American Airlines Pet Policy 2026: Rules, Fees, and Required Documents

If you searched “American pet policy,” you're almost certainly looking for American Airlines' official rules for flying with a dog or cat. As of August 2026, American Airlines charges $150 one way for one small pet in an approved carrier under the cabin seat, caps combined pet-and-carrier weight at 20 lb (9 kg), and bans pit bull-type dogs and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds from every flight, according to American Airlines' pet travel policy.

This guide breaks down American Airlines' cabin, cargo, and service-animal rules, the government paperwork that actually applies (USDA, CDC, and DOT — not the airline), and how this differs from the European Union's pet passport, which is a completely separate government scheme.

What Is American Airlines' Pet Policy?

American Airlines' pet policy is the set of carrier rules governing which animals can fly, how they must be contained, what fees apply, and what health documentation is required. Only cats and dogs may travel as pets on American Airlines; other species such as birds, rabbits, or reptiles are not permitted in the cabin as passenger pets. Depending on the animal's size and the route, a pet can travel in the cabin, or as manifest freight through American Airlines Cargo.

American Airlines Pet Policy at a Glance

Flying in the Cabin With a Pet

To bring a cat or dog into the cabin on American Airlines, the animal must be at least 8 weeks old and must stay fully inside an approved, ventilated carrier for the entire flight. American Airlines accepts soft-sided carriers up to 18" L x 11" W x 11" H on all aircraft, and hard-sided carriers up to 19" x 13" x 9" on mainline aircraft or 16" x 12" x 8" on American Eagle regional aircraft. The combined weight of the pet and its carrier cannot exceed 20 lb (9 kg). One pet carrier is permitted per fare-paying passenger, and current policy allows the pet carrier in addition to a personal item and a full-sized carry-on bag, rather than counting toward the carry-on allowance.

How much does it cost?

The in-cabin pet fee is $150 each way, per carrier. That rate rose from $125 in February 2024, according to American Airlines' published fee schedule, and applies regardless of route length on domestic itineraries.

Breed and Temperature Restrictions

American Airlines prohibits pit bull-type dogs and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds — a category that typically includes breeds like French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, and similar flat-faced cats and dogs — from all forms of travel on the airline, including cargo, because these breeds face elevated respiratory risk at altitude and in cargo holds. This mirrors industry-wide concern documented by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), whose 2026 edition of the Live Animals Regulations (LAR), the global standard airlines use for animal transport, added new guidance specifically addressing brachycephalic breeds and container standards, effective January 1, 2026.

Temperature restrictions apply as well: American Airlines will not transport pets if the forecast temperature is expected to exceed 85°F (29.4°C) or fall below 45°F (7.2°C) at any point along the itinerary, including at connecting airports.

Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) final rule, effective January 11, 2021, a service animal is defined narrowly as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and untrained companion animals no longer qualify as service animals and must fly as standard pets, subject to the $150 fee and carrier rules, per the Department of Transportation.

Airlines, including American, may require passengers traveling with a service dog to submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, typically at least 48 hours before departure. The 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, signed into law May 16, 2024, also directed DOT to create a “Known Service Animal Travel Pilot Program” to let frequent service-dog handlers apply for an exemption from repeat paperwork.

American Airlines Cargo: Checked and Larger Pets

Pets too large for the cabin travel as manifest cargo through American Airlines Cargo rather than as checked baggage. AA Cargo's pet shipping service accepts a broader range of species than passenger travel, including dogs, cats, and select other animals, with pricing determined at check-in and species/breed restrictions that mirror the cabin breed ban. International routing has extra limits: American Airlines does not permit carry-on pets on trans-Pacific flights, and — apart from service animals — checked or cabin pets cannot travel to the United Kingdom or Ireland on passenger flights; dogs and cats can still reach London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) via American Airlines Cargo.

Documents You Actually Need: USDA, CDC, and State Rules

American Airlines' own policy does not require government paperwork for most domestic flights, but crossing a state line or a border brings in separate federal requirements that exist independently of any airline:

• Interstate travel: Some states require a recent veterinary health certificate; requirements vary, so the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) directs travelers to check state rules before departure.
• International export: Most countries require an international health certificate — the “United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals,” or APHIS Form 7001 — completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS shortly before departure. USDA APHIS is explicit that its endorsement confirms the export paperwork only; it does not guarantee entry, which is decided by the destination country's veterinary authority and enforced by its border officials.
• Dogs entering or returning to the U.S.: Every dog must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is now the lead federal authority on dog imports. Dogs arriving from countries the CDC classifies as rabies-free or low-risk generally need only the form, a working microchip, and to appear healthy at six months or older. Dogs that have been in a CDC-designated high-risk country within the prior six months need a valid rabies vaccination administered after microchipping, plus a rabies serology titer and additional documentation, per CDC.

