American Airlines allows pets to travel in the cabin, as checked baggage alongside their pet parent if the total weight of the animal and container does not exceed 20 pounds (9 kg). For the length of the trip, animals must be confined in their cage and kept beneath the seat. The cost of each animal is $125 per crate.
- Carry-on Pets
- Pets as Checked Baggage (active duty U.S military and U.S State Department Foreign Service personnel on order)
- Cargo service
American Airlines is an excellent option for anybody who wishes to fly with their animal. However, due to busy schedule modifications on the airline, AA has temporarily prohibited accepting pets, save for active-duty U.S. military personnel traveling on a mission. Let’s dive into deep to know American Airlines pet policy.
At a Glance
| Carry-on Pets | Cats and Dogs |
| As Checked Baggage | Only for the U.S. Military and U.S. State Department on official order. |
| Cargo Service | Available |
| Service Animal | Allowed (Free) |
| Emotional Support Animal (ESA) | Not Allowed |
| Pets Age | 8 Weeks old. |
| American Airlines pet weight limit | 20lbs (Carry-on), 100lbs (Checked Baggage and Cargo) |
| Carry-on pets fee | $125 |
| As Checked Baggage fee | $150- $200 |
| Kennel Recommended | Soft-sided |
American Airlines Pet Policy Carry on
AA accepts pets inside of their cabins as carry-on baggage if passengers comply with certain conditions. The passengers must pay the appropriate fees and keep their pets inside of the container throughout the whole journey. The container must be kept under the front seat of the passenger.
- Young animals (at least 8 weeks of age) are permitted to travel in the cabin with AA if the entire weight of the animal and container does not surpass 20 lbs. or 9 kg.
- Animals will stay inside the door-lock kennel under the seat in front of you.
- The animal cost is $125 per carriage.
Acceptable pets are:
- Cats
- Dogs
You can carry a pet carrier and one personal item. but they will not allow any additional bags inside of their cabin.
American Airlines Carry-on Carrier Size
Non-collapsible carriers for animals flying in the cabin must not be larger than the following dimensions.
Hard containers: Best Airlines Approved Hard-Sided Carrier
| Length | Width | Height | Weight |
| 19 inches or 48 cm | 13 inches or 33cm | 9 inches or 22 cm | 20 lbs including carrier |
Soft containers: Recommended
If you are looking for the Best exact-match soft-sided kennel for AA.
| Length | Width | Height | Weight |
| 18 inches or 46 cm | 11 inches or 28 cm | 11 inches or 28 cm | 20 lbs including carrier |
Kennel Design and restrictions
- Animal carriers must be spacious enough for the animals to stand, turn around, and lie down.
- On American Airlines flights, you can bring one kennel as carry-on luggage.
- Water-repellent soft-sided pet carriers should be constructed of cushioned nylon and feature breathability on two or more sides.
- Enclosures must be made out of sturdy material
- Carriers should be leakage-proof and escape-proof.
- Carrier doors must be secured in place and offer circulation on two sides in contrast to the entrance.
- Containers should also have a watertight container that can be filled from the outside.
- The dimensions of the carrier will differ based on the aircraft servicing the trip. Unless you are transporting a parent cat or dog with her exclusively breastfed brood, each passenger is allowed one pet.
- Individual water and food bowls should be firmly fastened within the kennel.
- Attach a tiny plate of food for 24 hours to the top.
- No straw, hay, or wood shavings, and be clean and absorbent.
- Two pets of the same size and species may be transported in the same crate if there is enough room for them all to stand up and move around. The combined weight of the pets and container cannot be more than 20 pounds.
- Birds are not allowed.
- Animals should be capable of standing and sit upright, turning around normally, and lay on the floor in a natural posture in their kennel without contacting any of the container’s sides or the top.
- Non-collapsible kennels must not surpass the under-seat measurements of any aircraft on your itinerary. Please check with reservations to ensure that the maximum dimensions are met.
