Guide to American Airlines Pet Policy 2023 (Carry on $125)

Yes, 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.

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.

American Airlines Pet Travel Options

1. Carry-on Pets
2. Pets as Checked Baggage
3. Cargo service

At a Glance

Carry-on Pets	Cats and Dogs
As Checked Baggage	Only for U.S Military and U.S State Department.
Cargo Service	Available
Service Animal	Allowed (Free)
Emotional Support Animal (ESA)	Not Allowed
Pets Age	8 Weeks old.
Weight Limit	20lbs
Carry-on pets fee	$125
As Checked Baggage fee	$150- $200
Kennel Recommended	Soft-sided

Carry on pets

AA accepts pets inside of their cabins as carry-on baggage if passengers comply with certain conditions. The passengers must provide 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

While booking a pet as checked baggage, passengers must

• Complete the reservations process 2 days prior to the flight.
• Official orders should be with the passenger while checking in.
• Passengers must bear 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.

Cargo service

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 permitted in trips in-
Hawaii	United States
Bolivia	Canada
Argentina	Mexico
Venezuela	Central America
Chile	Colombia
Uruguay	Caribbean
Any transatlantic flights

AA pet travel fees

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 Kennel Dimensions for Pets

 Non-collapsible carriers for animals flying in the cabin must not be larger than that 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 a period of 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.

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 the 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.

Pets are not permitted to fly on American Airlines if the temperature is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit and below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

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

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 absolutely 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
  1. Hearing problems
  2. Epilepsy
  3. Impaired mobility
  4. 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 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 reservations process 2 days prior to the flight (Cheap American Airlines Flights Deals).
• With your formal orders, complete the checking in the desk.
• Bear 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 to 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:
  1. Ten days before the trip.
  2. Two months of the return.
  3. 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

AA Contact Details

Spanish	800 633 3711
Portuguese	866 824 8717
French	800 756 8613
Japanese	800 237 0027
English	800 433 7300

AA Profile

Airlines Name	American Airlines, Inc.
IATA Code	AA
ICAO Code	AAL
Callsign	AMERICAN
Website	AA
Support Number English	800-433-7300
Spanish	800-633-3711
Social Media Pages	Facebook
	Twitter
	Instagram
	Linkedin
	YouTube

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