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

Flying with pets on American Airlines is possible, but the options are narrow. As of September 2026, American Airlines accepts cats and dogs as carry-on pets for $150 per kennel each way. The pet has to stay in a carrier under the seat in front of you for the whole flight. Checked pets are limited to active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Every other animal that is too big for the cabin has to fly with American Airlines Cargo, according to American Airlines' official pet policy.

In practice, flying with pets on American Airlines is a choice between three services. The first is a carry-on pet in the cabin. The second is a checked pet, available only to qualifying government travelers. The third is shipping through American Airlines Cargo's American PetEmbark service. Each has its own fees, size limits, route restrictions and temperature rules. This guide covers all three and cites the airline and the U.S. government agencies that set the rules.

Last updated: September 28, 2026. Airline pet policies and government entry rules change often. Check the official pages linked below before you book.

What are American Airlines' pet travel options?

American Airlines says carry-on pets are "limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements." Here is how the three services compare, using American Airlines' pets page and fee schedule as of September 2026.

All American Airlines pet fees are nonrefundable and are charged per kennel, each way. If your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, you pay the fee again for each segment. Pets that start a trip as checked pets or as cargo must stay in that category for the whole trip.

How do you bring a carry-on pet on American Airlines?

A carry-on pet counts toward your cabin allowance. American Airlines allows one pet carrier plus either a personal item or a carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin, but not both. Pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and normal checked bag fees apply.

Step by step: adding a carry-on pet

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 $150 fee and have the pet and carrier checked. American accepts credit cards or paper vouchers (where accepted) and does not take cash or checks.

Carry-on pet carrier dimensions

American Airlines publishes these maximum carrier sizes as of 2026:

• Soft-sided (recommended), all flights: 18 x 11 x 11 inches (46 x 28 x 28 cm)
• Hard-sided, American mainline flights: 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)

The pet must fit comfortably inside the carrier when it is closed. Soft-sided carriers have to be padded and water-repellent, with nylon mesh ventilation on at least 3 sides. They also have to fit under the seat without being squashed excessively.

How many pets fit on one flight?

Cabin capacity depends on the aircraft. American Airlines caps most mainline jets (A319, A320, A321, A321neo, Boeing 737, 777 and 787) at 20 pet carriers across all cabins. American Eagle regional jets such as the CRJ-900 and ERJ-175 allow 1 carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin. On Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft and the A321XLR, carry-on pets are not allowed in premium cabins because there is no under-seat storage. On the three-cabin A321T, pets in First or Business go in a dedicated compartment, and the pet plus carrier must weigh no more than 20 lb (9.07 kg).

Which seats can you choose?

American Airlines does not allow carry-on pets in bulkhead or exit-row seats, in seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo, or in First and Business on the 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9. These limits come from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements and a lack of under-seat space.

Where can you fly with a pet on American Airlines?

American Airlines says you can travel with a pet on most flights of up to 12 hours. Supported routes include the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. There are important exceptions for carry-on pets:

• Hawaii: No carry-on pets to or from Hawaii. Pets can reach Hawaii only through Honolulu (HNL) and must follow Hawaii's quarantine rules. American Airlines Cargo warns that quarantine can last up to 120 days.
• Trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific trips: No carry-on pets.
• South America: No carry-on pets to or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay.
• Jamaica: No carry-on pets.
• United Kingdom and Ireland: Apart from service animals, no checked pets. Dogs and cats can go to London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) with American Airlines Cargo.
• Age: Cats and dogs traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old.

Who can check a pet on American Airlines?

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. Up to 2 pets may be checked, first come, first served. Travelers have to contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel and check in 2 to 4 hours before departure with their orders. They also need a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within 10 days of travel.

The kennel must let the animal stand, turn and lie down naturally. It must have a welded or cast metal door and ventilation on 3 sides for domestic trips or 4 sides for international trips. The pet and kennel together cannot weigh more than 100 lb (45 kg). Federal regulations also require written certification that the pet was fed and offered water within 4 hours before it is handed over.

Breed restrictions

American Airlines does not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs or cats, or mixes of those breeds, as checked or cargo pets. The list includes Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Persians, Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs, because of their hereditary breathing problems. American Airlines Cargo also bans certain breeds it describes as historically aggressive, such as the Pit Bull and Cane Corso.

How does American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark) work?

If your pet is too large for the cabin and you are not on official orders, American's route is the American PetEmbark service from American Airlines Cargo. Some third-party guides say cargo is only for military travelers. That mixes up the checked-pet program with cargo. American's own pages say checked pets are limited to people on orders, while PetEmbark handles pets that do not qualify as carry-on or checked pets.

