Flying With Pets on American Airlines: 2026 Rules, Fees and Carrier Sizes

Flying with pets on American Airlines means booking your cat or dog either as a $150-per-kennel carry-on in the cabin or, if the animal is too large, as cargo through American Airlines Cargo's American PetEmbark service. As of October 2026, American Airlines accepts only cats and dogs in the cabin, requires them to stay in a carrier under the seat in front of you, and limits checked pets to active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel on official orders.

This guide, written by the Animal Passport editorial team and last updated October 2, 2026, collects the current rules from American Airlines' own pet policy pages, 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 often, so confirm details with American before you fly.

What is American Airlines' pet policy in 2026?

American Airlines' pet policy is the set of rules the carrier uses to decide how an animal may travel: as a carry-on pet, as a checked pet, as cargo, or as a service animal. According to American Airlines (2026), carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet size, age and destination requirements, and pets can travel on most flights of up to 12 hours.

The three ways a pet can fly on American are:

1. Carry-on pet (in cabin): open to any passenger, cats and dogs only, $150 per kennel each way.
2. Checked pet (in the hold, on your flight): only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders.
3. Cargo via American PetEmbark: for pets that do not qualify as carry-on or checked pets, booked separately with American Airlines Cargo.

Fully trained service dogs that meet American's requirements fly in the cabin at no charge, according to American Airlines (2026).

How much does it cost to fly with a pet on American Airlines?

American Airlines (2026) charges $150 per kennel for a carry-on pet within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, subject to each country's entry policy. All pet fees are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way.

If your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, American applies the fee again for each connection segment. American also states that it does not collect pet fees for partner airlines, even on codeshare flights with an American flight number, so you must pay each operating carrier separately.

American states it does not accept cash or checks for pet fees; you pay at the airport or a travel center by credit card or paper voucher where accepted.

What size pet carrier does American Airlines allow?

Your pet must fit comfortably inside the closed, zipped carrier, and the carrier must fit under the seat in front of you. American Airlines (2026) recommends soft-sided carriers, which must be secure, padded, water-repellent and have nylon mesh ventilation on three or more sides.

On the three-cabin Airbus A321T, First and Business passengers must stow the carrier in one of two dedicated animal-friendly compartments, and the combined weight of pet and carrier must not exceed 20 pounds (9.07 kg), which American weighs at check-in.

How many pets are allowed per flight?

American Airlines' official pet page (2026) lists a maximum of 20 pet carriers across all cabins on mainline aircraft such as the Airbus A319, A320, A321, A321neo and Boeing 737, excluding service animals. On American Eagle regional jets, the limit is one carrier in the premium cabin and five in the main cabin.

Sources disagree here: a February 2024 Simple Flying guide reported a mainline limit of seven kennels. The airline's current page is the authority, but the change shows why you should add your pet to the reservation early, because space is first-come, first-served.

Which seats can you not use with a pet?

American Airlines (2026) does not permit carry-on pets in bulkhead seats, exit rows, First and Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9, or seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo. These rules reflect Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements or a lack of under-seat storage.

Can you bring a carry-on bag with a pet?

Yes, but only one. American Airlines (2026) lets you bring the pet carrier plus either a personal item or a carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin, not both. Older third-party guides, including Simple Flying in 2024, described the allowance as a personal item only, so rely on the airline's current wording. Pet strollers must be checked, and checked bag fees apply.

Where can you fly with a pet on American Airlines?

According to American Airlines (2026), you can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours within the 48 contiguous states and between the U.S. and Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. Several destinations have exceptions:

• Hawaii: no carry-on pets to or from Hawaii; checked pets only via Honolulu (HNL) and subject to Hawaii's quarantine rules.
• Jamaica: no carry-on pets.
• South America: no carry-on pets to or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay.
• Trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific trips: no carry-on pets.
• U.K. and Ireland: no checked pets apart from service animals, though dogs and cats can ship to London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) through American Airlines Cargo.
• Trinidad and Tobago (POS): pets cannot arrive before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

Can you check a pet on American Airlines?

Only in limited cases. American Airlines (2026) accepts checked pets solely for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Up to two pets may be checked, and passengers must contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel, check in 2 to 4 hours before departure, and present a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within 10 days of travel.

American does not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs or cats of any mix as checked pets, including breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Persians and Himalayans. Checked pets can only connect through 10 hubs, including Charlotte (CLT), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA) and Phoenix (PHX).

How does American PetEmbark cargo work?

