American Airlines Pet Policy in the Cabin: Fees, Carrier Sizes and Rules (October 2026)

American Airlines' cabin pet policy lets you bring one small cat or dog in a closed carrier under the seat in front of you. The fee is $150 per kennel, each way, on eligible flights within and between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (American Airlines, 2026). Pets must fit comfortably inside the carrier and stay in it for the whole flight. Cabin pets are not allowed to Hawaii or on trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific trips. Sedated pets are refused, and the carrier counts toward your cabin bag allowance.

This guide is current as of October 2026. Every rule below was checked against American Airlines' official Traveling with pets page and its optional service fees page. Government entry rules come from 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 policies change without notice, so confirm with American Airlines Reservations before you book.

What is the American Airlines cabin pet policy?

The American Airlines cabin pet policy is the airline's set of rules for small animals that fly with you in the passenger cabin instead of the cargo hold. American Airlines says carry-on pets are "limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements." Birds, rabbits, ferrets and other species cannot fly as carry-on pets.

The policy covers three kinds of animal travel, and people often mix them up:

• Carry-on pets (the focus of this article): cats and dogs in a carrier under the seat, for a fee.
• Checked pets: accepted at the ticket counter only for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders (American Airlines, 2026).
• American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark): for pets that don't qualify as carry-on or checked pets. Cargo fees vary by route and animal.

Trained service dogs are a separate category and fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements, as covered below.

How much does it cost to bring a pet in the cabin on American Airlines?

As of October 2026, American Airlines charges $150 per kennel for a carry-on pet, according to its optional service fees table. The fee is the same in Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business and First. All pet fees are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way. A round trip with one cat or dog therefore costs $300 in pet fees, on top of your ticket.

Connections can add to the cost. American Airlines says that if your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, fees apply to each connection segment. You pay at the airport ticket counter or a travel center, by credit card or paper voucher where accepted. American Airlines does not accept cash or checks for pet fees.

Codeshare flights are a common trap. American Airlines says it does not collect pet fees for other operating airlines on your trip, even if the flight has an American flight number. If your ticket says "Operated by" another airline, that airline's pet policy and fee apply on that leg.

Carrier size limits for cabin pets

American Airlines publishes these carrier dimensions (length x width x height) for carry-on pets:

American Airlines recommends soft-sided carriers. They must be secure, padded and made of water-repellent material, with nylon mesh ventilation on 3 or more sides. The airline says soft-sided carriers "can be slightly larger" than the listed size, as long as they fit under the seat without being excessively collapsed. Hard-sided kennels cannot exceed the under-seat space of any aircraft on your trip. Your pet must be small enough to fit comfortably inside the closed, zipped carrier.

Where sources disagree: some travel guides describe 18 x 11 x 11 inches as a hard maximum for soft carriers. American Airlines' own wording treats it as a guideline, provided the carrier still fits under the seat. If you have a mixed itinerary, size the carrier for the smallest aircraft, which is usually an American Eagle regional jet.

Which routes allow pets in the cabin?

American Airlines says you can travel with a pet on most flights of up to 12 hours, or on flights to and from these places:

• The 48 contiguous United States
• Alaska
• The U.S. and Canada (special restrictions may apply)
• Mexico (special restrictions may apply)
• Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas

Routes where carry-on pets are not allowed

As of October 2026, American Airlines does not accept carry-on pets:

• To or from Hawaii. Pets can reach Hawaii only as checked pets, which are limited to eligible military and State Department travelers who connect via Honolulu (HNL) and follow Hawaii's quarantine rules.
• To Jamaica.
• To or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay.
• On any trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific trip.

American Airlines also says pets traveling to Trinidad and Tobago (POS) cannot arrive on a flight before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

Aircraft and seat limits: how many pets per flight?

Cabin pet space is limited, and it depends on the aircraft. American Airlines publishes these caps, which exclude service animals:

• Airbus A319, A320, A321, A321neo and Boeing 737: up to 20 pet carriers across all cabins.
• Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8, 787-9 and Airbus A321XLR: no pets in the premium cabins because there is no under-seat storage. Up to 20 carriers in the Main Cabin. Row 11 on the A321XLR is excluded.
• Airbus A321T (3-cabin): 2 dedicated animal-friendly compartments at the front of the plane. There is no under-seat stowage in First, and only smaller soft-sided carriers fit in Business. In those cabins the pet and carrier together must not exceed 20 pounds (9.07 kg), and they are weighed at check-in.
• American Eagle CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900, ERJ-145, ERJ-175 and ERJ-190: a maximum of 1 pet carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin.

