Does American Airlines Allow Pets? 2026 Cabin, Cargo and Service Dog Rules

Yes, American Airlines allows pets. Small cats and dogs can fly in the cabin in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. The fee is $150 per kennel each way on flights within and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, according to American Airlines in 2026. Larger pets fly as freight through American Airlines Cargo. Only military and State Department travelers on official orders can check a pet as baggage.

When people ask whether American Airlines allows pets, they usually mean the carrier's pet policy: the set of rules that decides which animals can fly, where they ride (cabin, checked baggage or cargo), what it costs and which documents are needed. As of October 2026, that policy has three separate paths, and each one has its own limits. This guide summarizes them from American Airlines' own pages and the U.S. government agencies that regulate animal travel.

Quick answer: the three ways a pet can fly on American Airlines

Which pets can fly in the cabin on American Airlines?

American Airlines says carry-on pets are "limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements." You can bring one pet carrier per passenger if you pay the carry-on pet fee and your pet stays inside the carrier, under the seat in front of you, for the whole flight. Pets traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old, according to American Airlines' pet page.

The carrier takes the place of one of your two free cabin items. American Airlines lets you bring either a personal item or a carry-on bag along with the pet carrier, but not both. Pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and normal checked bag fees apply.

Carrier size limits

American Airlines publishes these maximum carrier sizes for 2026:

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

Soft-sided carriers must be padded, made of water-repellent material, and have mesh ventilation on at least 3 sides. Your pet must fit comfortably inside with the carrier fully closed. American Airlines does not set a general weight limit for in-cabin pets. The one exception is premium cabins on the 3-cabin Airbus A321T, where the pet and carrier together may weigh no more than 20 pounds (9.07 kg).

How many pets are allowed on each flight?

Space is limited. On most mainline aircraft, American Airlines allows a maximum of 20 pet carriers across all cabins, not counting service animals. On American Eagle regional jets (CRJ-200, -700, -900, ERJ-145, -175 and -190), the limit is 1 carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the Main Cabin. On the Boeing 777 and 787 and the Airbus A321XLR, pets cannot sit in premium cabins because those seats have no under-seat storage. Pets are also not allowed in bulkhead or exit-row seats.

No sedation

American Airlines follows a recommendation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and does not accept sedated or tranquilized pets. The airline explains that sedated animals are at higher risk of breathing and heart problems at altitude. Ask your own veterinarian how to help an anxious pet. This article is not veterinary advice.

Where can you fly with a pet on American Airlines?

American Airlines says you can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours. That covers flights within the 48 contiguous states and to or from Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. The airline's fee page limits the $150 carry-on option to routes within and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and only "if the country allows entry."

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

• To or from Hawaii
• On transatlantic trips
• On transpacific trips
• To Jamaica
• To or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay

For Hawaii, the airline says a checked or cargo pet must travel through Honolulu (HNL) and follow Hawaii's state quarantine rules. American Airlines Cargo warns that this quarantine can last up to 120 days. Pets cannot fly nonstop to Maui, the Big Island or Kauai.

Can you check a pet on American Airlines?

Most travelers cannot. American Airlines says it accepts checked pets only from active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. These travelers can check up to 2 pets. They must contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel and check in 2 to 4 hours before the flight. They also need a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within 10 days of travel.

The checked pet fee is $200 per kennel, or $150 to and from Brazil. American Airlines' two official pages list slightly different regions for this fee. The pet page includes Europe and travel from the United Kingdom, while the fee page lists only the Americas. If your route is outside the Americas, confirm with Reservations before you book.

Breed restrictions for checked and cargo pets

American Airlines and American Airlines Cargo do not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs or cats, including mixes, outside the cabin. Restricted dogs include pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, boxers, Shih Tzus, mastiffs, Pekingese and pit bulls. Restricted cats include Persian, Himalayan, Burmese and Exotic Shorthair. American Airlines Cargo says these breeds are excluded "due to the risks associated with their hereditary respiratory issues." These breed rules apply to checked and cargo pets. They do not apply to an in-cabin carrier.