- Soft-sided collapsible kennels that can be slightly larger yet fit beneath the seat without having to fold the kennel excessively are advised. They must be sturdy, cushioned, water-resistant, and feature nylon netting ventilation on two or more sides.
Pets as checked baggage
Only active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service members traveling on formal instructions are allowed to check their dogs with AA. Up to two dogs may be checked, and they must fulfill the destination’s minimum age and health standards. Because space is limited, American Airlines only accepts checked dogs on a first-come, first-served basis
AA pet travel policy implies that most people will have to carry on their pets until the regulation changes to allow pets as checked bags again. AA will still deliver it as cargo if your pet is enormous. AA permits travelers to fly with their pets if they fit under all factors listed below.
While booking a pet as checked baggage
- Complete the reservation process 2 days before the flight.
- Official orders should be with the passenger while checking in.
- Passengers must bear an extra 2 hours on hand to properly complete the check-in process.
- Work with a representative to finish a guideline.
- Medical documentation of the pet should be with the passenger.
American Airlines Cargo Pet
Large pets that exceed the size requirements to be in the cabin must be transported through the American Airlines Cargo service.
| Pets are not permitted in trips to or from- | Pets are not permitted on trips to or from- |
| Hawaii | United States |
| Bolivia | Canada |
| Argentina | Mexico |
| Venezuela | Central America |
| Chile | Colombia |
| Uruguay | Caribbean |
| Any transatlantic flights |
American Airlines Pet Fee
Pet traveling charges vary depending on total weight, and destinations. AA offers $125 for carry-on dogs and other small pets.
| Service | Destination | Charge |
| Carry-on pet | Within the United States and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (depending on each country’s entrance regulation) | $125 per kennel |
| As checked baggage | Within the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the United Kingdom. | $200 and $150 to/from Brazil. |
| Service Animal | All Over the world | Free |
Pets Age
All flying pets should be at least 8 weeks of age.
AA Pets Reservation
American Airlines permits 7 kennels on domestic flights and 5 kennels on international flights. If you want to fly with your animal, call the Customer Service Team at 800-433-7300 as soon as you confirm your arrangements.
Restrictions
The Directorate for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) in the United States has announced a temporary ban on dogs, even fully trained assistance dogs, flying to the United States from a nation with an elevated danger of rabies disease.
Assistance dogs going to the United States Via elevated-risk nations with an authorized CDC Dog transport permit, or that fulfill CDC United States immunization and microchip standards, are permitted to fly by American Airlines. During the suspension, cats from elevated-risk nations would not be permitted to be brought in the cabin or transported as checked baggage.
Only cats and dogs are permitted on AA flights. With a few exclusions, generally, cats and dogs are permitted as conveniently as possible within the carrier size requirements and are at least 8 weeks of age.
On all AA flights, service animals in training, emotional help pets, and comfort animals may fly as pets rather than as service animals.
Because of disease, hostile behavior, inadequate kenneling, or high temperatures at the origin, transfer, or arrival airports, American Airlines may refuse to carry a pet.
| Dog breeds that are not allowed to travel | Cat breeds that are not allowed to travel |
| Affenpinscher | Burmese |
| American Staffordshire terrier | Exotic Shorthair |
| Pekingese | Himalayan |
| Pit Bull | Persian |
| Boston Terrier, Boxer (all breeds) | |
| Tibetan Spaniel | |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | |
| Shih Tzu | |
| Shar Pei | |
| Pug (all breeds) | |
| Presa Canario | |
| Brussels Griffon, Bulldog (all breeds) | |
| Cane Corso | |
| Dogue De Bordeaux | |
| English Toy Spaniel | |
| Japanese Chin | |
| Lhasa Apso |
Temperature Restrictions
Pets are not permitted to fly on American Airlines if the temperature is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit and below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Route Restrictions
| Pets are not permitted in trips to or from- | Pets are permitted in trips in- |
| Hawaii | United States |
| Bolivia | Canada |
| Argentina | Mexico |
| Venezuela | Central America |
| Chile | Colombia |
| Uruguay | Caribbean |
| Any transatlantic flights | Alaska |
| Puerto Rico | |
| St. Croix | |
| St. Thomas |
Australia
Other than dogs, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources does not accept applications to import aid or service animals.
