving her seven-month-old cat, Oni, who became distressed during a rough landing and defecated in his carrier.

After cleaning the cat in the airplane restroom, Alex disposed of the soiled paper towels in the trash.

She assumed the trash would be emptied before the next leg of the flight, but upon reboarding, she discovered that the trash had not been removed, leaving behind an odor that reportedly caused the crew to close the bathroom.

"I rush out and quickly realize I will be reboarding the same plane. Oni and his carrier are fully cleaned and there is no trace of the incident. No odor at all. I reboard and see the crew has changed but clearly they informed the new crew what happened and they have had to close that bathroom due to the smell of the trash." She wrote.

In her post, Alex claimed that the new flight attendants were less understanding than their predecessors and accused her of turning the bathroom into a “litter box.”

She alleged that the attendants’ behavior made her cry, and she was eventually escorted off the plane. Despite her protests, she was reportedly stranded for hours before being rebooked on another flight.

The one consolation was that an understanding Southwest Agent provided her with a $200 voucher for a future flight, and she was eventually rebooked on another plane with a connection, resulting in a six-hour delay. She stated that the agent repeatedly said she did nothing wrong.

Alex’s post has garnered significant attention, with many users sympathizing with her situation.

Some criticized Southwest for its handling of the issue, pointing out that the smell was contained in the bathroom and questioning why the trash wasn’t disposed of between flights.

Others expressed frustration with the airline’s pet policies, suggesting that the $200 voucher Alex received for the ordeal was insufficient given the length of her delay and the distress caused.

Southwest Airlines, like many carriers, has specific guidelines regarding pets traveling in the cabin.

The airline states on its website that any pets exhibiting "disruptive behavior"—which includes urinating or defecating in the cabin—may be denied boarding. My has reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.

On its website, Southwest Airlines outlines the following stringent guidelines about the dogs that are permitted on its flights:

"On domestic flights, we accept small, vaccinated domestic dogs and cats in the cabin in the proper pet container. To travel, domestic dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old. Pets are not allowed to travel with unaccompanied minors.

A similar incident occurred just two weeks ago at Nashville International Airport, where a passenger was turned away from a Southwest Airlines flight because their pet did not meet the airline's size requirements for in-cabin travel.

My reported that the passenger's pet was too large for the carrier they had brought, violating Southwest’s strict pet travel policies.

The airline emphasizes that pets must be small enough to fit securely in an appropriate carrier under the seat, and if these guidelines aren’t followed, passengers may be denied boarding.

Airlines have been increasingly concerned about pet travel, particularly as the number of animals flying has risen.

According to the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association, over 1 million pets travel by air annually in the United States, and a significant portion of pet owners take their animals on multiple flights each year.

Additionally, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) survey found that 22% of dog owners took their pups on at least three flights in 2023, up from 13% in 2022.

This rising demand for pet travel has led many airlines, including Southwest, to implement stricter rules to ensure the safety, hygiene, and comfort of all passengers.