According to American Airlines Cargo, domestic pets (continental U.S., Puerto Rico, or flights into Hawaii) fly as Priority Parcel Service (PPS) if the pet and kennel together weigh less than 100 lb and the kennel is no larger than 36 x 26 x 28 inches. International shipments and larger animals fly as ExpediteFS. A $150 handling fee applies per air waybill. Active-duty military moving under PCS or TDY orders can get 50% off published domestic rates for cats and dogs. Pets starting outside the U.S. have to be booked through an IATA-regulated freight forwarder or professional pet shipper. American Airlines Cargo does not carry any animals outbound from Canada.

What temperature rules apply?

Temperature limits apply to checked pets and cargo pets, not to pets in the cabin. According to American Airlines, pets cannot travel if the current or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) anywhere on the itinerary. Pets not flying in the cabin also cannot travel to, through or from Phoenix (PHX), Tucson (TUS), Las Vegas (LAS) or Palm Springs (PSP) from May 1 to September 30.

Below 45°F (7.2°C), you need a veterinarian's acclimation letter. Below 20°F (-6.6°C), the pet cannot fly even with a letter. American Airlines Cargo also says it cannot carry warm-blooded animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more, to comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.

What documents does your pet need?

Dogs entering or returning to the United States

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the main authority for dogs entering the U.S. According to CDC, requirements that took effect on August 1, 2024 depend on where the dog was vaccinated and which countries it visited in the 6 months before arrival. CDC states that an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies during that period will not be allowed into the U.S. American Airlines adds its own restriction: it does not accept dogs as carry-on pets if they started in or visited a high-risk rabies country in the previous 6 months. Service dogs that meet CDC requirements are exempt.

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) says U.S.-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country need a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must submit that form before the dog leaves the U.S. (USDA APHIS, updated March 2026).

Dogs flying to Mexico: the screwworm certificate

This is the newest rule. USDA APHIS says that from August 3, 2026, Mexico requires a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate for pet dogs traveling from the United States. It must be signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian no more than 5 days before entry into Mexico. American Airlines checks it at check-in, and the rule also applies to service dogs. APHIS also says pet cats do not need a health certificate for Mexico, and that Mexico currently prohibits ferrets from all U.S. states. Because APHIS considers Mexico affected by screwworm, dogs returning to the U.S. from Mexico also have to meet APHIS screwworm-freedom requirements.

International destinations

For the European Union, American Airlines says owners are responsible for meeting all entry requirements. It also says the pet must have a tattoo or implanted microchip that matches the ID number on its vaccination card. USDA APHIS advises contacting a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel abroad, because health certificates often need APHIS endorsement and take time to arrange.

Are emotional support animals and service dogs treated differently?

Yes. American Airlines defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Fully trained service dogs fly in the cabin free of charge. American 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, it also requires the DOT relief attestation form. The airline states that emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training travel as pets, with all pet requirements and fees.

Practical tips before you fly

• Book early. Cabin pet spaces are capped per flight, as low as 1 in the premium cabin on regional jets.
• Don't sedate. Citing the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Airlines does not accept sedated or tranquilized pets because of higher breathing and heart risks at altitude. Instead, get your pet used to the carrier weeks in advance.
• Check partner flights. American does not collect pet fees for flights operated by other airlines, even with an American flight number. Look for "Operated by" on your ticket and check each airline's rules.
• Carry paperwork on paper. USDA APHIS notes that for Mexico and many other destinations, a paper copy of the endorsed health certificate must travel with the animal.
• Keep ID records current. A microchip number that matches vaccination records avoids problems at borders that check it.

Airline pet documents vs. Animal Passport: not the same thing

The word "passport" causes confusion in pet travel. Official documents like the EU pet passport, USDA-endorsed health certificates, CDC dog import forms and Mexico's screwworm certificate are issued or recognized by government authorities, and airlines check them at the counter. Animal Passport is something else. It is a digital animal and livestock identity record based on muzzle biometrics: the nose print, which is unique like a fingerprint.

Animal Passport runs on a phone. Its record links an animal to its owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photo with a confidence score, and body condition is scored 1 to 5 from a side-profile photo. In August 2025, it was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document, not a veterinary health certificate and not accepted by American Airlines in place of CDC, USDA or destination-country paperwork. For airline travel, follow the official requirements above. For more on animal identity and traceability, see the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of September 2026, flying with pets on American Airlines works best for small cats and dogs that fit in an under-seat carrier on North American and Caribbean routes, for $150 each way. Larger pets go through American Airlines Cargo unless the owner is on military or State Department orders. For international trips, and especially Mexico with its screwworm certificate, the government paperwork usually takes longer than the airline booking. Start with a USDA-accredited veterinarian and confirm the details on American Airlines' official pet page before you fly.