A support or service animal that has been certified by an Australian State or Territory Government will also be eligible. In the majority of situations, these pets are being returned to Australia.
Caribbean
When flying to Jamaica, you are not permitted to have a carry-on pet. You are not permitted to travel with a carry-on or checked pet from:
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- When flying to Trinidad and Tobago (POS) with a pet, you cannot board an aircraft between 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Central America
You are not permitted to travel with a carry-on or checked pet from:
- Belize
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
Hawaii
When flying to and from Hawaii, you are not permitted to have a carry-on pet. You can bring your dog to Hawaii as just a checked animal if you meet the following requirements:
- Only travel via Honolulu (HNL)* and adhere to Hawaii’s quarantine regulations.
- You cannot bring your pet into Hawaii: On direct flights to Maui, Hawaii’s Big Island, or Kauai
If the pet is expecting and has passed the 45-day mark,
Mexico
All pets traveling to Mexico must comply with state immunization requirements. When flying to the following countries, you are not permitted to have a carry-on pet.
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Uruguay
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Peru
- Suriname
- Venezuela
Transatlantic
Carry-on pets
A carry-on pet is not permitted on transatlantic flights.
When going to the EU with either a checked pet, one must meet all entrance criteria. Your pet should have a tattoo or an implanted microchip with the same ID number as the one on its vaccination card.
Aside from guide dogs, you cannot make the journey with an inspected pet to the United Kingdom or Ireland, but AA Cargo can transfer cats and dogs to England (LHR) and Manchester (MAN).
Japan
Pets are not permitted as checked baggage from Tokyo to L.A. (LAX) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). According to USDA regulations, animals must be given water per 12 hours, thus if you are flying with a packed pet to LAX and DFW, you must schedule a trip that is 12 hours or shorter.
If you’re flying from Japan with a checked pet, you’ll need to:
Make sure the pet does have a microchip and the necessary paperwork for the nation you are visiting. Contact the Japanese Dog Customs Service in the first place 7 days in advance to arrange an examination.
Aircraft Restrictions
Carry-on dogs are not permitted in First or Business Class due to a shortage of under-seat storage space.
Boeing
- 777-200
- 777-300
- 787-8
- 787-9
Extreme temperatures are difficult on pets, thus American Airlines will only arrange animal transportation when the temperatures are suitable and acceptable.
Temperature limits are compared with the actual or projected temperature(s) for each scheduled flight and timings on the route.
They only accept :
- 7 containers per aircraft operated by American Airlines.
- 5 containers per aircraft operated by Eagle.
AA Service Animal
A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks or perform responsibilities for the convenience of an adult, such as but not limited to: bodily, sensorimotor, neuropsychiatric, cognitive, or some other developmental disability, such as but not limited to:
- Impaired vision
- Hearing problems
- Epilepsy
- Impaired mobility
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
To fly with a service dog on American Airlines, you need to
Present the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form to the Special Assistance Desk at least 48 hours before your journey. The form must include that the animal is healthy enough to travel.
If your flight is longer than 8 hours-
You must additionally fill out the Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Sanitation Form. This form states that your pet will not need to relieve itself or can do so in a method that does not pose a medical or hygiene risk.
American Airlines will drop an email with your Service Animal ID after you’ve completed your form and it’s been accepted (SVAN ID). When arranging future travel with this pet, you can include the SVAN ID and be accepted without having to resubmit applications. Remember that your SVAN ID will expire one year from the date of signing, or when the animal’s immunization expires, whatever comes first.
