American Airlines Pet Policy

American Airlines provides passengers a hassle-free and seamless flight travel experience for you and your pet. Guidelines and requirements for American Airlines pet travel may vary based on your flight's origin and destination, your travel data, and your ticket type. 

American Airlines Carry-On Pet Policy

• Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet size, age, and destination requirements.
• You can bring one kennel as your carry-on bag if you pay the carry-on pet fee, and your pet stays in the kennel under the seat in front of you during the entire flight.
• You can travel with your pet carrier and one personal item, but you cannot bring a carry-on bag in addition to a pet carrier and personal item.
• If your pet is too large to fly in the cabin, you must transport it through American Airlines Cargo.
• Only active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders can check their pets, and the pet carrier must meet all kennel guidelines for checked pets.
• You will be responsible for fulfilling all entry requirements for your pet, and you must notify the relevant department of your pet's intended arrival at least three working days before export.
• Fully-trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet certain requirements.
• Contact Reservations before your trip to be notified of any requirements or travel changes that may affect you and your pet, such as aircraft restrictions.
• Some destinations have special restrictions for pets, so make sure to check before you travel.

Check the baggage allowances on our American Airlines flight ticket in the American Airlines Baggage policy.

Kennel Guidelines for American Airlines Pet Policy - Carry-On Pets

• Pets must fit comfortably inside the closed/zipped carrier and be able to stand up and turn around.
• Non-collapsible kennels cannot exceed the under-seat dimensions of any aircraft in the passenger's journey.
• Soft-sided collapsible kennels are recommended and can be slightly larger, but they must fit under the seat without having to collapse the kennel excessively.
• Kennels must be secure, padded, made of a water-repellent material, and have nylon mesh ventilation on three or more sides.

*Please note that for non-collapsible kennels, you must contact reservations to verify maximum dimensions.

Flying in First / Business on an A321T?

• Pets must be kept in their kennel during the flight and placed in a dedicated animal-friendly compartment during takeoff, landing, and turbulence.
• Transporting your pet in a carrier weighing more than 20 pounds combined is illegal. / 9.07 kgs., weighed at check-in

American Airlines Pet travel - Destinations allowed

Passengers can travel with pets on most flights up to 12 hours or flights to/from select locations, including within the 48 contiguous United States.

1. Australia

Only dogs are accepted. Assistance or service dogs accredited by an Australian State or Territory Government are also accepted.

2. Canada

Commercial dogs are not allowed in high-risk countries.

3. Caribbean

Carry-on pets are not allowed in Jamaica. Travel to Trinidad and Tobago is restricted to flights between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

4. Hawaii

Carry-on pets are not allowed. Checked pets are allowed only if they follow Hawaii's quarantine rules and connect via Honolulu.

5. Mexico

All pets must meet government regulations on vaccinations.

6. South America

Carry-on pets are not allowed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay.

7. Transatlantic

Carry-on pets are not allowed. Checked pets are allowed, but you must complete all entry requirements for pets. Checked pets are not allowed in the UK and Ireland, except through American Airlines Cargo to London (LHR) and Manchester (MAN).

8. Transpacific 

Carry-on pets are not allowed. Checked pets are allowed from Japan to Los Angeles (LAX) or Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) but not to Japan as checked baggage. You must make sure your pet has a microchip and the required documents and notify the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service at least 7 days prior to departure.

American Airlines Pet travel - Checked Pets   

American Airlines checked pets policy is limited to active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Please note that American Airlines accept up to two pets per passenger, and they must meet the destination's minimum age and health requirements.

Due to the limited capacity, American Airlines process the checked pets on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are traveling with a pet, you can find more information on how to transport your pet with American Airlines.

To check in your pet for travel, please follow these guidelines:

1. Contact Reservations at least 48 hours before your scheduled travel time.
2. Provide your official orders and your pet's required documentation at the ticket counter.
3. Allow for extra check-in time, which should be at least 2 hours before your flight but not more than 4 hours before your flight.
4. Complete the necessary checklist with one of our agents.
5. Provide a health certificate that was issued by a vet within 10 days of your travel date, 60 days of your return (travel on the same ticket), or 10 days of your return (travel on a separate ticket).

Get American Airlines check-in information for your flight booking.

American Airlines Pet Fees 

The American Airlines pet fees are applicable at every check-in location, and the base rates may vary depending on the travel dates and destination. The applicable taxes are not included in the displayed rates.

*Fees shown apply for each destination without a voluntary stopover / connection of 4 hours or more. If your trip includes a voluntary stopover / connection of more than 4 hours, fees apply for each connection segment. All pet fees are non-refundable and apply per kennel, each way. Fees for transporting your pet with American Airlines Cargo may vary depending on the trip details and size of the animal and kennel.