Because APHIS and CDC requirements change by country and can change year to year, confirm current rules on the official USDA APHIS Pet Travel site and CDC Importation site before booking rather than relying solely on the airline.

American Pet Policy vs. the EU Pet Passport: Don't Confuse These Two Systems

American Airlines' pet policy and the European Union's pet passport are frequently confused, but they are not the same kind of document at all. American Airlines' policy is a private carrier's boarding rule — it governs whether your pet can get on an American Airlines aircraft. The EU pet passport is a government-recognized identity and health record issued by an authorized veterinarian to EU residents, used to move a dog, cat, or ferret between EU member states.

Under the EU's Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), introduced October 1, 2001 and now standardized by Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, a pet passport records the animal's microchip number, description, and rabies vaccination history, and it is valid for life if kept current, according to the European Commission. Non-EU residents entering the EU instead need an EU Animal Health Certificate, issued by an official government vet within 10 days of travel, plus a rabies vaccination (minimum age 12 weeks, 21-day wait before travel) and, in most cases entering from outside the EU, a rabies antibody titration test. Travelers to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland also need a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival, per the European Commission. Neither the EU pet passport nor the EU health certificate satisfies American Airlines' cabin rules, and American Airlines' fee receipt is not accepted as an EU entry document.

Where Animal Passport Fits — and Where It Doesn't

Animal Passport, published by Animal Passport, is a separate product from either of the systems above, and it is not an airline travel document. It's a phone-based digital identity record for livestock that uses muzzle biometrics — a nose print, which is unique to each animal much like a human fingerprint — to bind an animal's identity to its owner, breed, an age estimate generated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and a body condition score from 1–5 taken from a side-profile photo, along with vaccination history.

That kind of record has proven useful in disaster response: during Pakistan's August 2025 monsoon floods, a mobile “Animal Passport” app that identifies livestock by nose print was made available free to farmers so they could re-establish ownership of evacuated animals after paper ear tags were lost or washed away, according to a September 2025 report by Pakistan Today. That is a livestock-recovery use case, not a companion-animal air travel credential — it doesn't substitute for a USDA health certificate, a CDC Dog Import Form, or an EU pet passport, and it has no bearing on getting a cat or dog through American Airlines check-in. Readers researching broader pet identification approaches can browse related coverage on the Animal Passport blog.

Step-by-Step: How to Fly American Airlines With a Pet

1. Confirm your pet is a cat or dog, at least 8 weeks old, and not a restricted breed.
2. Choose a carrier within American Airlines' size limits and weigh the pet-plus-carrier total to stay under 20 lb.
3. Add the pet to your reservation and pay the $150 each-way fee — cabin pet spots are limited per flight, so book early.
4. Check the forecast temperature for every airport on your itinerary against the 45–85°F window.
5. If traveling internationally or to a U.S. territory, get an APHIS Form 7001 health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian and confirm destination-country entry rules on the USDA APHIS Pet Travel site.
6. If your dog is entering or returning to the U.S., complete the CDC Dog Import Form online before travel.
7. If traveling with a trained service dog, submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before departure.
8. Arrive early; gate agents can deny boarding for oversized carriers, missing paperwork, or restricted breeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is American Airlines' pet policy for flying with a dog or cat?

American Airlines allows one cat or dog per carrier in the cabin for $150 each way, provided the pet and carrier together weigh no more than 20 lb and the pet is at least 8 weeks old, per American Airlines.

How much does American Airlines charge to bring a pet in the cabin?

The in-cabin pet fee is $150 each way, per carrier, up from $125 before February 2024.

What breeds are banned from American Airlines flights?

Pit bull-type dogs and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds are banned from all American Airlines flights, including cargo, due to elevated health risk during air travel.

Does American Airlines require a health certificate for pets?

Not for most domestic flights, but international travel typically requires a USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate (APHIS Form 7001) from an accredited veterinarian, and dogs entering or returning to the U.S. need a CDC Dog Import Form.

Are emotional support animals allowed on American Airlines?

No. Since the DOT's January 2021 rule change, emotional support animals are treated as standard pets and are subject to the $150 fee and carrier requirements, not free service-animal travel.

Can I check my pet as cargo on American Airlines?

Pets too large for the cabin travel through American Airlines Cargo as manifest freight rather than as checked baggage, with pricing set at check-in and the same breed restrictions as cabin travel.

Is the EU pet passport the same as American Airlines' pet policy?

No. American Airlines' pet policy is a private airline boarding rule; the EU pet passport is a government-issued identity and vaccination record for moving pets between EU countries under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). They serve different purposes and one does not substitute for the other.

Is Animal Passport required to fly American Airlines with a pet?

No. Animal Passport is a biometric livestock identity tool used for herd ownership and disaster recovery, not an airline travel document, and it plays no role in American Airlines' booking or check-in requirements.

Animal Passport, published by Animal Passport. Last updated August 2026.