American Airlines Dog Policy (2026): Fees, Carrier Sizes, Breed Bans and Service Dogs

The American Airlines dog policy lets small dogs fly in the cabin for $150 per kennel each way, provided the dog stays in a closed carrier under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. The dog policy American Airlines publishes is the set of rules covering carry-on dogs, checked dogs, cargo dogs and service dogs on flights operated by American. As of October 2026, checked dogs are limited to military and State Department travelers, snub-nosed breeds cannot be checked, and trained service dogs fly free with a DOT form.

This guide is written by the Animal Passport editorial team and was last updated in October 2026. Every fee and rule below is taken from American Airlines' own pet and service animal pages or from the federal agencies that set entry rules. Airline pet rules change often, so confirm the details for your exact itinerary before you book.

American Airlines dog policy at a glance

American Airlines (2026) offers four ways for a dog to travel. Which one applies depends on your dog's size, your route and whether your dog is a trained service animal.

American Airlines states that all pet fees are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way. For checked pets, a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more triggers a fee on each connecting segment. Pet fees can be paid by credit card or paper voucher at the airport, not in cash.

Carry-on dogs on American Airlines

Which routes allow a carry-on dog?

American Airlines (2026) allows carry-on pets on most flights up to 12 hours within the 48 contiguous states and to or from Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. The fee table lists carry-on pets as available within and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, subject to each country's entry policy.

Carry-on dogs are not allowed on these American Airlines routes, according to the airline's 2026 pet page:

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

American also does not accept dogs as carry-on pets if they originate from or have visited a country the CDC lists as high-risk for dog rabies in the six months before travel. That embargo does not apply to service dogs that meet CDC requirements.

Carrier size limits

American Airlines (2026) recommends soft-sided carriers and publishes these maximum dimensions:

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

Your dog must fit comfortably inside the closed, zipped carrier. Soft carriers must be padded, water-repellent and ventilated with nylon mesh on 3 or more sides, and they must fit under the seat without being excessively collapsed. Our sister guide on American Airlines carrier sizes and fees for all pets covers cats as well as dogs.

Cabin limits, seats and baggage

American caps carry-on pets per flight. On mainline jets such as the Airbus A321 and Boeing 737, the limit is 20 pet carriers across all cabins. On American Eagle regional jets, the limit is 1 carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin. Service animals do not count toward these limits.

Carry-on dogs cannot sit in bulkhead or exit row seats. They are also barred from First and Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9 because those seats lack under-seat storage. On the three-cabin Airbus A321T, First and Business passengers must use a dedicated animal compartment, and the dog plus carrier cannot exceed 20 pounds (9.07 kg).

The pet carrier replaces part of your cabin allowance. You may bring the carrier plus either a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both. Pet strollers must be checked and are charged as checked bags.

How to add a carry-on dog to your booking

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 dog will travel on and confirm.
5. At the airport, go to the American ticket counter to pay the fee and have the dog and carrier checked.

American Airlines does not collect pet fees for partner airlines, even on codeshare flights with an American flight number. If your ticket says "Operated by" another airline, check in and pay that carrier's fee separately.

Checked dogs and American Airlines Cargo

As of October 2026, American Airlines accepts checked pets at the ticket counter only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Every other dog that is too large for the cabin must travel through American Airlines Cargo, which offers the American PetEmbark service.

Eligible travelers can check up to 2 pets and must:

• Contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel.
• Check in at the counter with official orders, 2 to 4 hours before departure.
• Provide a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
• Use a rigid kennel with a metal door, ventilation on at least 3 sides (4 for international travel), and a combined pet and kennel weight of no more than 100 lbs (45 kg).
• Sign a written certification that the dog was fed and offered water within 4 hours before delivery to the aircraft, as required by federal regulations.

Checked pets cannot fly on the Airbus A319, A320 or A321 family, and can only connect through ten hubs, including Charlotte (CLT), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Miami (MIA).

Temperature embargoes

American Airlines (2026) will not carry checked or cargo pets 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. A vet's acclimation letter can waive the cold limit, but not below 20°F (-6.6°C). From May 1 to September 30, pets outside the cabin cannot fly to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs.

Which dog breeds does American Airlines ban?

American Airlines does not accept brachycephalic, or snub-nosed, dogs of any mix as checked pets. The airline's 2026 list includes:

• Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin
• Boxer (all breeds), Bulldog (all breeds), Mastiff (all breeds), Pug (all breeds)
• Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, Presa Canario, Shar Pei
• Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel
• American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The published restriction applies to checked pets. A small snub-nosed dog that fits within carry-on carrier limits is not named in the carry-on rules, but ask your veterinarian whether flying is suitable. American Airlines also refuses sedated or tranquilized pets, citing the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), because sedated animals face higher respiratory and cardiovascular risk at altitude.

Age and health rules for dogs

American Airlines requires dogs to be at least 8 weeks old for travel within the U.S. and Puerto Rico. International trips add stricter federal age rules.

