Southwest doesn't allow pet fish in carry-on bag

A Colorado college student learned the hard way that some pets aren’t welcome on planes. Lanice Powless was travelling home to California through Denver International Airport last week for the holidays. She is a student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where she lives in the dorms with her pink pet Betta fish “Cassie.” Powless said a fish seemed like a more responsible choice for a pet in college, rather than a cat or dog. Before her purchase, she says she checked TSA to see if she could fly home with the fish. TSA policy allows live fish in carry-on bags after inspection by a TSA officer. “Typically I would just check in and then go through TSA and walked right on with it,” she said. “No one’s ever stopped me.” Last week that changed. Powless said she and a friend were checking their bags for a flight home when a Southwest employee informed her the fish couldn’t fly. Powless didn’t realize airlines may have separate rules from TSA. Southwest’s pet policy is stricter, allowing only small dogs and crates in crates stowed under the customer’s seat. No pets can travel in Southwest cargo bins. Story has full details.<br/>