American Airlines Pet Policy 2026: $150 Fee, Cargo Available

American charges $150 each way to fly with a dog or cat in the cabin. The 20-lb combined weight limit (pet + carrier) is strictly stated but loosely enforced at most airports.

Unlike most competitors, American actually offers cargo through its PetEmbark program — one of only two major US airlines still shipping pets in the hold. This guide covers cabin rules, carrier sizes, cargo options, the booking process, and which routes block pets entirely.

In-Cabin Travel

American allows dogs and cats in the cabin on domestic and select international routes for $150 each way per carrier. The fee went up from $125 in February 2024.

Your carrier goes under the seat in front of you. American accepts both soft-sided and hard-sided carriers:

• Soft-sided: 18" × 11" × 11" (46 cm × 28 cm × 28 cm) — all aircraft
• Hard-sided (mainline): 19" × 13" × 9" (48 cm × 33 cm × 23 cm)
• Hard-sided (Eagle): 16" × 12" × 8" (41 cm × 30 cm × 20 cm)

The official weight limit is 20 lbs for pet and carrier combined. In practice, most check-in agents don't weigh your carrier — they eyeball it. The exception is the A321T (JFK–LAX/SFO transcon), where agents routinely weigh pets using a scale at the counter.

Each passenger gets one carrier with one pet inside. You can bring one extra bag — either a personal item or a carry-on, but not both. Before March 2024, you had to check your carry-on at $35 if you had a pet carrier. Now you choose which bag to keep.

Per-flight limits: 7 carriers per flight on mainline aircraft. On American Eagle regional flights, it's 5 total — 1 in First Class, the rest in Main Cabin.

Seat restrictions: No exit rows, no bulkhead. On the A321T, pets go in special under-seat compartments — only specific seats have them. On 777 and 787 widebodies, no pets in Flagship Business or Flagship First due to limited underseat space.

Species

Dogs and cats only. Both fly under the same rules and fee.

Cargo Travel

American is one of the few major US airlines still offering pet cargo through AA Cargo's PetEmbark program. This uses the airline's cargo division — it's separate from the passenger side.

Two service levels:

• Priority Parcel Service (PPS): Fastest option, starts around $415 for domestic routes (varies by distance and crate size)
• ExpediteFS: Economy tier, lower cost but longer transit times

Both charge a $150 handling fee on top of the base rate. International shipments cost more — pricing depends on route, weight, and crate dimensions.

Temperature restrictions are strict:

• 45–85°F: Normal operations
• 20–44°F: Allowed with a veterinary acclimation letter (certifying the pet can handle temps down to 20°F)
• Below 20°F or above 85°F: No transport, no exceptions

Seasonal embargo: Phoenix (PHX), Tucson (TUS), Las Vegas (LAS), and Palm Springs (PSP) are blacked out from May through September due to heat.

Aircraft restrictions: Cargo pets can't fly on any Airbus narrowbody (A319, A320, A321 variants) except on the JFK–LAX and JFK–SFO routes. Most domestic cargo routes use 737s or widebody aircraft.

Booking cargo: Contact AA Cargo directly — this isn't handled through the passenger reservation system. You'll need a vet health certificate within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination, and an IATA-compliant hard-sided kennel. Active-duty military get a 50% discount on cargo rates.

Watch Out

Cargo pets must be alert and unmedicated at drop-off. A visibly sedated dog or cat will be refused. Natural calming aids (pheromone sprays, thunder vests) are fine — prescription sedation is the problem.

Checked Baggage

American doesn't accept checked pets for regular passengers. The only exception: active-duty U.S. military and Foreign Service personnel on permanent change of station (PCS) orders can check a pet for $200 each way (or $150 to/from Brazil).

Service Animals

American accepts trained service dogs only — no emotional support animals, no therapy animals, no dogs in training. ESAs fly as regular pets in a carrier with the $150 fee.

Service dogs fly free in all cabins. You'll need the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form completed before travel. For flights over 8 hours, the DOT Relief Attestation Form is also needed.

Breed Restrictions

Cabin: None. American has no breed restrictions for cabin travel — flat-faced breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persian cats) fly under the same rules as every other breed.

Cargo: Extensive restrictions. AA Cargo bans flat-faced breeds (also called brachycephalic) because their compressed airways make breathing harder under the stress of cargo travel. The full list includes:

Dogs: Affenpinscher, American Bully (all types), American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer (all types), Brussels Griffon, Bulldog (all types including English, French, American), Cane Corso, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff (all types), Pekingese, Presa Canario, Pug (all types), Shar-Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel — plus any mix of these breeds.

Cats: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian — plus any mix of these breeds.

Required Documents

These are American's rules — separate from what your destination country may need.

