American Airlines Pet Travel Policy (2026 Guide)
American Airlines allows small cats and dogs to travel in the cabin on qualifying flights up to 12 hours (or within the 48 contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean). The pet must stay in their kennel under the seat for the flight.
Can I fly with a pet on American Airlines? Yes. American Airlines allows small dogs and cats in the passenger cabin provided the pet and carrier weigh no more than the under-seat allowance kg and fit in a compliant carrier. Larger pets may travel in the cargo hold.
Carrier Sizing & Dimension Mandates
Soft: 18 × 11 × 11 in (45 × 28 × 28 cm) • Hard: 19 × 13 × 9 in (48 × 33 × 22 cm)
Must be waterproof, bite-proof, ventilated on at least 3 sides, and capable of stowing completely under the seat in front of you without compressing your pet.
Rigid plastic or fiberglass with metal bolts and nuts
Wooden crates and plastic side-latches are strictly rejected. The crate must feature 4-sided ventilation, attachable two-compartment food/water dishes accessible from the exterior, and allow the pet to stand fully upright with at least 5 to 7 cm (2–3 in) of ear clearance.
American Airlines Boarding & Flight Regulations
- ✓Carry-on pet fee is $150 per kennel each way.
- ✓As of 2024–2026, passengers with an in-cabin pet may also bring one standard carry-on bag or personal item on board.
- ✓Pets cannot travel in-cabin to the UK, Ireland, Hawaii, Jamaica, Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay.
- ✓Checked pet travel in the hold is restricted exclusively to active-duty U.S. military and State Dept personnel.
Brachycephalic (Snub-Nosed) & Restricted Breeds
Due to elevated risks of respiratory failure, heatstroke, and anatomical airway obstruction during flight changes in cabin pressure, airlines maintain strict breed restrictions:
Step-by-Step Booking Checklist for American Airlines
Contact American Airlines Reservations (800-433-7300) immediately after ticket purchase to reserve pet space.
Check in at the ticket counter on departure day at least 2 hours prior to domestic departure and 3 hours prior to international.
Pay the $150 fee at the desk and receive your kennel approval tag.
Keep pet inside the carrier in airport gate areas and onboard the aircraft.
Frequently Asked Questions About American Airlines
Can I bring a carry-on bag and a dog on American Airlines?
Yes! American Airlines updated its policy to allow pet parents to bring both their pet carrier and a regular carry-on bag or personal item into the cabin.
How many pets can American Airlines carry per flight?
American allows up to 7 carry-on kennels on mainline flights and up to 5 on regional American Eagle flights, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Does American Airlines accept pets on flights to London?
No in-cabin pets are accepted on American Airlines flights to London Heathrow due to UK DEFRA quarantine entry mandates.
Airport Layover Station
Dedicated pet relief stations available at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Charlotte (CLT), Miami (MIA), and Philadelphia (PHL).
Check IATA Crate Sizing
Airlines inspect crates at check-in with strict mathematical formulas (Snout-to-tail length + half leg height).
Launch Free Compliance Check→Upload Pet Documents
Upload vaccination records, microchip paperwork, or rabies titer certificates to check if they fulfill destination country laws before paying airline cargo deposits.
Instant OCR Document Scan↓