AA Pet Policy: Cabin Fees, Carrier Rules, and Cargo Limits Explained

As of September 2026, the AA pet policy lets cats and dogs travel as carry-on pets on many American Airlines routes for a nonrefundable fee of $150 per kennel each way, paid at the airport, provided the animal stays in a closed carrier under the seat. The American Airlines pet policy (also called the AA pet policy) is the carrier’s set of rules for carry-on pets, limited checked pets for eligible military and State Department travelers, American PetEmbark® cargo shipping, service dogs, destination embargoes, and temperature limits. Larger pets that cannot fit under the seat generally must use American Airlines Cargo rather than checked baggage, unless you qualify for the military or Foreign Service checked-pet exception.

This guide summarizes the official American Airlines Traveling with pets page and related U.S. government import rules so you can plan documents, fees, and seating before you book. It is not veterinary or legal advice. Separately, Animal Passport publishes a digital animal and livestock identity product based on muzzle biometrics; that product is not an airline travel document, not an EU pet passport, and not a substitute for CDC, USDA, or American Airlines requirements.

What the AA pet policy covers

American Airlines states that, depending on breed, size, and destination rules, pets may travel as a carry-on or be transported with American Airlines Cargo. Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet size, age, and destination requirements. Fully trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet American Airlines and destination requirements. Emotional support animals and comfort animals are treated as pets under the AA pet policy, not as service animals, according to American Airlines’ Traveling with a service animal page.

As of September 2026, American Airlines also states that it only accepts checked pets at the ticket counter for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Fees and capacity limits apply. Everyone else whose pet is too large for the cabin is directed to American PetEmbark® through American Airlines Cargo.

AA pet policy fees (carry-on, checked, cargo)

American Airlines lists the following pet fees on its Traveling with pets page and on its Optional service fees and charges page. Amounts are in U.S. dollars and apply per kennel, each way. Pet fees are nonrefundable. If your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, American Airlines says fees apply for each connection segment.

American Airlines Customer service FAQs state that you must pay carry-on pet fees at the airport; you cannot pay those pet fees online. Payment at the airport or travel center is by credit card or paper voucher where accepted—American Airlines says it does not accept cash or checks for pet fees. The airline also notes that it does not collect pet fees for other operating airlines on codeshare or partner segments; you must check in with each airline.

How to add a carry-on pet under the AA pet policy

1. Find your trip on aa.com or the American Airlines app.
2. In Additional Services, select Add carry-on pets.
3. Review and agree to the carry-on pet requirements.
4. Select the flights where your pet will travel and confirm.
5. At the airport, go to the American Airlines ticket counter to pay the $150 fee and verify that your pet and kennel meet requirements.

American Airlines limits how many pet carriers may board each flight. On many mainline jets the maximum is 20 pet carriers across cabins (excluding service animals). On American Eagle regional aircraft, limits are typically 1 carrier in premium cabin and 5 in Main Cabin, excluding service animals. Because space is capped, reserve early.

Carrier size, weight, and seat rules

Under the AA pet policy, your pet must remain inside a closed or zipped carrier under the seat for the entire flight. Soft-sided collapsible kennels are recommended. American Airlines publishes these approximate soft-sided dimensions for all flights: 18 x 11 x 11 inches (46 x 28 x 28 centimeters). Hard-sided limits are 19 x 13 x 9 inches on American mainline flights and 16 x 12 x 8 inches on American Eagle flights. Non-collapsible kennels must not exceed under-seat dimensions on any aircraft in your journey.

On three-cabin Airbus A321T aircraft, American Airlines states that the total weight of your pet and its carrier must not exceed 20 pounds (9.07 kilograms) and will be weighed at check-in. Soft-sided carriers are preferred in Business; First has no under-seat stowage and uses dedicated animal-friendly compartments at the front of the plane.

Carry-on pets are not permitted in bulkhead seats, exit rows, or several premium seats that lack under-seat storage, including First and Business seats on Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8, and 787-9 aircraft, according to American Airlines. You may bring the pet carrier plus only one additional item—either a personal item or a carry-on bag—not both. Pet strollers must be checked, and standard checked-bag fees apply.

Where you can and cannot fly with a cabin pet

American Airlines says you can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours, or on flights to or from select locations, including within the 48 contiguous United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and (with possible extra restrictions) Canada and Mexico. Carry-on pets are not allowed on trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific trips. Carry-on pets are also barred to or from Hawaii, Jamaica, and several South American countries American Airlines lists as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay.

For Mexico, American Airlines requires a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate completed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)–accredited veterinarian within 5 days before entering Mexico, including for service dogs. The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) states that Mexico’s NWS inspection document requirement for pet dogs and pet birds took effect on August 3, 2026, and that the certificate must be signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued no more than 5 days before entry. As of September 2026, treat that certificate as mandatory for U.S.-to-Mexico dog travel and verify the latest APHIS Mexico pet-travel page before departure.

