American Airlines Pet Policy 2026: Fees, Carriers and Where Pets Can’t Fly

American Pet Policy at a Glance

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

What Most Sites Get Wrong

American's pet rules changed several times in the last few years, and most guides still mix old and new versions. These are the mistakes that cost people a bag, a seat or the flight.

• "Your pet carrier no longer counts against your carry-on."It does. With a pet carrier you get one more item on board: a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both. Plan your packing around one bag.
• "Book the pet by phone."You add a carry-on pet yourself on aa.com or in the American app, under Additional Services in your trip. You pay the fee at the airport, not online.
• "No cabin pets to Bolivia or Venezuela."American's current South America list is Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. Jamaica is also closed to carry-on pets, and so is every trans-Pacific trip, not only trans-Atlantic ones.
• "Pet plus carrier must weigh under 20 pounds."American's current page states the 20-pound limit for the three-cabin A321T, where pets are weighed at check-in. For other aircraft it only says the pet must fit comfortably inside the closed carrier [VERIFY: whether a 20 lb limit applies on all aircraft].
• "Temperature limits can ground your cabin pet."The 45°F to 85°F rules and the summer embargo on Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas and Palm Springs apply to checked pets and cargo, not to pets in the cabin.
• "Any seat with floor space is fine."No pets in bulkhead or exit rows, in First or Business on the 777 and 787, in seat 13D on the A321neo, or in row 11 on the A321XLR.
• "Small dogs can fly in from anywhere."American refuses dogs as carry-on pets if they started from or visited a CDC high-risk rabies country in the six months before travel. Service dogs that meet CDC rules are exempt.

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

Fees and How You Pay

• Each way, per kennel. All pet fees are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way. A round trip with a cabin pet costs $300.
• Long connections. American's fee note says fees apply per destination unless there is a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, in which case they apply to each connection segment. The note is attached to the checked-pet fee [VERIFY: whether the 4-hour connection rule also applies to carry-on pets].
• Payment. At the airport or a travel center, by credit card or paper voucher where accepted. No cash, no checks.
• Partner flights. American doesn't collect pet fees for other operating airlines, even with an American flight number. If your ticket says "Operated by" another airline, you check in and pay with that airline under its own pet policy.
• Pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and checked bag fees apply.

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

Carrier Size and What Else You Can Bring

Soft carriers must be secure, padded, water-repellent and have nylon mesh ventilation on 3 or more sides. They can be slightly larger than a hard case but still have to fit under the seat without being squashed. A hard carrier can't exceed the under-seat space of any aircraft on your trip, so if one leg is an American Eagle regional jet, the 16 x 12 x 8 limit applies to the whole journey.

Your pet stays in the closed carrier, under the seat in front of you, for the entire flight. American won't accept a pet that has been sedated or tranquilized, following American Veterinary Medical Association advice.

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

Aircraft Limits and Seats

Seats you can't choose with a pet

• Bulkhead seats
• Exit row seats
• First and Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9
• Seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo
• Row 11 on the Airbus A321XLR

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

Where American Won't Fly Your Pet in the Cabin

Carry-on pets can fly on most American flights up to 12 hours, within the 48 contiguous states, between the U.S. and Canada, and to Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. The exceptions:

For Colombia, that means our Colombia entry guide applies only on airlines that do accept cabin pets there, such as Avianca. For Canada, see our Canada pet entry guide.

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

How to Book Your Pet on American

1. 1
   Check the route. Make sure no leg is to or from Hawaii, Jamaica or the five South American countries, and that the trip doesn't cross the Atlantic or Pacific. If a leg says "Operated by" another airline, check that airline's pet policy too.
2. 2
   Check the aircraft and seat. No bulkhead, no exit row, no First or Business on a 777 or 787. If any leg is on American Eagle, use a soft carrier or a hard one within 16 x 12 x 8 inches.
3. 3
   Add the pet online. Find your trip on aa.com or in the American app, go to Additional Services and select "Add carry-on pets." Agree to the requirements, choose the flights your pet will be on, and confirm.
4. 4
   Pack one extra item. Your pet carrier plus either a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both.
5. 5
   Pay at the ticket counter. On travel day, go to the American ticket counter to pay the $150 by card or voucher. Staff will check that your pet and carrier meet the rules. [VERIFY: recommended arrival time for check-in with a carry-on pet]