Sources disagree on one point. American's pet page says dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries must be at least 16 weeks old. The CDC's own guidance for dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries says every dog must be at least 6 months old at entry or return to the U.S. Because the CDC sets U.S. entry rules for all dogs, plan around the stricter 6-month minimum for any dog entering the United States.

Service dogs on American Airlines

A service animal, under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule published on December 10, 2020, is a dog of any breed that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The rule took effect 30 days after publication. It ended the requirement for airlines to treat emotional support animals as service animals, and it requires psychiatric service dogs to be treated like any other service dog.

American Airlines (2026) applies that rule as follows:

• Trained service dogs fly in the cabin at no charge.
• Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service dogs in training travel as pets, with pet fees.
• Submit the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before the flight, or present it at the airport.
• Flights over 8 hours also require the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form.
• Once approved, you receive a Service Animal ID (SVAN ID) for future bookings, valid until the dog's vaccination expires.
• Each passenger may bring up to 2 service animals, and service dogs must be at least 4 months old.
• The dog must be harnessed, leashed or tethered, fit at your feet or in your lap, and must not occupy a seat or block the aisle.

The DOT rule still prohibits airlines from refusing a service animal solely because of its breed. A service dog that growls, bites or lunges and cannot be controlled may be reclassified as a pet, with pet fees.

Flying into the U.S. with a dog: the CDC rules

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets entry rules for every dog arriving in the United States, including service dogs and returning pets. Those rules took effect on August 1, 2024, and depend on where the dog has been in the six months before arrival.

1. Check the CDC high-risk list. Countries on the CDC list of high-risk countries for dog rabies include Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India, Pakistan and the Philippines.
2. Low-risk or rabies-free countries only: the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is the only document required. The form is free and the receipt is valid for 6 months.
3. Microchip: the dog must have a microchip that a universal scanner can read.
4. Age and health: the dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy on arrival.
5. High-risk countries: extra rabies vaccination and documentation rules apply, and unvaccinated dogs are refused entry. American will not carry these dogs as carry-on pets, though compliant service dogs are exempt.

The CDC also notes that importers must comply with USDA rules and the rules of their U.S. destination state.

Flying to Mexico with a dog in 2026

Mexico is on American's carry-on pet route list, and the dog rules changed this year. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), effective August 3, 2026, Mexico requires a New World screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate for pet dogs entering from the United States.

• A USDA-accredited veterinarian must sign the certificate no more than 5 days before the dog enters Mexico.
• The certificate does not need APHIS endorsement.
• American Airlines verifies the certificate at check-in, and the rule also covers service dogs.
• On arrival, Mexico's animal health agency (SENASICA) checks that the dog is healthy, free of external parasites and has no fresh or healing wounds.

USDA APHIS also considers Mexico affected by screwworm as of November 22, 2024, so dogs returning from Mexico must meet APHIS screwworm certification rules on re-entry to the U.S.

Destination-specific dog rules

• Hawaii: no carry-on pets. Checked pets may connect only via Honolulu (HNL) and must follow state quarantine rules. Trained service dogs may fly in the cabin to all Hawaiian islands.
• Canada: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has suspended imports of commercial dogs from high-risk rabies countries.
• European Union: checked pets need a tattoo or microchip that matches the vaccination record.
• United Kingdom and Ireland: no checked pets apart from service animals; dogs can go to London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) via American Airlines Cargo.

Airline pet rules vs. Animal Passport: an important distinction

Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock passport. It identifies animals by muzzle biometrics, because a nose print is as unique as a fingerprint. A phone captures the nose print, and the record links the animal to its 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 an airline pet document, an EU pet passport or a government-issued travel certificate. American Airlines, the CDC and USDA APHIS rely on microchips, vaccination records, the CDC Dog Import Form, DOT service animal forms and veterinary certificates. You still need every one of those documents to fly.

Where Animal Passport has been used in the field is livestock identity. During the August 2025 floods in Pakistan, it helped farmers reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away. Learn more about the technology at Animal Passport or browse our guides on animal identity and travel.

Pre-flight checklist for flying with a dog on American

1. Confirm your route allows carry-on dogs and that your flight is under 12 hours.
2. Measure your dog and carrier against the 18 x 11 x 11 inch soft-sided limit.
3. Add the carry-on pet to your reservation early, because cabin limits fill up.
4. Check that your breed is not on the brachycephalic list if your dog must be checked or go by cargo.
5. Get destination paperwork: CDC Dog Import Form, NWS certificate for Mexico, or health certificate as required.
6. For service dogs, submit the DOT form at least 48 hours before departure.
7. Do not sedate your dog, and arrive early to pay the fee at the ticket counter.

Rules in this guide reflect American Airlines, CDC, DOT and USDA APHIS pages as of October 2026. Animal Passport does not provide legal or veterinary advice; confirm requirements with the airline and a USDA-accredited veterinarian before travel.