American Airlines Dogs Policy (October 2026): Fees, Carrier Sizes, Cargo and Entry Rules

American Airlines dogs policy, in short: American Airlines lets small dogs fly in the cabin for $150 per kennel, each way, if the dog fits in a carrier that stays under the seat in front of you. The recommended soft-sided carrier is 18 x 11 x 11 inches. Larger dogs must fly with American Airlines Cargo, because only active-duty U.S. military and State Department staff on orders can check a pet. Fully trained service dogs fly free (American Airlines, 2026).

Put simply, the American Airlines dogs policy is the set of rules the airline uses to decide whether a dog can fly in the cabin, in the hold or through Cargo, and what that costs. As of October 2026, this guide covers those rules using American Airlines' official pages, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). Airline pet rules change often, so check aa.com before you book.

How much does it cost to fly a dog on American Airlines?

According to American Airlines' Bag and optional fees page (fees updated for tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026), the carry-on pet fee is $150 per kennel. That applies within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, where the destination country allows entry. The fee page says carry-on pets are not allowed to Hawaii. All pet fees are non-refundable and charged per kennel, each way.

• Carry-on pet: $150 per kennel (American Airlines, 2026).
• Checked pet (active-duty U.S. military and State Department personnel only): $200 per kennel, or $150 to and from Brazil (American Airlines, 2026).
• American Airlines Cargo pet: varies and is confirmed at booking (American Airlines, 2026).
• Service animals: no charge (American Airlines, 2026).

American Airlines says that if a trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, the fee applies again for each connection segment. You pay at the airport ticket counter or a travel center by credit card or paper voucher. American Airlines does not accept cash or checks for pet fees. It also does not collect pet fees for partner airlines, even on codeshare flights with an American flight number.

How much does American Airlines Cargo charge for a large dog?

American Airlines Cargo does not publish one flat price. Its FAQ says smaller pets flying within the U.S. go as Priority Parcel Service (PPS). Larger pets, and any pet flying internationally, go as ExpediteFS and are priced from a rate sheet. As one real-world example, AFAR writer Bailey Berg reported in April 2024 paying roughly $900 to fly a 65-pound Labrador retriever mix one way from Minneapolis to Anchorage. Treat that as one person's experience, not a quote. American Airlines Cargo also offers active-duty U.S. military members a 50% discount on domestic dog and cat shipments under Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Temporary Duty (TDY) orders.

Can my dog fly in the cabin on American Airlines?

Yes, if your dog is small enough. American Airlines limits carry-on pets to cats and dogs that meet its size, age and destination rules. Your dog must stay inside a closed carrier under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. Pets traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old.

American Airlines pet carrier size

American Airlines' official pets page also says soft-sided carriers must be secure and padded, made of water-repellent material, and have nylon mesh ventilation on 3 or more sides. Your dog must fit comfortably inside with the carrier fully zipped.

How many dogs are allowed per flight?

On most mainline aircraft, including the Airbus A319, A320, A321 and Boeing 737, American Airlines allows a maximum of 20 pet carriers across all cabins, not counting service animals. American Eagle regional jets such as the CRJ-900 and ERJ-175 allow 1 pet carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin. Carry-on pets are not allowed in First or Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9 because those seats lack under-seat storage. On the 3-cabin Airbus A321T, pets in premium cabins go in a dedicated animal compartment, and the pet plus carrier must weigh 20 pounds (9.07 kg) or less.

Which seats can you sit in with a dog?

Carry-on pets are not allowed in bulkhead seats or exit rows. American Airlines also bans them from seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo because of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements or missing under-seat storage.

Can I bring a carry-on bag as well as my dog?

Yes. Since a policy change that took effect in late March 2024, reported by the Associated Press (AP) and AFAR, passengers with a carry-on pet may bring one extra item. That can be either a personal item or a full-size carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin, but not both. Before that change, the pet carrier counted as your carry-on and only a small personal item was allowed. Pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and checked bag fees apply.

How to book a dog on an American Airlines flight

1. Find your trip on aa.com or in the American app.
2. In the Additional Services section, select Add carry-on pets.
3. Review and agree to the carry-on pet requirements.
4. Select the flights your dog will travel on.
5. Confirm the carry-on pet to finish the change.
6. On travel day, go to the American Airlines ticket counter to pay the fee and have your dog and carrier checked.

Booking early matters because per-flight pet limits are first come, first served. American Airlines Cargo says you can book a pet's Cargo flight up to 10 days in advance and recommends booking at least 24 hours ahead.

Where can't dogs fly on American Airlines?

According to American Airlines, you can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours, plus flights to and from selected destinations: the 48 contiguous states, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. The official pets page lists these restrictions:

• Hawaii: no carry-on pets to or from Hawaii. Checked pets may go only by connecting via Honolulu (HNL) and must follow Hawaii's quarantine rules.
• Trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific trips: no carry-on pets.
• South America: no carry-on pets to or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay.
• Jamaica: no carry-on pets.
• United Kingdom and Ireland: no checked pets, but dogs and cats can go to London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) through American Airlines Cargo.
• Mexico: dogs, including service dogs, need a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, issued within 5 days before entering Mexico.
• High-risk rabies countries: American Airlines does not accept dogs as carry-on pets if they come from, or have visited, a CDC high-risk country for rabies in the 6 months before travel. Service dogs that meet CDC requirements are exempt.