CDC dog import rules vs. airline cabin rules

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets requirements for bringing dogs into the United States. American Airlines notes that CDC rules apply to all dogs, including service dogs and returning pets, regardless of citizenship. New CDC requirements took effect on August 1, 2024, and depend on the dog’s travel history in the six months before U.S. arrival. Dogs arriving from high-risk countries for dog rabies face additional documentation.

American Airlines also embargos dogs as carry-on pets if they originate from or have visited a high-risk country for rabies in the six months before travel; that airline embargo does not apply to service dogs that meet CDC requirements. Separately, USDA APHIS is the primary authority for screwworm and certain other animal-health import conditions. APHIS states that Mexico has been considered screwworm-affected as of November 22, 2024, and that dogs returning from Mexico must meet screwworm freedom certification rules for U.S. re-entry.

Age rules can disagree across agencies and airline pages. American Airlines requires pets traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico to be at least 8 weeks old, and states that dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries must be at least 16 weeks old with required rabies vaccination before U.S. entry. Always cross-check CDC’s Dog Importation Navigator and destination agricultural rules; do not rely on cabin-age minimums alone for international entry.

Checked pets and American PetEmbark® cargo

Checked pets (as baggage) are limited to eligible military and State Department travelers on official orders. American Airlines allows up to two checked pets, requires Reservations contact at least 48 hours before travel, official orders at the ticket counter, extra check-in time (at least 2 hours and no more than 4 hours before departure), a completed agent checklist, and a health certificate. For checked pets, American Airlines says the health certificate must be issued by a veterinarian within 10 days of travel; return-trip timing depends on whether you travel on the same ticket (up to 60 days) or a separate ticket (within 10 days of return).

Kennels for checked pets must allow the animal to stand, turn, sit, and lie down naturally; combined pet-and-kennel weight must not exceed 100 pounds (45 kilograms). American Airlines lists brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog and cat breeds and mixes that it will not accept as checked pets. Temperature limits also apply: American Airlines does not transport non-cabin pets when the current or forecast temperature exceeds 85°F (29.4°C) at any location on the itinerary, or when ground temperature is below 45°F (7.2°C), with limited veterinarian-letter exceptions for cold and a hard stop below 20°F (−6.6°C). Seasonal heat embargoes apply to Phoenix (PHX), Tucson (TUS), Las Vegas (LAS), and Palm Springs (PSP) from May 1 through September 30 for pets not traveling in the cabin.

American Airlines Cargo’s American PetEmbark® service is the path American Airlines describes for pets that do not qualify as carry-on or checked pets. Cargo rates vary and are confirmed at booking. Follow kennel, documentation, and drop-off instructions from American Airlines Cargo at booking time.

Service dogs under American Airlines rules

American Airlines defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. The airline recommends submitting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form to the Special Assistance Desk at least 48 hours before departure. Flights over 8 hours also require the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. Service animals in training, emotional support animals, and comfort animals travel as pets with pet fees and pet rules. For U.S. entry, American Airlines requires service dogs to have a completed CDC Dog Import Form and to meet CDC vaccination and microchip requirements.

Sedation and welfare notes

Citing guidance associated with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Airlines does not accept pets that have been sedated or tranquilized because of higher risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems at altitude. American Airlines also states it assumes no liability for the health or well-being of carry-on pets.

Animal Passport is not the AA pet policy or an EU pet passport

Search results for “pet passport” often mix three different things: airline pet policies (such as the AA pet policy), government travel schemes (for example EU pet passports or destination import certificates), and private animal identity products. Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock passport that uses muzzle biometrics—nose-print patterns unique like a fingerprint—captured on a phone. The record can bind owner, breed, estimated age, body condition, and vaccination history. Age can be estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and body condition can be scored 1–5 from a side-profile photo.

In August 2025, Animal Passport’s biometric livestock identity approach was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. That field use supports durable identity when physical tags fail; it does not replace airline kennel rules, CDC Dog Import Forms, USDA APHIS certificates, or government-issued travel documents. For more livestock-identity reporting, see Animal Passport blogs.

Practical checklist before you fly American with a pet

• Confirm your itinerary allows carry-on pets (Hawaii, Jamaica, South America lists, and transoceanic routes are common blockers).
• Reserve carry-on pet space early and avoid bulkhead or exit-row seats.
• Measure your soft-sided carrier against American Airlines’ published dimensions and under-seat fit on every aircraft in the journey.
• Budget $150 each way for cabin pets, plus extra segments if you have a connection of 4 hours or more.
• For dogs entering the U.S., complete CDC requirements; for Mexico-bound dogs, obtain the USDA-accredited NWS inspection certificate within 5 days of entry as of August 3, 2026.
• Do not sedate your pet for travel under American Airlines rules.
• Keep Animal Passport’s biometric ID (if you use it) separate from airline and government travel paperwork—useful for ownership records, not gate clearance.

Byline: Animal Passport. Last updated September 2026. Policies change; always verify American Airlines, CDC, and USDA APHIS pages for your exact itinerary.