Pet Travel on American Airlines: 2026 Rules, Fees, Carrier Sizes and Cargo Options

Pet travel on American Airlines means flying a cat or dog in the cabin as a paid carry-on, or shipping a pet that is too large for the cabin through American Airlines Cargo's American PetEmbark service. As of October 2026, American Airlines charges $150 per kennel each way for a carry-on pet on routes within and between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The pet must stay in its carrier under the seat in front of you. Checked pets are accepted only from active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders.

This guide summarizes American Airlines' official pet pages, the American Airlines Cargo FAQ, and the federal rules from 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). We name the source after every fee or rule. Airline policies change, so confirm the details with American Airlines before you book.

What are American Airlines' three ways to fly a pet?

American Airlines sorts animals into three categories. The pet travel page on aa.com (2026) says pets can travel "as a carry-on or be transported through American Airlines Cargo," depending on breed and size. Separately, fully trained service dogs fly free in the cabin.

• Carry-on pet: cats and dogs only, in an approved carrier under the seat, $150 per kennel each way.
• Checked pet: only for active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel on official orders. The fee is $200 per kennel, or $150 to and from Brazil, according to American Airlines (2026).
• Cargo pet (American PetEmbark): for pets that do not qualify as carry-on or checked pets. American Airlines says the price "varies" and is confirmed at booking.

Comparison table: carry-on vs. checked vs. cargo

How much does pet travel on American Airlines cost?

The carry-on pet fee is $150 per kennel in every cabin, from Main Cabin to First, according to American Airlines' bag and optional fees page, updated for tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026. The same page says carry-on pets are "not allowed to Hawaii."

American Airlines (2026) states that all pet fees "are nonrefundable and apply per kennel, each way." If your trip includes a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, the fee applies again for each segment. American Airlines also 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, you pay that airline separately.

Cargo pricing works differently. The American Airlines Cargo FAQ (2026) explains that smaller pets flying domestically go as Priority Parcel Service (PPS). Larger pets, and any pet flying internationally, go as ExpediteFS, which has its own rate sheet. Active-duty U.S. military members can get a 50% discount on published cargo rates for cats and dogs within the domestic United States and San Juan when traveling on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Temporary Duty (TDY) orders.

What size pet carrier does American Airlines allow?

American Airlines publishes these maximum carrier dimensions (length x width x height) for in-cabin pets (2026):

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

The airline requires that pets "be small enough to fit comfortably inside the closed / zipped carrier." Soft-sided carriers must be padded and water-repellent, with nylon mesh ventilation on 3 or more sides. American Airlines does not set one weight limit for every flight. However, on the three-cabin Airbus A321T, a pet flying in a premium cabin plus its carrier must weigh no more than 20 lb (9.07 kg), and the airline weighs them at check-in.

How many pets are allowed per flight, and where can you sit?

According to American Airlines (2026), mainline Airbus and Boeing aircraft accept up to 20 pet carriers across all cabins, not counting service animals. American Eagle regional jets (CRJ-200/700/900, ERJ-145/175/190) take 1 carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the Main Cabin. Pets are not allowed in the premium cabins of the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9, because those seats have no under-seat storage. Bulkhead and exit-row seats are also off-limits. Space is limited, so add your pet to the reservation early.

When you bring a pet carrier, you may bring only one other item on board: either a personal item or a standard carry-on bag, not both. Pet strollers must be checked, and normal checked-bag fees apply.

Where can you fly with a pet on American Airlines?

American Airlines says pets can fly "on most flights up to 12 hours" and to or from these places: the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. Extra restrictions apply to Canada and Mexico. As of October 2026, the airline lists these carry-on exclusions:

• Hawaii: no carry-on pets to or from Hawaii. Checked pets must connect only through Honolulu (HNL) and follow Hawaii's quarantine rules.
• 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: no checked pets, apart from service animals. Dogs and cats can go to London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) through American Airlines Cargo.
• Trinidad and Tobago (POS): pets cannot arrive on flights before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

What documents does my pet need to fly American Airlines?

The paperwork depends on the route and on how the pet travels. These are the official requirements as of October 2026:

Flying within the United States

Cats and dogs flying within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old, according to American Airlines (2026). Checked pets need a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. American PetEmbark cargo shipments need a health certificate, a rabies certificate, breed verification, acknowledgment forms and, if required, a temperature acclimation letter, according to the American Airlines Cargo FAQ.

Bringing a dog into the United States

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets the rules for every dog entering the U.S., including returning pets and service dogs. The CDC's August 1, 2024 rules depend on "where the dog was vaccinated and what countries the dog has been in during the 6 months before entry." The CDC states that an unvaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months will not be allowed to enter. American Airlines (2026) also refuses dogs as carry-on pets if they started their trip in, or visited, a high-risk rabies country in the previous 6 months. Service dogs that meet CDC requirements are exempt from that ban.