Shipping a larger pet with American Airlines Cargo

Pets that are too large for the cabin, or whose owners are not eligible to check them, can fly as freight through American Airlines Cargo's American PetEmbark service. According to American Airlines Cargo, domestic shipments within the continental U.S., Puerto Rico or into Hawaii use Priority Parcel Service (PPS) if the pet and kennel weigh less than 100 pounds combined and the kennel is no larger than 36 x 26 x 28 inches. International shipments, shipments out of Hawaii and larger shipments use ExpediteFS. A $150 handling fee per air waybill is added to animal rates.

Other rules American Airlines Cargo lists for 2026:

• No animal transport on Airbus A319, A320 and most A321 variants, except on New York JFK to or from Los Angeles and San Francisco.
• No warm-blooded animals on any single flight of 12 hours or longer, under U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules.
• No animals flown outbound from Canada, and no mammals or birds to or from China.
• Pets shipped from outside the U.S. must be booked through an IATA-regulated freight forwarder or professional pet shipper.
• Active-duty U.S. military on PCS or TDY orders can get 50% off published rates for cats and dogs within the domestic U.S. and San Juan.

Temperature rules

American Airlines says pets traveling outside the cabin cannot fly if the current or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) anywhere on the route. They also cannot fly to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs from May 1 to September 30. Below 45°F (7.2°C), you need a vet's acclimation letter. Below 20°F (-6.6°C), pets cannot fly outside the cabin even with a letter.

Service animals vs. emotional support animals

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) changed the rules in its December 10, 2020 final rule under the Air Carrier Access Act. That rule defines a service animal 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." It also lets airlines treat emotional support animals as pets.

American Airlines follows this rule. Trained service dogs fly in the cabin free of charge. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training travel as pets, and pet fees apply. American recommends submitting the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before your flight. If any flight in your trip is longer than 8 hours, you also need the DOT Relief Attestation Form. Each passenger may bring up to 2 service animals, and they must be at least 4 months old.

Documents for international pet travel

Airline approval is only one step. Government entry rules apply to every pet.

1. Check the destination country's rules. The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) tells owners to contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian "as soon as you decide to travel." That vet can help you get a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate.
2. Check CDC rules for dogs entering the U.S. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets these rules. Its current requirements took effect August 1, 2024. What you need depends on where your dog was vaccinated and whether it has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months.
3. Check American Airlines' high-risk country rule. American does not accept dogs as carry-on pets if they started their trip in, or visited, a high-risk rabies country in the 6 months before travel. Service dogs that meet CDC requirements are exempt.
4. Get a screwworm certificate for Mexico. American Airlines says dogs flying to Mexico, including service dogs, need a New World Screwworm inspection certificate. It must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 5 days before entering Mexico.
5. Check microchip rules for the EU. For checked pets traveling to the European Union, American Airlines says the pet's microchip or tattoo must match the ID number on its vaccination card.

Rules change often. Check American Airlines' pet page, the CDC Dog Importation Navigator and USDA APHIS within a few days of departure. This guide reflects their published rules as of October 2026.

How to add a carry-on 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. Review and agree to the carry-on pet requirements.
4. Select 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 the carrier checked. American Airlines does not accept cash or checks for pet fees.

If any flight on your ticket is operated by a partner airline, American does not collect that airline's pet fee. You must check in and pay with each operating carrier separately.

How this differs from an Animal Passport

Many people search for "animal passport" when they mean pet travel papers. Those papers include a USDA-endorsed health certificate, CDC dog import forms or an EU pet passport, all issued under government schemes. Animal Passport is a different product. It is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics, because an animal's nose print is unique like a fingerprint. Using a phone, a farmer captures the nose print and links it to the owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photo, with a confidence score), a body condition score of 1 to 5 (from a side-profile photo), and vaccination history.

Animal Passport was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan in August 2025, so farmers could reclaim their animals after paper tags washed away. It is not a government-issued travel document. American Airlines, the CDC and USDA APHIS do not accept it in place of the health certificates and forms described above. You can find more livestock identification guides on the Animal Passport blog.

By Animal Passport. Last updated October 5, 2026. Fees and rules are taken from American Airlines, American Airlines Cargo, the CDC, USDA APHIS and the U.S. Department of Transportation and can change without notice. This article is not legal or veterinary advice.