American PetEmbark is American Airlines Cargo's service for pets that cannot fly as carry-on or checked pets. According to American Airlines Cargo (2026), you can book up to 10 days in advance and should book at least 24 hours ahead. Smaller domestic pets fly as Priority Parcel Service (PPS), while larger pets and all international pets fly as ExpediteFS, with rates set by size and route.

Key PetEmbark rules from American Airlines Cargo's FAQ (2026):

• A health certificate dated within 10 days, rabies certification, breed verification and acknowledgment forms are required.
• Pets are not carried on Airbus A319, A320 and A321-family aircraft, except on New York JFK to/from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO).
• Active-duty U.S. military on PCS or TDY orders may receive a 50% discount for cats and dogs within the domestic U.S. and San Juan.
• Collars, harnesses, leashes and toys must be removed from the kennel; bedding up to 3 inches is allowed.
• You can track your pet with the air waybill number.

What are the temperature and sedation rules?

For checked and cargo pets, American Airlines (2026) will not fly an animal if the current or forecast temperature anywhere on the itinerary is above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C). A veterinarian's acclimation letter can waive the cold limit, but no pet may be checked below 20°F (-6.6°C). Pets not traveling in the cabin cannot fly to, through or from Phoenix (PHX), Tucson (TUS), Las Vegas (LAS) or Palm Springs (PSP) from May 1 to September 30.

Following American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidance, American does not accept sedated or tranquilized pets, because sedatives raise the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems at altitude. American Airlines Cargo recommends getting your pet used to its kennel two to three weeks before travel instead.

What documents do you need to fly with a dog internationally?

Paperwork depends on the government rules at each end of the trip, not just the airline. These are the main ones for American passengers as of October 2026.

Bringing a dog into the United States (CDC)

The CDC is the primary authority for dog imports, according to USDA APHIS (2026). The CDC's requirements, in force since August 1, 2024, depend on where the dog was vaccinated and which countries it has been in during the six months before entry; an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies will not be allowed in. American Airlines (2026) does not accept dogs as carry-on pets if they originate from or have visited a high-risk rabies country in the prior six months, except qualifying service dogs.

Flying to Mexico with a dog (USDA APHIS and SENASICA)

According to USDA APHIS (page updated September 21, 2026), Mexico has required a New World screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate for pet dogs since August 3, 2026, signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian no more than 5 days before entry. American Airlines verifies it at check-in. Pet cats have not needed a health certificate for Mexico since December 16, 2019, but are inspected by Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) on arrival. Dogs returning to the U.S. from Mexico must also meet APHIS screwworm requirements.

Flying to the European Union

American Airlines (2026) requires checked pets bound for the EU to have a tattoo or implanted microchip matching the ID number on their vaccination record. The European Commission states that non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the EU is governed by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and most pets must pass through a designated Travellers' Point of Entry for document and identity checks.

Step-by-step: how to book a pet on American Airlines

1. Check eligibility: confirm your route allows carry-on pets and your cat or dog is at least 8 weeks old for U.S. and Puerto Rico travel.
2. Measure your carrier against American's soft-sided or hard-sided limits for every aircraft on your trip.
3. Add the pet to your trip: on aa.com or the American app, find your trip, choose "Add carry-on pets" under Additional Services, agree to the requirements and select flights.
4. Book a vet visit with a USDA-accredited veterinarian if you are crossing a border, and collect any CDC, APHIS or destination forms.
5. Pick a legal seat that is not a bulkhead or exit row.
6. At the airport, go to the American ticket counter to pay the $150 fee and have the pet and kennel checked.

Is an airline pet document the same as Animal Passport?

No. The papers airlines and border officials check, such as CDC import forms, USDA-endorsed health certificates, EU pet travel documents and microchip records, are official government or veterinary documents. Animal Passport is a different product: a digital animal and livestock passport that identifies an animal by its muzzle biometrics, since a nose print is unique like a fingerprint.

Using a phone, Animal Passport binds an animal's record to its owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photograph, with a confidence score), body condition score of 1 to 5 (from a side-profile photo), and vaccination history. It was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan in August 2025 so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. It is not a government-issued travel document and does not replace anything American Airlines, the CDC or USDA APHIS requires. For more on animal identity and travel, browse the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of October 2026, flying with pets on American Airlines works best for small cats and dogs on domestic, Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean routes: $150 each way, a carrier that fits under the seat, and a booking made early. Larger pets need American PetEmbark cargo, and any border crossing brings CDC, USDA APHIS or destination-country paperwork that the airline will check at the counter.