USDA APHIS (page last modified March 20, 2026) adds that U.S.-vaccinated dogs visiting a high-risk country need a "Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination" form. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must submit it before the dog leaves the United States.

Flying to Mexico

American Airlines (2026) requires every dog flying to Mexico, including service dogs, to have a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must complete it within 5 days before the dog enters Mexico, and American checks it at check-in.

Where the sources disagree

American's two official pages describe the health-certificate window for return trips differently. The aa.com checked-pet section accepts a certificate issued within 60 days of the return flight when the return is on the same ticket. The American Airlines Cargo FAQ says every dog and cat needs a certificate dated within 10 days for both the outbound and return trips. If your pet flies by cargo, plan on getting a new certificate for the return flight.

How to add a pet to an American Airlines booking: step by step

1. Check eligibility. Confirm that your route allows pets and that your cat or dog fits comfortably in a carrier of the approved size.
2. Book your own ticket first, then find the trip on aa.com or in the American app.
3. Go to Additional Services, select "Add carry-on pets," review and accept the requirements, and choose the flights your pet will take, following American Airlines' instructions (2026).
4. Get the paperwork. Ask a USDA-accredited veterinarian about health certificates, the CDC dog import requirements, or the Mexico screwworm certificate, depending on your route.
5. Get your pet used to the carrier. The American Airlines Cargo FAQ recommends starting at least two or three weeks before the trip.
6. Pay at the airport. At the American ticket counter, staff check the pet and carrier and take the $150 fee by credit card or paper voucher. American Airlines does not accept cash or checks.

Which pets cannot fly, and when are they refused?

Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds

American Airlines (2026) does not accept brachycephalic, or snub-nosed, cats and dogs "of any 'mix'" as checked pets. The list includes Persian, Himalayan, Burmese and Exotic Shorthair cats, and dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs (all breeds), Boxers, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Mastiffs and Pit Bulls. These rules apply to pets in the hold. The carry-on pet rules do not list a breed ban.

Temperature limits

For checked pets and cargo pets, American Airlines (2026) does not fly a pet when 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 licensed veterinarian's acclimation letter can waive the cold limit, but no pet is accepted below 20°F (-6.6°C). From May 1 to September 30, pets that are not in the cabin cannot fly to, through or from Phoenix (PHX), Tucson (TUS), Las Vegas (LAS) or Palm Springs (PSP).

Sedation

American Airlines follows the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommendation and does not accept pets that have been sedated or tranquilized. The airline says such pets "are at a higher risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems at high altitudes."

Aircraft restrictions for cargo

The American Airlines Cargo FAQ (2026) says PetEmbark does not carry pets on Airbus 319, 320 and 321-family aircraft, except between New York JFK and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO), because of heating and ventilation limits. You can book a cargo pet up to 10 days ahead, and American Airlines Cargo recommends booking at least 24 hours in advance.

Service dogs vs. emotional support animals

American Airlines (2026) defines a service animal as "a dog that's individually trained to do work or perform tasks" for a person with a disability. Service dogs fly free. American recommends submitting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form at least 48 hours before the flight. On flights over 8 hours, a DOT relief attestation form is also required. Service animals must be at least 4 months old, and each passenger can bring no more than 2. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and service animals in training "may travel as pets," with the normal pet fees and rules.

Is Animal Passport an airline pet passport?

No. Many searchers mix this up, so here is the difference. Airline pet rules and government schemes, such as EU pet passports, CDC import forms and USDA-endorsed health certificates, are official travel documents issued or endorsed through veterinarians and government agencies. American Airlines checks those documents and its own forms at check-in. Animal Passport is a different product. It is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics: an animal's nose print is unique, like a fingerprint.

Using a phone, an owner captures a record that links the animal to its owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. The age estimate comes from a dental photograph and includes a confidence score. The body condition score, on a scale of 1 to 5, comes from a side-profile photo. In August 2025, the system was used during livestock flood rescues in Pakistan, where paper tags had washed away, to help farmers reclaim their animals. Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace an American Airlines health certificate, a CDC Dog Import Form or a USDA endorsement, and it does not provide veterinary diagnosis or legal advice. For more on animal identity, see the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of October 2026, pet travel on American Airlines works best for small cats and dogs on domestic, Canadian, Mexican, Central American and Caribbean routes. The pet flies in an approved under-seat carrier for $150 each way. Larger pets go through American PetEmbark cargo, which has strict limits on temperature, aircraft type and paperwork. International trips, especially for dogs returning to the U.S., depend on CDC and USDA APHIS rules that you should check months in advance with a USDA-accredited veterinarian.

By Animal Passport. Last updated October 2, 2026. Sources: American Airlines, American Airlines Cargo, CDC and USDA APHIS official pages, accessed October 2026.