Flying with your dog on American Airlines is a bit of a trade-off. They have a higher pet fee than some other airlines, but they recently became more flexible by letting you bring a carry-on bag or personal item alongside your pet carrier. You just have to make sure your pup stays tucked away in their carrier under the seat for the whole flight. It’s also important to remember that they don’t allow pets in the cabin on long-haul trans-atlantic flights or to certain South American countries. Since they only allow about five to seven pets per flight, you really need to call ahead and secure your spot as soon as you buy your ticket.
Key Pointers:
- The Fee: It costs $150 per carrier each way.
- Weight Limit: Your dog and their carrier combined cannot weigh more than 20 lbs.
- Carrier Sizes: Soft-sided carriers are best and should be around 18″ x 11″ x 11″.
- Age: Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old to travel.
- Service Dogs: Fully trained service dogs fly for free, but you must submit the DOT paperwork 48 hours before departure.
- No “Checked” Pets: Unless you are active-duty military, American no longer accepts pets as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
What Is American Airlines Pet Policy – In Cabin?
The cool thing now is that Americans recently changed their policy—you can bring your pet carrier plus one additional small carry-on bag or personal item. Just keep in mind that they don’t allow pets in the cabin on long flights across the ocean or to certain South American countries. Since there’s a limit on how many pets can be on each plane, it’s best to call and add them to your reservation early.
Key Pointers:
- The Fee: It is $150 each way per pet carrier.
- Carrier Specs: * Soft-sided (recommended): Max 18″ x 11″ x 11″.
- Hard-sided: Max 19″ x 13″ x 9″ (16″ x 12″ x 8″ on American Eagle flights).
- Weight & Size: Your dog must be able to stand up and turn around; for certain premium cabins (like the A321T), the total weight of dog and carrier can’t exceed 20 lbs.
- Age: Your dog must be at least 8 weeks old for domestic travel and 6 months for international travel.
- Seating: You can’t sit in the bulkhead, emergency exit rows, or certain lie-flat seats in First/Business class.
Read more: What Is American Airlines Infant Policy For Flying With A Baby?
What Is The American Airlines Pet Policy For Checked Baggage?
Actually checking a pet as baggage on American Airlines is a service they’ve mostly stopped offering to the general public. Nowadays, this option is strictly reserved for active-duty U.S. Military members or State Department personnel traveling on official orders. For everyone else, if your dog is too big to fit under the seat, you’ll have to look into their “PetEmbark” cargo service instead. For those who do qualify to check their pets, the process is very thorough, involving strict temperature checks and health paperwork to ensure the animal stays safe in the cargo hold during the trip.
Key Pointers:
- Eligibility: Only for active-duty military or State Department personnel on official orders.
- The Cost: It generally costs $200 per kennel ($150 for flights to/from Brazil).
- Health Records: You must provide a health certificate from a vet issued within 10 days of your travel.
- Temperature Rules: They won’t fly pets if the ground temperature is above 85°F or below 45°F at any stop on your route.
- Kennel Standards: The crate must be hard-sided, leak-proof, and secured with metal bolts—plastic snaps aren’t allowed.
- Food & Water: You must provide written certification that your dog was fed and watered within 4 hours of check-in.
Read more: Does American Airlines Have a 24-Hour Cancellation Policy?
What Is The American Airlines Pet Policy For Air Cargo?
For pups that are too large to travel under your seat, American Airlines offers a specialized cargo service called “PetEmbark.” This isn’t just checking a bag; it’s a dedicated process where your dog is placed in a climate-controlled and pressurized section of the plane. You’ll need to do some heavy lifting beforehand, like booking through the cargo department rather than the main website and dropping your dog off at a specific cargo terminal instead of the ticket counter. Most importantly, the airline keeps a strict eye on the weather; if it’s over 85°F or under 45°F anywhere on your route, they won’t fly the pet to ensure they don’t get overheated or too cold during the transition from the terminal to the plane.
Key Cargo Points:
- Booking: You must reserve your dog’s spot at least 48 hours in advance through the American Airlines Cargo website or phone line.
- Health Forms: You need a health certificate from a vet issued within 10 days of travel.
- Temperature Rule: Pets won’t be accepted if ground temperatures are above 85°F or below 45°F at any point in the journey.
- The Crate: Must be a sturdy, hard-sided kennel with metal hardware—no plastic snaps allowed and include attached food and water dishes.
- Breed Check: Many “snub-nosed” breeds (like Bulldogs or Pugs) are prohibited from cargo due to breathing risks.
Read more: How to Change Name on American Airlines Ticket?
Breeds Banned By American Airlines
American Airlines bans certain breeds from the cargo hold because their primary goal is to avoid medical emergencies that happen more often with specific body types. In the pressurized cargo hold, these dogs struggle to pant effectively, which is how dogs cool themselves down. If they get stressed or the temperature fluctuates even a little, they can quickly overheat or experience respiratory failure.
The airline also restricts “strong-jawed” or “historically aggressive” breeds, such as Pit Bulls or certain Mastiffs. It’s not about judging whether a dog is “good” or “bad” it’s strictly about safety. When a powerful dog panics in a dark, loud cargo hold, they can actually chew through a standard plastic crate in minutes. If they get loose, they could get hurt or accidentally damage the plane’s wiring and sensitive equipment. These rules are just there to protect the ground crew and make sure the flight stays safe for everyone, including the pup.
- Flat-Faced Breeds: Dogs like Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, and Boston Terriers are essentially banned from the cargo hold because their snub-nosed faces make it dangerous for them to breathe in high-stress or warm environments.
- Strong-Jawed Breeds: Powerful dogs such as Pit Bulls and Presa Canarios are restricted from the hold to prevent them from chewing through crates and getting loose near the plane’s sensitive equipment.
- Mixed Breeds: If your pup is even part “snub-nosed” or “strong-jawed,” they’ll likely be treated the same as a purebred under these safety rules.
- The Cabin Loophole: If your dog is small enough to stay in a carrier under the seat, many of these breeds can still fly with you since the cabin has much better air and you’re right there to watch them.
- Military Families: Even if you are moving on official government orders, these breed restrictions still apply because the biological risks to the dog don’t change.
Conclusion
American Airlines’ pet policy works best for small dogs traveling in-cabin, with clear rules on carriers, weight, and fees. Larger dogs require cargo arrangements through PetEmbark, with strict health and temperature checks. Planning early is essential due to limited pet slots and route restrictions.
