American Flying With Pets: American Airlines Pet Policy, Fees and Rules in 2026

American flying with pets means traveling on American Airlines with a cat or dog under the airline's 2026 pet policy. As of October 2026, small cats and dogs can fly in the cabin for $150 per kennel, each way, in a carrier that fits under the seat (soft-sided maximum 18 x 11 x 11 inches). Only active-duty U.S. military and State Department personnel on orders can check a pet. Everyone else with a larger animal must ship it through American Airlines Cargo, and service dogs fly free.

This guide pulls together the rules from American Airlines' own pet, service animal and cargo pages, along with the federal agencies that control animal movement: 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 every number below against American's pet page before you book.

The three ways a pet can fly on American Airlines

According to American Airlines (2026), an animal travels in one of three categories, depending on its size, breed and your status. The category you pick at the start of a trip has to stay the same for the whole journey. American says pets checked as baggage cannot be switched to cargo partway through, or the other way around.

How much does American Airlines charge to fly with a pet?

American Airlines lists the carry-on pet fee as $150 per kennel on its bag and optional fees page (2026). The price is the same in Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business and First. The airline says all pet fees are nonrefundable and charged per kennel, each way. If your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, you pay the fee again for each segment.

You pay at the airport ticket counter or a travel center by credit card or paper voucher, where accepted. American does not take cash or checks for pet fees. If any flight on your ticket is operated by a partner airline, even under an American flight number, American will not collect that partner's pet fee. You have to check in with that airline and follow its own pet policy.

Carry-on pet rules on American Airlines

Which animals and routes are allowed

American Airlines limits carry-on pets to cats and dogs. In-cabin pets are allowed on most flights of up to 12 hours within the 48 contiguous states and between the U.S. and Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. The airline's fee table also lists Central America and the Caribbean, subject to each country's entry rules. Pets flying within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old.

American's 2026 destination rules do not allow a carry-on pet on these trips:

• To or from Hawaii
• Any trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific trip
• To Jamaica
• To or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay
• Dogs that started in, or visited, a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies in the six months before travel (service dogs meeting CDC rules are exempt)

Carrier size limits

American Airlines publishes these maximum carrier dimensions (2026). The pet must fit comfortably inside with the carrier closed or zipped.

American wants soft-sided carriers to be secure and padded, made of water-repellent material, with mesh ventilation on at least three sides. On the three-cabin Airbus A321T, pets in First or Business go in a dedicated animal compartment at the front of the plane, and the pet plus carrier must weigh no more than 20 pounds.

Cabin limits and seat restrictions

Space is first come, first served. American caps most mainline aircraft at 20 pet carriers across all cabins. American Eagle regional jets (CRJ and ERJ types) take a maximum of 1 carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the Main Cabin. Pets cannot sit in bulkhead or exit rows, in First or Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9, or in seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo. Those restrictions come from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety rules or from a lack of under-seat space.

Your bag allowance with a pet

A carry-on pet used to count as your carry-on bag. AFAR reported that on March 28, 2024, American changed its website to allow the pet carrier plus one more item: either a personal item or a full-size carry-on that fits in the overhead bin, but not both. AP News confirmed the change with an American spokeswoman. Before then, passengers with a pet had to check a rolling bag, which AP and AFAR said cost $35. Pet strollers still have to be checked at the ticket counter, and normal checked bag fees apply.

How to add a carry-on pet to an American Airlines booking

1. Check eligibility first. Confirm your route, aircraft and destination entry rules allow a cabin pet, and that the carrier fits the limits above.
2. Find your trip on aa.com or in the American app.
3. Select "Add carry-on pets" in the Additional Services section and accept the carry-on pet requirements.
4. Choose the flights your pet will be on and confirm. Space is limited per aircraft, so book early.
5. Gather documents. Get any health certificate, CDC form or screwworm certificate your route needs. A USDA-accredited veterinarian handles the export paperwork.
6. Go to the ticket counter on travel day. Pay the $150 fee and have an agent confirm your pet and carrier meet the rules. You cannot skip the counter and go straight to security.

Checked pets and American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark)

Checked pets: military and State Department only

American Airlines (2026) accepts checked pets only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Each traveler can check up to two pets. You must contact Reservations at least 48 hours ahead and check in at the ticket counter 2 to 4 hours before departure. You also need a health certificate issued by a vet within 10 days of travel. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats of any mix cannot be checked, including bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Shih Tzus, Persians and Himalayans. Kennels must not exceed 100 lbs (45 kg) combined with the pet.

