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American Airlines Logo

American Airlines

In Compartment: Cat, Dog In Cargo: Military or Foreign Service Animals Pet Shipping: Yes Microchip: yes Health Certificate: yes Vaccinations: Rabies, Internal/External parasites Airline Pet Policy Link
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Pet Policy Summary

American Airlines Pet Policy Summary

  • Pets can travel as a carry-on or be transported through American Airlines Cargo depending on their breed and size. Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet size, age, and destination requirements.
  • Checked pets are only accepted at the ticket counter for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Fees and restrictions apply.
  • Fully-trained service dogs can fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements.
  • Pets can travel on most flights up to 12 hours or flights to/from certain locations including the 48 contiguous United States, The U.S. and Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas.
  • All customers, regardless of citizenship, must follow the CDC’s requirements for bringing dogs into the U.S.
  • New CDC requirements effective from August 1, 2024, will apply depending on your dog's travel history in the six months prior to arriving in the U.S.
  • Dogs from high-risk countries for rabies have additional requirements and restrictions.
  • Carry-on pets must stay in the pet carrier and under the seat in front of you the entire flight.
  • For checked pets, a health certificate issued by a vet within 10 days prior to travel is required. For return travel, the health certificate must be issued within 60 days (on the same ticket) or within 10 days (on a separate ticket).
  • The pet travel fee can be paid at the airport or at a travel center with a credit card or paper voucher. Cash or checks are not accepted.
  • Temperature restrictions are in place to protect pets from exposure to extreme heat or cold.
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Health Requirements

Microchip: yes

Health Certificate: yes

Vaccinations: Rabies, Internal/External parasites

Restrictions

Brachycephalic Breeds: Not specified.

Dangerous Breeds: American Bull Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff (English Mastiff), Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Dogo Argentino, English Mastiff, Pitbull, Presa Canario, Stafforshire Bull Terrier, Dogue De Bordeaux (French Mastiff), Shar Pei, Valley Terrier, American Bully,

Support Animals

Service Animals:

Service Animal Travel Policy

Fully-trained service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements.

Service animals are accepted on all destinations without a fee.

Note: The embargo on dogs from high-risk rabies countries does not apply to service dogs that meet CDC requirements.

Emotional Support: Not specified.

Carrier Details

Compartment:

In-Cabin Pet Carrier Rules

  • Carry-on pets limited to cats and dogs meeting size, age, and destination requirements.
  • One pet carrier allowed per passenger, plus one additional personal item or carry-on bag (not both).
  • Pet must remain inside the carrier under the seat in front of you for the entire flight.
  • Pet strollers must be checked and fees apply.
  • Pets must be small enough to fit comfortably inside a closed/zipped carrier.
  • Soft-sided collapsible kennels recommended; must be secure, padded, water-repellent, with nylon mesh ventilation on 3+ sides.
  • Non-collapsible kennels must not exceed under-seat dimensions of aircraft on your journey.
Carrier TypeAircraft TypeMax Dimensions (L×W×H)
Soft-sided (recommended)All flights18 x 11 x 11 inches (46 x 28 x 28 cm)
Hard-sidedAmerican Mainline flights19 x 13 x 9 inches (48 x 33 x 22 cm)
Hard-sidedAmerican Eagle flights16 x 12 x 8 inches (40 x 30 x 20 cm)

Weight limit: Total weight of pet and carrier must not exceed 20 lbs (9.07 kg), verified at check-in.

Seat restrictions: Carry-on pets are not permitted in bulkhead seats, exit rows, or certain premium cabin seats on specific aircraft (e.g., Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A321NEO seat 13D).

Special compartments: On Airbus A321T (3-cabin), smaller soft-sided carriers fit in Business; First class has no under-seat storage; 2 dedicated animal-friendly compartments at front.

Fee: $150 per kennel for carry-on pets within specified regions.

Prohibited destinations for carry-on pets: Jamaica, Hawaii, trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, and certain South American countries.

Additional notes: Sedated or tranquilized pets are not accepted in cabin.

Cargo:

Checked and Cargo Pet Travel Rules

Checked pets accepted 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 per passenger.
  • Pets must meet minimum age and health requirements of destination.
  • Reservations required at least 48 hours prior to travel.
  • Check-in at ticket counter with official orders and health certificate.
  • Allow extra check-in time: 2 to 4 hours before flight.
  • Health certificate must be issued by a vet within 10 days of travel.
  • Pets must not be sedated or tranquilized.

Kennel Requirements

  • Large enough for pet to stand, turn, sit, lie naturally without touching sides or top.
  • Maximum combined pet and kennel weight: 100 lbs (45 kgs).
  • Made of wood, metal, plastic or similar rigid materials.
  • Door made of welded or cast metal, secured top and bottom with bolts or screws.
  • Secured by passenger with release cable ties on all 4 corners (provided by airline).
  • Leak and escape proof with secure fastened door.
  • Ventilation on at least 3 sides for domestic U.S. travel, 4 sides for international travel.
  • Separate food and water dishes attached inside kennel.
  • Small bag of food for 24-hour period attached to top.
  • Clean with absorbent material (no straw, hay, or wood shavings).

Additional Rules

  • If traveling with 2 pets in one kennel: same species, similar size, each under 20 lbs (9.07 kg), aged 8 weeks to 6 months.
  • Checked pets cannot travel on A319, A320, A321 (all variants).
  • Maximum kennel heights by aircraft:
    • A321T: 46 inches (117 cm)
    • B737-800: 28 inches (71.12 cm)
    • B777-200/300: 40 inches (101.6 cm)
    • B787-800/900: 40 inches (101.6 cm)
  • Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs and cats of any mix are not accepted as checked pets (specific breeds listed in policy).
  • Pets must be at least 8 weeks old for travel within U.S. and Puerto Rico; dogs from high-risk rabies countries must be at least 16 weeks old with rabies vaccination.
  • Checked pets can only connect through specified U.S. cities (e.g., CLT, ORD, DFW, LAX, JFK, LGA, MIA, PHL, PHX, DCA).
  • Written certification required that pet was fed and offered water within 4 hours before delivery to airplane, with feeding/watering instructions for 24 hours.

Fees

ServiceRegionFee
Checked pet (Active-duty U.S. Military and State Dept personnel only)Within/between U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central/South America, Caribbean, Europe, UK$200 per kennel ($150 to/from Brazil)
Cargo petVariesVaries; fees confirmed at booking

Temperature restrictions: Pets cannot travel if temperature exceeds 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any itinerary location. Exceptions for cold with vet letter; no travel below 20°F (-6.6°C).

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