Emotional support animals (ESA)
AA no longer accepts emotional support animals on their aircraft.
AA Pets Travel Health certificate
While American Airlines does not necessitate a health certificate for your pet to fly inside the United States, several states do. For information on the health papers necessary for animals going to Hawaii and other overseas locations, contact American Airlines.
Documents
American Airlines now requires Pet health certificates for allowing pets as checked baggage. The certificate must be issued within 10 working days of your flight. Consult American Airlines for information on the health papers needed for pets going to Hawaii and other overseas locations.
Check-In
They only permit checked dogs from active-duty US military troops and US State Dept Foreign Service workers traveling on formal instructions. Up to two dogs can be transported, and they need to fulfill the destination’s minimal health and age standards. Because space is tight, they accept checked dogs on a prior-come, first-served basis.
When inspecting an animal, you must:
- Inform Bookings at a minimum of 48 hours in advance of your trip. Check-in from the ticket desk with your formal orders.
- Allow additional time for check-in (at least two hours but no or more than four hours before your travel)
- Work with an agent to complete a checklist.
- Please include a medical certificate.
How do I add a pet to my flight?
- Complete the reservation process 2 days before the flight.
- With your formal orders, complete the checking at the desk.
- Bear an extra 2 hours on hand to properly complete the check-in process.
- With the help of an agent, comply with some regulations.
- Provide a medical certificate.
Tips
When checking a pet,
- Inform Accommodations 2 days ahead of travel
- Allow 2 to 4 hours additional check-in period.
- Include a medical certificate.
- To protect your pet’s health & well-being, the medical certificate you supply must be provided by a veterinarian within:
- Ten days before the trip.
- Two months of the return.
- Ten days before the return (if the passenger is traveling on a different ticket)
- Pets must be fastened, leashed, or tied at all times.
- Pets under the age of four months are not permitted to travel as assistance animals.
- Animals are not permitted to
- Be positioned in an exit row
- Bulge into or obstruct aisles
- Take a chair
- Eat off tray tables.
FAQ
Does American Airlines charge for carry-on pets?
Cats and dogs can be carried as freight by American Airlines on a first-register, first-served system. The price for shipping pets inside or between Canada, the United States, Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean is $200 per carrier. The costs to and from Brazil are $150.
What documentation would I need to travel on American Airlines alongside my pet?
A medical license will be required dated within 10 working days of the flight. Proof of immunizations and pet visa paperwork for the nation to which your animal is heading also are necessary (For international flights).
What is the strictness of American Airlines’ pet regulations?
Animals are not restricted in terms of weight as long as they’re good within that carrier. Furthermore, all flying pets should be at least 8 weeks old. The pet container will serve instead of the carry-on bag, and you’ll still be able to convey an extra personal item (such as a rucksack, handbag, etc.) at no additional cost.
Is an animal medical certification required by American Airlines?
Although American Airlines doesn’t demand a medical certificate for your canine to fly nationally, certain states require it. Consult with American Airlines for information on the health papers needed for pets going to Hawaii and other overseas locations.
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How strict is American Airlines pet policy?
I don’t believe that they have strict policies for travelers. Pet policies are simple and pet-friendly. They allow small pets in the cabin and larger pets in the cargo. However, the AA cargo hold only allows pets for military personnel.
Can my dog sit on my lap during a flight?
Sorry, they don’t allow it rather they can lay down in front of your seat in the approved pet carrier. You have to purchase an approved pet kennel where they can freely move around.
AA Contact Details
| Spanish | 800 633 3711 |
| Portuguese | 866 824 8717 |
| French | 800 756 8613 |
| Japanese | 800 237 0027 |
| English | 800 433 7300 |
They charge way more now. I was just quoted 1500 for Miami Madrid with my 33lb dog on cargo and they wont tell me until 10 days before the flight if he will be able to fly with me.
Pets cargo shipping cost varies depending on destination, size, and species. They only $125 charge for carry on pets.