American Airlines Pet Transportation: Rules, Fees and Options (October 2026)

American Airlines pet transportation is the set of options American Airlines offers for flying an animal: small cats and dogs ride in the cabin as carry-on pets for $150 per kennel each way, larger pets fly through American Airlines Cargo's American PetEmbark service, and checked pets are accepted only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel on official orders. Service dogs fly free. As of October 2026, those are the only routes available.

This guide is based on American Airlines' own pets, service animal and cargo policy pages, plus federal rules 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 rules change often, so confirm the details with American Airlines before you book.

What are the three ways to fly a pet on American Airlines?

American Airlines says that, "depending on animal breed and size," pets "can travel as a carry-on or be transported through American Airlines Cargo," and that carry-on pets "are limited to cats and dogs" (American Airlines, Pets page, 2026). Each option has different eligibility rules.

How much does American Airlines charge for pets?

As of October 2026, American Airlines lists a carry-on pet fee of $150 per kennel for travel within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, subject to each country's entry rules (American Airlines, Pets page, 2026). Checked pets for eligible military and State Department travelers cost $200 per kennel, or $150 to or from Brazil.

American Airlines states that "all pet fees are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way." A stopover or connection of 4 hours or more adds a separate fee for each connection segment. American Airlines also says it does not collect pet fees for partner airlines on a codeshare itinerary, so you pay those at check-in with each operating carrier.

Cargo prices are not fixed. American Airlines Cargo says the price "depends on the size of your pet and whether they're flying domestically or internationally," and adds "an additional $150 handling fee per air waybill" (American Airlines Cargo, Policies and Restrictions, 2026).

American Airlines carry-on pet rules

You can bring one pet carrier as a carry-on if you pay the fee and your pet stays in the carrier under the seat in front of you for the entire flight (American Airlines, 2026). Along with the carrier, you can bring either a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both. Pet strollers must be checked, and checked bag fees apply.

Carrier size limits

• Soft-sided (recommended): 18 x 11 x 11 inches (46 x 28 x 28 cm) on all flights.
• Hard-sided, American mainline: 19 x 13 x 9 inches (48 x 33 x 22 cm).
• Hard-sided, American Eagle regional: 16 x 12 x 8 inches (40 x 30 x 20 cm).

American Airlines says soft-sided carriers must be padded, water-repellent and have mesh ventilation on three or more sides. The pet must fit comfortably inside the closed carrier.

Cabin capacity and seat restrictions

American Airlines caps carry-on pets at 20 carriers across all cabins on mainline Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and at 5 in Main Cabin plus 1 in premium on American Eagle regional jets (American Airlines, 2026). Pets are not allowed in bulkhead or exit-row seats. They are also not allowed in First or Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9, because those seats have no under-seat storage. Because space is limited, add your pet early. Open your trip on aa.com or in the American app, choose "Add carry-on pets" under Additional Services, and pay the fee at the ticket counter.

Where carry-on pets cannot go

According to American Airlines (2026), carry-on pets are not permitted:

• To or from Hawaii
• On trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific trips
• To Jamaica
• To or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay

American Airlines' pet page says pets can travel on "most flights up to 12 hours" within the 48 contiguous states, to Alaska, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas, and between the U.S. and Canada or Mexico. Its fee table also lists Central America and the Caribbean. The two lists don't line up exactly, so check the specific route with American Airlines Reservations before booking.

How to fly a pet in American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark)

American Airlines Cargo offers the American PetEmbark service for pets that don't qualify as carry-on or checked pets (American Airlines, 2026). It splits pet shipments into two products:

• Priority Parcel Service (PPS): domestic flights within the continental U.S., Puerto Rico or into Hawaii, with a combined pet and kennel weight under 100 pounds and a kennel no larger than 36 x 26 x 28 inches.
• ExpediteFS: international flights, flights out of Hawaii, or pets above the PPS size or weight limits.

American Airlines Cargo says that if a pet misses its booked flight for reasons within the airline's control, it will refund 25% of freight charges for PPS or 100% for ExpediteFS, as long as the drop-off time and paperwork rules were met. Active-duty U.S. military members moving cats and dogs within the domestic U.S. and San Juan on PCS or TDY orders can get 50% off the published rate.

Step-by-step: booking a cargo pet

1. Confirm your pet's breed is allowed (see the breed list below).
2. Check that your route avoids restricted aircraft. American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on Airbus 319, 320 and 321-family aircraft, except between New York JFK and LAX or San Francisco.
3. Buy an approved hard kennel: rigid, with a metal door, ventilation on at least 3 sides for domestic travel or 4 sides for international travel, attached food and water dishes, and absorbent bedding.
4. Get a health certificate from a veterinarian. For checked pets, American Airlines requires one issued within 10 days of travel.
5. Write and sign a food and water certification showing your pet was fed and offered water within 4 hours of drop-off, and attach it to the kennel.
6. Check forecast temperatures at every airport on the route on the day of travel.
7. Pay at drop-off by credit card, debit card or cargo credit account.

