American Airlines Pet Policy (2026): Fees, Carrier Sizes, Destinations and Documents

American Airlines lets small cats and dogs fly in the cabin for $150 per kennel each way on flights within the U.S. and to or from Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (American Airlines, 2026). The pet has to stay in a carrier under the seat for the whole flight, and it takes the place of either your personal item or your carry-on bag. Checked pets are limited to active-duty U.S. military and State Department staff. Other larger pets fly with American Airlines Cargo.

The American Airlines pet policy is the set of rules the carrier uses to decide which animals can fly, where they sit, which documents they need and what you pay. As of September 2026, the rules below come directly from 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). Pet rules change often, so check aa.com again within a week of your flight.

American Airlines pet policy at a glance (September 2026)

American Airlines recognizes three ways for an animal to travel, plus a separate category for service dogs. The table below compares them using the carrier's published 2026 fees.

American Airlines' fee notes say all pet fees are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way. If your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, the fee applies again to each connecting segment (American Airlines fee schedule, 2026). The airline doesn't take cash or checks for pet fees. It also doesn't collect pet fees for partner airlines, even on flights sold under an American flight number.

Flying with a carry-on pet on American Airlines

Which animals can fly in the cabin?

Only cats and dogs can travel as carry-on pets. According to American Airlines (2026), pets flying within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old. The pet has to stay inside its carrier, under the seat in front of you, for the entire flight.

Which routes allow carry-on pets?

American Airlines says you can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours, and on flights within the 48 contiguous states and to or from Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. As of 2026, the airline lists these exclusions for carry-on pets:

• Flights to or from Hawaii
• Trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific trips
• Flights to Jamaica
• Flights to or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay
• Dogs that started their trip in, or visited, a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies in the previous 6 months. This doesn't apply to service dogs that meet CDC requirements.

Pets flying to Trinidad and Tobago (POS) can't arrive before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m., according to American Airlines.

American Airlines pet carrier size limits

American Airlines publishes these maximum carrier dimensions for 2026:

Soft-sided carriers must be secure, padded, water-repellent and have nylon mesh ventilation on at least 3 sides. The pet must fit comfortably with the carrier closed, and the carrier can't be squashed flat to fit under the seat.

A note on weight: Weight limits are one area where published information disagrees. On its main pet page, American Airlines lists a 20-pound (9.07 kg) combined pet-and-carrier weight limit, weighed at check-in, only for the animal compartments in First and Business on the three-cabin Airbus A321T. Many third-party travel guides describe a 20-pound limit for every flight. If your pet is close to that weight, confirm the limit with American Airlines Reservations before you book.

How many pets are allowed per flight?

American Airlines allows a maximum of 20 pet carriers across all cabins on its mainline Airbus and Boeing aircraft, not counting service animals. On American Eagle regional jets (CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, ERJ-145, ERJ-175, ERJ-190), the limit is 1 carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin. Space is limited, so add your pet to the booking as early as you can.

Where you can and can't sit

American Airlines doesn't allow carry-on pets in bulkhead or exit-row seats. They also aren't allowed in First and Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9, or in seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo. The airline says this is because of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements or a lack of under-seat storage. Business and First passengers on the three-cabin A321T must use the dedicated animal compartment at the front of the plane.

How to add a pet to an American Airlines booking

1. Find your trip on aa.com or in the American app.
2. In the Additional Services section, select "Add carry-on pets."
3. Read and accept the carry-on pet requirements.
4. Choose the flights your pet will travel on, then confirm.
5. At the airport, go to the American ticket counter to pay the fee and have your pet and carrier checked.

A pet carrier counts toward your cabin allowance. You can bring one more item: either a personal item or a carry-on bag, but not both. Pet strollers have to be checked, and regular checked bag fees apply.

Checked pets and American PetEmbark cargo

As of 2026, American Airlines only accepts checked pets at the ticket counter from active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel on official orders. Eligible travelers must contact Reservations at least 48 hours before the flight, check in 2 to 4 hours before departure and bring a veterinary health certificate. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel.

Everyone else with a pet too large for the cabin has to use American PetEmbark, the American Airlines Cargo animal service. The American Airlines Cargo Animal Transport Guide requires a health certificate dated within 10 calendar days of travel, a rabies vaccination record and a veterinarian's statement confirming the breed. The guide also says flights must be 12 hours or less. Individual pet owners don't need a cargo account, according to American Airlines Cargo.