Domestic flights: American doesn't explicitly require a health certificate for standard domestic flights. Show up with your pet in an approved carrier and you're set.

International flights: You'll need a rabies vaccination and whatever the destination country asks for — usually a health certificate and potentially a USDA endorsement.

Dogs returning to the US: All dogs entering the US must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and have a completed CDC Dog Import Form — regardless of where you're coming from. This rule took effect August 1, 2024. For the full re-entry process, see our guide to re-entering the US with your pet.

How to Book a Pet on American

1. Book your flight first on aa.com or the American Airlines app.
2. Add your pet through Manage Trips on aa.com or in the app — American is one of the few airlines that lets you do this online. Select the pet option and confirm.
3. International flights: Call 1-800-433-7300 to add a pet on international routes.
4. Pay the $150 fee at the airport check-in counter. You can't pay online.
5. Check in at the counter. American doesn't allow online check-in when flying with a pet. Staff will check the carrier, weigh it on some routes, and tag it.
6. Arrive 30–60 minutes earlier than normal. The counter check adds time — especially if the pet line is busy.
7. At TSA security: Remove your pet from the carrier, carry them through the metal detector, and send the empty carrier through the X-ray. This applies even with TSA PreCheck.

Tip

Before March 2024, flying with a pet meant checking your carry-on at $35. Now you can bring one extra bag — either a personal item or a carry-on — on top of the pet carrier.

Common Mistakes

What Travelers Say

We monitor recent traveler experiences through BringFido reviews, Reddit, and other sources. Here's what keeps coming up.

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On the weight limit:

"I have a 6-pound toy poodle. I check in, pay, and get my carry-on tag all in 5 minutes. They never even looked at my carrier dimensions." — Izzie, BringFido review

"My mini poodle is 21 lbs. With the carrier she was 24.5. The agent looked at me, looked at the dog, and said 'she's fine.' I think they just don't want to deal with it unless it's obvious." — Karina, BringFido review

"17-lb poodle mix. Carrier weighed in at 20.6 lbs total. I put the Sherpa on the scale and the agent said '20 pounds, you're good.' Close enough, I guess." — Leka, BringFido review

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On cats:

"First time flying with my cat. The carrier was slightly longer than the size limit. Nobody at the counter even measured it — the agent signed my pet agreement for me and sent me on my way." — Megan, BringFido review

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On the A321T:

"The A321T between JFK and LAX is the one route where they actually weigh your pet. The special pet compartments under the seats have a hard limit. If you're over 20 lbs, they'll know." — Reddit community pattern

Watch Out

The A321T transcon flights (JFK–LAX, JFK–SFO) are the strictest for weight enforcement. If your pet and carrier are close to 20 lbs, avoid these routes or use the lightest carrier you can find.

Tips for Flying American with Your Pet

Use a soft-sided carrier. Hard carriers have zero give and come in two sizes depending on whether you're on mainline or Eagle. A soft-sided carrier at 18" × 11" × 11" works on every American aircraft and compresses enough to slide under tighter seats.

You can bring one extra bag now. Before March 2024, American made you check your carry-on at $35 when flying with a pet. Now you pick one: a personal item or a carry-on bag, on top of the pet carrier.

Keep old pet tags on your carrier. American gives you a yellow tag at check-in. Leave previous flights' tags attached — it signals to agents that your pet has flown before in that carrier.

The hidden costs. The $150 fee is just the airline's cut. A carrier runs $30–$100. If you need a health certificate for international travel, that's $150–$300 for the vet visit plus $38 for USDA endorsement. Budget the full picture.

International Routes

American flies pets in the cabin on select international routes — same $150 fee, same cabin rules. But several regions are completely blocked.

Cabin pets allowed on flights within the US and to: Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas.

No cabin pets on flights to, from, or through:

• Transatlantic: All routes (Europe, UK, etc.)
• Transpacific: All routes (Asia, Australia, etc.)
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay
• Caribbean: Jamaica
• Hawaii

For routes that do allow pets, add your pet through Manage Trips on aa.com. For international routes, call 1-800-433-7300. You'll need a rabies vaccination and whatever the destination country asks for — usually a health certificate and a USDA endorsement.

For country-specific entry rules, check our country guides.

How American Compares

American's $150 cabin fee matches United and Delta — all three raised their fees in 2024. The 20-lb weight limit is more restrictive on paper than United (no stated limit) or Southwest (no stated limit), but enforcement is lax at most airports.

The real differentiator is cargo. American is one of only two major US airlines (alongside Alaska) still shipping pets in the hold. If your pet is too large for a cabin carrier, AA Cargo's PetEmbark program is one of your few options.

FAQ

Your next step: Add your pet to your booking on aa.com — pet spots fill separately from passenger seats. If you're flying internationally, call 1-800-433-7300 instead.