For pets traveling from outside the United States, American Airlines Cargo requires you to use an IATA-regulated freight forwarder or professional pet shipper. A customs broker is required on arrival at international destinations. American Airlines Cargo also states it does not transport any animals outbound from Canada.

Temperature, breed and sedation restrictions

Heat and cold limits

American Airlines Cargo says it transports warm-blooded animals only when ground temperatures are between 45°F and 85°F at the origin, connection and destination airports (American Airlines Cargo, 2026). Between 20°F and 44°F, a licensed veterinarian must sign an acclimation letter. Below 20°F or above 85°F, the pet will not fly. American Airlines also bars pets that are not in the cabin from flying to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas and Palm Springs from May 1 to September 30.

Restricted breeds

American Airlines Cargo refuses brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds and their mixes "due to the risks associated with their hereditary respiratory issues," plus some breeds it calls historically aggressive. The list includes:

• Dogs: Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, all Boxers, 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 Terrier and Tibetan Spaniel.
• Cats: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian.

These breed limits apply to checked and cargo pets. If a small snub-nosed dog or cat fits in a cabin carrier, the carry-on option may still be open, so confirm with American Airlines.

No sedation

American Airlines says that, "as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)," it does not accept pets that have been sedated or tranquilized, because they face "a higher risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems at high altitudes." Its cargo division suggests getting your pet used to the travel kennel well before the trip. Ask your veterinarian about any calming products.

Government rules that apply on top of airline policy

Airline policy is only part of the picture. Federal and destination-country rules also apply, and American Airlines says travelers are responsible for meeting them.

CDC rules for dogs entering the United States

The CDC is "the primary authority for dog imports," including dogs returning to the United States (USDA APHIS, Travel With a Pet, updated March 20, 2026). CDC requirements effective August 1, 2024, depend on where the dog was vaccinated and which countries it has been in during the 6 months before entry. The CDC says an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies within that window will not be allowed to enter (CDC, Bringing a Dog into the U.S., 2024). American Airlines adds its own embargo: it does not accept carry-on dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country in the 6 months before travel, though service dogs that meet CDC requirements are exempt.

USDA APHIS and destination rules

USDA APHIS advises travelers taking a pet abroad to "contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel" to get a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate and any tests the destination requires (USDA APHIS, 2026). APHIS also notes that animals considered livestock or poultry, such as pigs and chickens, do not qualify for pet travel and fall under separate import and export rules.

American Airlines highlights several destination rules. Dogs flying to Mexico need a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, issued within 5 days before entry. Hawaii-bound pets must connect through Honolulu and follow state quarantine rules. American Airlines Cargo warns that quarantine in Hawaii can last up to 120 days. Pets checked to the European Union need a tattoo or microchip that matches the ID number on their vaccination card.

Service animals vs. emotional support animals

American Airlines defines a service animal as "a dog that's individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability" (American Airlines, Service Animals page, 2026). Service dogs fly in the cabin free. American Airlines recommends submitting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before the flight. For flights over 8 hours, a DOT Relief Attestation form is also required. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training travel as pets, and pet fees apply.

Animal Passport is not an airline pet document

Travelers searching for pet travel paperwork sometimes run into the name Animal Passport, so here is the difference. Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identification record built on muzzle biometrics. A nose print is unique to each animal, like a fingerprint. It is captured by phone, and the record links the owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and body condition is scored from 1 to 5 using a side-profile photo.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It is not an EU pet passport, and it does not replace a USDA-endorsed health certificate, a CDC dog import form or any document American Airlines requires. Its main use is identifying livestock. In August 2025, during livestock flood rescues in Pakistan, it helped farmers reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. For airline travel, follow the American Airlines, CDC and USDA APHIS requirements above. You can read more about animal identification on the Animal Passport blog.

Pre-flight checklist

1. Decide the channel: carry-on (small cat or dog), cargo (larger pets) or checked (military and State Department on orders only).
2. Check that your route allows pets and that your aircraft is not restricted.
3. Check breed, age (at least 8 weeks for travel within the U.S. and Puerto Rico) and kennel size.
4. Book the pet early, since cabin and cargo space is limited.
5. Get a veterinary health certificate and any destination-specific forms, such as CDC forms, a Mexico NWS certificate or Hawaii quarantine paperwork.
6. Check the temperature forecast at every airport on the route on the day before travel.
7. Arrive early with all paperwork, and do not sedate your pet.