Kennel rules for checked and cargo pets

• The kennel must be big enough for the pet to stand, turn around, sit and lie down without touching the sides or top.
• The pet and kennel together must weigh no more than 100 lbs (45 kg).
• The kennel must be rigid, with a welded or cast metal door and the top and bottom held together with bolts or screws.
• It needs ventilation on at least 3 sides for U.S. domestic trips and 4 sides for international trips.
• Food and water dishes must be attached inside, with a 24-hour supply of food fastened to the top.

Snub-nosed breed restrictions

American Airlines won't carry brachycephalic (snub-nosed) cats or dogs, or mixes of those breeds, as checked pets. The restricted list includes Persian, Himalayan and Burmese cats, and pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, boxers, shih tzus and all mastiff breeds. These breeds can still fly in the cabin if they fit the carrier rules.

Temperature embargoes

For pets that don't travel in the cabin, American Airlines won't fly them if the current or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) or the ground temperature is below 45°F (7.2°C) anywhere on the itinerary. From May 1 to September 30, it also won't fly them to, from or through Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs. A veterinarian's acclimation letter can waive the cold limit, but not when it is below 20°F (-6.6°C).

Sedation: why American Airlines refuses sedated pets

American Airlines says it doesn't accept pets that have been sedated or tranquilized, following the recommendation of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The airline notes that sedated animals face higher respiratory and cardiovascular risks at altitude. Ask your own veterinarian about non-sedating ways to reduce your pet's travel stress.

Service dogs versus pets 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 at no charge. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training travel as pets, and pet fees apply.

American Airlines recommends submitting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before departure. On itineraries with a flight longer than 8 hours, you also need the DOT relief attestation form. Once approved, the airline issues a Service Animal ID (SVAN ID) that you can reuse until the dog's vaccination expires. Each passenger can bring up to 2 service animals, and service animals must be at least 4 months old.

International paperwork: CDC, USDA APHIS and destination rules

Flying into the United States with a dog

The CDC sets the requirements for all dogs entering the U.S., including returning pets and service dogs. Under rules in force since August 1, 2024, what a dog needs depends on where it was vaccinated and which countries it has been in during the previous 6 months (CDC, 2024). The CDC says an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months won't be allowed to enter. American Airlines adds that dogs arriving from high-risk countries must be at least 16 weeks old and vaccinated against rabies. For the exact paperwork your dog needs, use the CDC's Dog Importation Navigator.

Flying to Mexico with a dog (New World screwworm rule)

USDA APHIS reports that, effective August 3, 2026, Mexico requires a New World screwworm (NWS) inspection certificate for pet dogs entering from the United States. The certificate must be signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian no more than 5 days before entry. It doesn't need APHIS endorsement. American Airlines says it checks this certificate at check-in, and the rule also applies to service dogs. Pet cats don't need a health certificate or NWS document to enter Mexico, according to USDA APHIS (2026). Dogs returning to the U.S. from Mexico must meet APHIS screwworm requirements.

Europe, the UK and Japan

Carry-on pets can't fly on American Airlines' trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flights. For checked pets flying to the European Union (EU), American Airlines says the pet needs a microchip or tattoo that matches the ID number on its vaccination record. Apart from service animals, you can't check a pet to the UK or Ireland. Dogs and cats can go to London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) through American Airlines Cargo. The EU pet passport and the UK's pet travel rules are official government schemes, and your veterinarian and the destination government are the authorities on them.

Is Animal Passport an airline pet travel document?

No. People searching for "pet passport" sometimes find Animal Passport, so here is the difference. Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics, the nose print that is unique to each animal like a fingerprint. Owners capture it with a phone. The record links the owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photo, with a confidence score), body condition score from 1 to 5 (from a side-profile photo) and vaccination history.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It doesn't replace an American Airlines booking, a USDA-accredited veterinarian's health certificate, a CDC dog import form, a Mexican NWS certificate or an EU pet passport. Its field use has been in livestock. During the August 2025 floods in Pakistan, farmers used it to reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away. For more on animal identification and travel, see the Animal Passport blog.

Pre-flight checklist for flying with a pet on American Airlines

1. Check that your route allows your pet's travel category on the American Airlines pets page.
2. Add the pet to your booking early, because each flight has a limited number of pet spaces.
3. Measure your carrier against the 2026 limits for every aircraft on your itinerary.
4. Book a veterinary visit to fit the required timing: 10 days for checked or cargo health certificates, and 5 days for Mexico's NWS certificate for dogs.
5. For dogs entering the U.S., complete the CDC requirements before you leave.
6. Don't sedate your pet. Arrive early and pay the $150 fee at the ticket counter.

Last updated September 28, 2026, by Animal Passport. Fees and rules are taken from American Airlines, CDC and USDA APHIS pages checked on that date. Confirm them again before you travel.