Because of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements or a lack of under-seat space, carry-on pets cannot sit in bulkhead or exit-row seats. They are also barred from First and Business on the Boeing 777 and 787 fleets and from seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo. Choose your seat after adding the pet, not before.

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

Spots are limited, so add your pet as soon as you have a ticket. American Airlines lists these steps:

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

You cannot use online check-in alone and go straight to the gate with a pet. You need the ticket counter visit in the last step.

Does a pet carrier count as a carry-on on American Airlines?

Yes, in practice it does. American Airlines says that with a pet carrier you can bring only one additional item: either a personal item, such as a purse or small handbag, or a carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin. "You can only bring one with your pet carrier, not both," the airline states. Some third-party guides say the carrier does not count toward your allowance. Follow the airline's wording, because gate agents will. Pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and normal checked bag fees apply.

Health, age and sedation rules

• Minimum age: cats and dogs traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old (American Airlines, 2026).
• No sedation: following American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidance, American Airlines does not accept sedated or tranquilized pets, citing a higher risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems at altitude.
• Liability: American Airlines says it assumes no liability for the health or well-being of carry-on pets.

This article is not veterinary advice. Ask your veterinarian whether your animal is fit to fly.

Government rules that override the airline policy

Paying the airline fee does not clear your pet for entry into another country. Government rules apply on top of the airline's policy.

Dogs entering or returning to the United States (CDC)

The CDC sets the requirements for all dogs entering the U.S., including returning pets and service dogs. Under rules that took effect on August 1, 2024, the requirements depend on where the dog has been in the 6 months before arrival. American Airlines adds its own embargo: it does not accept dogs as carry-on pets if they come from, or have visited, a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies in the 6 months before travel. Service dogs that meet CDC requirements are exempt.

The CDC's high-risk list includes several destinations within American's cabin-pet network, such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Check the CDC's high-risk country list before you book a round trip with a dog.

Dogs flying to Mexico (USDA APHIS and SENASICA)

According to USDA APHIS (page last modified September 2026), Mexico has required a New World Screwworm Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico since August 3, 2026. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must sign it no more than 5 days before entry. It does not need APHIS endorsement. American Airlines says it checks this certificate at check-in, and it applies to service dogs too. Mexico's agriculture authority, SENASICA, also inspects dogs on arrival for parasites and wounds. Pet cats do not need a health certificate or a screwworm document to enter Mexico. APHIS also notes that dogs returning to the U.S. from Mexico must meet APHIS screwworm-freedom requirements.

Service animals and emotional support animals

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule under the Air Carrier Access Act on December 10, 2020. It defines a service animal as a dog "individually trained to do work or perform tasks" for a person with a disability, and it lets airlines treat emotional support animals as pets. On American Airlines, that means a trained service dog flies free, while an emotional support animal flies as a carry-on pet: it pays the $150 fee and must meet the carrier and route rules.

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

Travelers sometimes confuse "pet passports" with airline pet policies. They are different systems:

• Airline cabin pet policies, like American Airlines', are commercial rules about fees, carriers and seats.
• Government pet travel documents, such as CDC dog import forms, USDA-accredited veterinarian certificates and EU pet passports, are official entry documents issued under national rules.
• Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record based on muzzle biometrics. An animal's nose print is unique, like a fingerprint. Using a phone, 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.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace a CDC form, a USDA health certificate or an airline booking, and it does not meet any airline's pet requirement. It was built for situations where paper identification fails. In the August 2025 floods in Pakistan, it helped farmers reclaim livestock after paper tags washed away. For more on animal identity and travel rules, browse the Animal Passport blog.

Pre-flight checklist for flying with a pet in the cabin

1. Confirm your route is eligible and that every leg is operated by American Airlines.
2. Book early and add the carry-on pet right away, since cabin pet spots are limited per flight.
3. Buy a ventilated, water-repellent soft-sided carrier that fits the smallest aircraft on your trip.
4. Pick a seat that isn't in a bulkhead or exit row.
5. Check CDC (for dogs entering the U.S.) and APHIS or destination rules (for Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean).
6. Book a USDA-accredited veterinarian visit within the 5-day window if your dog is flying to Mexico.
7. Leave time at the airport to visit the ticket counter and pay the $150 fee.