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

Checked Pets and Cargo

Checked pets: military and State Department only

American accepts checked pets only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Up to 2 pets per traveler, first come, first served. You have to contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel, check in at the ticket counter with your orders between 2 and 4 hours before the flight, and bring a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

• Pet plus kennel can't exceed 100 lb (45 kg).
• Checked pets can't fly on the A319, A320, A321, A321H, A321neo or A321S.
• Connections only through CLT, ORD, DFW, LAX, JFK, LGA, MIA, PHL, PHX and DCA.
• Brachycephalic dogs and cats of any mix, such as bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Boston terriers, Shih Tzus, Persians and Himalayans, are not accepted as checked pets.
• No checked pets to the UK or Ireland, apart from service animals.

American PetEmbark

For pets that don't qualify to travel as carry-on or checked pets, American Airlines Cargo runs American PetEmbark. It's a separate booking, and the price depends on the trip and the size of the animal and kennel. Dogs and cats can go to London (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) this way.

Temperature limits

These apply to checked and cargo pets, not cabin pets. No travel above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any point on the itinerary. A vet letter can waive the cold limit, but never below 20°F (-6.6°C). From May 1 to September 30, pets not in the cabin can't fly to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs.

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

International Paperwork

American's job ends at getting your pet on the plane. The destination decides whether it gets in. For cabin pets, that mostly means Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

• Back into the U.S. with a dog: CDC rules apply to every dog, including service dogs and returning pets. Requirements depend on where the dog has been in the six months before arrival. Dogs from high-risk countries must be at least 16 weeks old and vaccinated against rabies.
• Screwworm: dogs coming from a country with screwworm must meet USDA APHIS requirements.
• Mexico: dogs need a New World Screwworm Inspection Certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, issued within 5 days before entering Mexico. American checks it at check-in. Service dogs are included.
• Canada: commercial dogs from high-risk rabies countries are suspended from entering Canada.

Source: American's official pet policy, checked October 11, 2026.

Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals

Fully trained service dogs fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet American's requirements. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines can ask for the DOT service animal form, and a relief attestation for flights of 8 hours or more. Emotional support animals are not service animals under those rules, so on American they fly as pets: $150 each way, carrier rules, route limits and all.

American vs United vs Delta

All three charge $150 for a domestic cabin pet. The real differences are where you can go and what fits.

American is the only one of the three that still lets a regular traveler ship a pet too large for the cabin, through PetEmbark. It also allows the largest hard carrier on mainline flights. For Europe or Asia with a pet in the cabin, it's out: look at United or Delta instead.

Sources: American's official pet policy, United's official pet policy, Delta's official pet travel page, checked October 11, 2026.

American Airlines Pet Policy FAQ

American Airlines Pet Checklist

• Cat or dog, at least 8 weeks old for travel within the U.S. and Puerto Rico
• No leg to or from Hawaii, Jamaica, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay, and no ocean crossing
• Every leg operated by American; partner legs checked separately
• Carrier: soft up to 18 x 11 x 11 in, or hard up to 19 x 13 x 9 in (16 x 12 x 8 in if any leg is American Eagle)
• Soft carrier padded, water-repellent, mesh on 3 or more sides
• Pet added on aa.com or in the app under Additional Services
• Seat is not bulkhead, exit row, 13D on an A321neo or row 11 on an A321XLR
• Packed one extra item only: personal item or carry-on
• $150 each way per kennel, payable at the ticket counter by card or voucher
• No sedation
• Dogs to Mexico: NWS Inspection Certificate issued within 5 days
• Dogs returning to the U.S.: CDC requirements met

Every rule on this page was checked against American's official pet policy on October 11, 2026. Airlines change pet rules without notice, so check the official page again in the week you fly.