What are American Airlines' rules for large dogs and checked pets?

American Airlines accepts checked pets at the ticket counter only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Those travelers can check up to 2 pets. They must contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel and show a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Every other owner of a large dog must use American PetEmbark, the American Airlines Cargo service for pets that cannot fly as carry-on or checked pets.

Kennel requirements

• The dog must be able to stand, turn, sit and lie down naturally without touching the sides or top.
• The pet plus kennel must weigh no more than 100 lb (45 kg).
• The kennel must be rigid with a welded or cast metal door, bolted top and bottom, and have ventilation on 3 sides for domestic and 4 sides for international travel.
• Food and water dishes must be attached inside, with a 24-hour food supply attached to the top. Straw, hay and wood shavings are not allowed.

Banned breeds: snub-nosed dogs

American Airlines does not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs of any mix as checked pets. Its list includes the Affenpinscher, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, all Bulldogs, Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, all Mastiffs, Pekingese, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, all Pugs, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Tibetan Spaniel. A small snub-nosed dog that fits an under-seat carrier can still fly in the cabin.

Temperature limits and sedation

For checked and Cargo pets, American Airlines will not fly a pet if the current or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) anywhere on the itinerary. Pets not flying in the cabin cannot travel to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs from May 1 to September 30. Below 45°F (7.2°C), a vet's acclimation letter is required, and below 20°F (-6.6°C) the pet cannot fly at all. American Airlines also refuses sedated or tranquilized pets, following American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidance that sedatives raise respiratory and cardiovascular risk at altitude.

The two official pages do not match on aircraft. The American Airlines pets page says checked pets cannot fly on the A319, A320 or A321 family. The American Airlines Cargo FAQ uses the same restriction but excludes New York JFK to and from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). Confirm your aircraft with PetEmbark before booking.

Service dogs and emotional support animals on American Airlines

American Airlines defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service dogs fly in the cabin free. American Airlines recommends sending the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before the flight. For flights over 8 hours, the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form is also required. Once approved, the airline issues a Service Animal ID (SVAN ID) for future bookings.

Service dogs must be at least 4 months old, leashed or harnessed, and must fit at your feet, under the seat or on your lap. Each person can bring up to 2 service animals. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training travel as pets, and all pet fees apply (American Airlines, 2026).

Bringing a dog into the United States on American Airlines

The CDC sets the entry rules for dogs arriving in the United States, and American Airlines applies them to all dogs, including service dogs and returning pets. Under CDC requirements in force since August 1, 2024, a dog that has been only in rabies-free or low-risk countries for the past 6 months needs:

• A free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, one per dog. The receipt is valid for 6 months.
• A microchip that a universal scanner can read.
• A minimum age of 6 months at entry.
• A healthy appearance on arrival.

Dogs that have been in a high-risk country need extra paperwork. For U.S.-vaccinated dogs, USDA APHIS says (page last modified March 20, 2026) that a USDA-accredited veterinarian must submit a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination before the dog leaves the United States. American Airlines' own page adds that dogs from high-risk countries must be at least 16 weeks old and rabies-vaccinated. The CDC's 6-month minimum is stricter, so the CDC rule is the one to meet.

Airline pet documents vs. Animal Passport: not the same thing

Travelers often search for a dog "passport" when planning a flight. That usually means a government document, such as a USDA-endorsed health certificate, the CDC Dog Import Form or an EU pet passport. None of these are made by Animal Passport.

Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics: an animal's nose print is unique, like a fingerprint. A phone captures the print, and the record links owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. It can estimate age from a dental photograph with a confidence score and gives a body condition score from 1 to 5 from a side-profile photo. In August 2025, it was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after their paper tags washed away.

Animal Passport is not an airline document, a government-issued travel certificate or a veterinary diagnosis. It does not replace a microchip, a health certificate or a CDC Dog Import Form. American Airlines and border officials will ask for the official documents listed above. For more on animal identification, see the Animal Passport blog.

Checklist before you fly a dog on American Airlines

1. Confirm your route allows pets and how your dog will travel: cabin, checked (military and State Department only) or Cargo.
2. Measure your dog and buy a carrier within 18 x 11 x 11 inches (soft-sided) if flying in the cabin.
3. Add the carry-on pet to your booking early, because per-flight limits fill up.
4. Get a health certificate from a licensed or USDA-accredited veterinarian if your route or Cargo booking requires one.
5. For entry into the U.S., complete the CDC Dog Import Form and check that the microchip scans.
6. Check forecast temperatures for checked or Cargo travel, and do not sedate your dog.
7. Arrive early and pay the fee at the ticket counter by card.