American PetEmbark through American Airlines Cargo

Most owners of larger dogs use American PetEmbark, American Airlines Cargo's service for pets that can't fly in the cabin. The cargo FAQ explains how it works:

• Booking window: up to 10 days ahead, with at least 24 hours' notice recommended.
• Pricing: smaller domestic pets ship as Priority Parcel Service (PPS). Larger pets and all international pets ship as ExpediteFS. Rates depend on size, route and kennel.
• Documents: a health certificate dated within 10 days, rabies certification, breed verification and acknowledgment forms, plus an acclimation letter if needed.
• Aircraft: no pets on most Airbus A319, A320 and A321 variants, except New York JFK to and from Los Angeles and San Francisco.
• Military discount: 50% off published domestic rates for active-duty service members on PCS or TDY orders.

Temperature embargoes

American Airlines will not carry a checked or cargo pet if the actual or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) anywhere on the itinerary. It also won't carry one when the ground temperature is below 45°F (7.2°C), unless a licensed vet signs an acclimation letter. Below 20°F, no pet can fly even with a letter. Pets not riding in the cabin cannot fly to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs between May 1 and September 30.

Sedation, food and water

American Airlines follows the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and does not accept sedated or tranquilized pets, because those animals face a higher risk of breathing and heart problems at altitude. For checked and cargo pets, federal rules require you to certify in writing that the animal was offered food and water within 4 hours before drop-off. You also have to attach 24 hours of feeding instructions to the kennel. American Airlines Cargo suggests getting your pet used to its kennel two to three weeks before the trip.

Service animals vs. emotional support animals

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 recommends submitting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before departure. If any flight is over 8 hours, you also need the DOT relief attestation form. Service dogs must be at least 4 months old and leashed or harnessed, and must fit at your feet or on your lap. Each passenger can bring up to two. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training travel as pets, so carry-on pet fees and rules apply to them.

Government rules that apply on top of American's policy

Bringing a dog into the United States

The CDC is the main authority for dogs entering or returning to the United States. Its rules took effect on August 1, 2024. What your dog needs depends on where it was vaccinated and whether it was in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the previous six months. CDC states that an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country in that period will not be allowed into the U.S. USDA APHIS (updated March 2026) adds that U.S.-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries need a "Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination" form. A USDA-accredited veterinarian has to submit it before the dog leaves the U.S.

Flying to Mexico: the screwworm certificate

USDA APHIS says that, effective August 3, 2026, Mexico requires a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate for pet dogs entering from the United States. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must sign it no more than 5 days before entry. American Airlines says it checks this certificate at airport check-in, for service dogs as well as pets. USDA APHIS says pet cats need neither a health certificate nor an NWS document for Mexico. Mexico currently prohibits pet ferrets from all U.S. states.

Hawaii, the EU and the UK

American does not take carry-on pets to or from Hawaii. Military and State Department travelers can check a pet only via Honolulu and must follow Hawaii's quarantine rules. For checked pets going to the European Union, American requires a tattoo or implanted microchip that matches the ID number on the vaccination record. American does not accept checked pets (other than service animals) to the UK or Ireland. American Airlines Cargo, however, carries dogs and cats to London Heathrow and Manchester.

Is Animal Passport a pet travel document?

No. Readers sometimes confuse the two, so to be clear: Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record that uses muzzle biometrics. An animal's nose print is unique like a fingerprint and is captured with a phone camera. The record links the owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photograph, with a confidence score), body condition score (1 to 5, from a side-profile photo) and vaccination history. In Pakistan's August 2025 floods, it helped farmers reclaim livestock after paper ear tags washed away.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document, an EU pet passport, a USDA-endorsed health certificate or a CDC import form. American Airlines will not accept it in place of any document listed in this guide. For a flight, you still need the paperwork the airline, CDC, USDA APHIS and your destination country require, issued by a licensed or USDA-accredited veterinarian. More on animal identification is on the Animal Passport blog.

Checklist before you fly American with a pet

• Confirm the route allows in-cabin pets and that space is still available on each flight.
• Measure your carrier against American's limits for every aircraft type on your trip.
• Book a USDA-accredited veterinarian early if you're crossing a border.
• Check CDC rules if a dog is entering or returning to the U.S.
• For Mexico, time the screwworm certificate so it falls within 5 days of entry.
• Don't sedate your pet, and arrive early enough to pay at the ticket counter.

By Animal Passport. Last updated October 6, 2026. This article is general information, not veterinary or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with American Airlines, CDC, USDA APHIS and your destination's authorities before travel.