You have to travel but worried about leaving your pet behind? With American Airlines pet policy, you can be at ease. As the airline allows you to bring your pets along, you can travel worry-free. American Airlines is dedicated to enhancing your travel experience. That’s why it has come with a smart policy for your pet travel.
Make sure to reserve a place for your furry friend onboard as AA allows a limited number of pets on a flight. Curious to know more about the pet policy that American Airlines has devised? Go through the account here to know more about it.
What is The American Airlines Pet Policy?
You can travel along with your pets on AA flights, thanks to its customer-friendly policy that supports pets onboard. However, make sure that they meet the set standards of age and size. As per the American Airlines pet travel policy, you can have a dog or cat onboard.
Now, let’s look at the policy’s highlights –
- Pets are allowed on a majority of flights up to 12 hours or those operating between the following locations:
- The 48 contiguous United States
- The United States and Canada
- Alaska
- Mexico
- Puerto Rico
- St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
- St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- While booking your tickets, book your pet as well. AA shows how many pets are accepted on every flight.
- Every pet must be at least 8 weeks old.
- A pet carrier is a carry-on item on AA flights. So, you can have only a personal item with your pet carrier if flying with a pet. You have to check other bags with the charges applicable.
Please note
There might be some special restrictions when you are traveling to or from any of these destinations. Let’s proceed to look into the pet carrier requirements as AA has set.
What are The Requirements of American Airlines for Pet Carriers?
You are allowed both hard-sided and soft-sided carriers on AA. Carrier dimensions for American Airlines carry-on pets are mentioned below –
Hard-sided kennels
- On mainline flights – 19 inches*13 inches*9 inches
- American Eagle flights – 16 inches*12 inches*8 inches
Soft-sided carriers
On mainline and American Eagle flights – 18 inches*11 inches*11 inches
Lastly, your pet should be able to stand and turn around in its carrier as AA pet policy states.
What is American Airlines’ Pet Cargo Policy?
If your pet is too big to travel in the cabin, it has to travel in the cargo, where AA allows a pet only if –
- You are a member of the U.S. military on active duty, or
- A U.S. State Department Foreign Service employee traveling on official orders
The pet carrier must meet all kennel guidelines for checked-pets. In other case, your pet may not travel. It is required to check the pet strollers at the ticket counter and checked bag fees are also applied. Other requirements are also there that you must know for carrying a pet in cargo. To know about these sections of American Airlines pet policy, either visit the official website of American Airlines or call a customer service executive at 800-433-7300.
Does AA Allow Flying with a Service Animal?
Yes, the airline allows fully trained service animals, which is a dog in the cabin without charging. Such dogs are trained to support a disabled traveler on the flight. These disabilities include but are not limited to –
- Visual impairments
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Seizures
- Mobility impairments
- Deafness
The staff at American Airlines will determine if your service animal meets pet travel guidelines and fulfills all the requirements/criteria to get onboard.
Please note
Following are allowed as pets, not service animals –
- Under training service animals
- Comfort animals
- Emotional support animals
All requirements and applicable fees will apply.
Documents Required for Service Animals
On AA operated flights, submitting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form is mandatory. You must submit it to the Special Assistance Desk latest by 48 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. The form must attest to the animal’s health, training, and behavior.
If you have purchased a ticket within 48 hours of the flight, complete the form at the airport.
Once the document is approved, AA will notify you.
What are The AA Charges for Carrying Pets Along?
You have to pay a travel fee for your pet at the airport/ travel center when flying with AA. payment must be through a credit card or paper voucher (where accepted). You can’t pay in cheque or cash, according to the American Airlines pet policy. According to the American Airlines pet policy, you can’t pay in cheque or cash.
| Service | Regions | Fee |
| Carry-on pet | Within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (according to the entry policy of the specific country) | $125 per kennel |
| Cargo pet | Varies | Varies, Fees will be confirmed at time of booking |
| Checked pet for Active-duty U.S. Military and State Department personnel only | Within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, Europe and from the United Kingdom | $200 per kennel
$150 to/from Brazil |
| Service animals | All destinations | No charge |
Source: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.jsp
Please note: American doesn’t accept fees for other airlines operating on your trip, even if the flight has an AA number. Check-in with your respective airline and pay the pet fees at check-in. To know if you are traveling with an AA partner airline, check your ticket for the words, “Operated by”.
What are The Breed Restrictions for Dogs and Cats on AA?
The American Airlines pet travel policy aims at ensuring the well-being of animals flying with it. For this, mixed breeds of brachycephalic and snub-nosed dogs and cats are not allowed onboard. It is because of the risks of their hereditary respiratory issues.
For safety reasons, the airline doesn’t accept historically aggressive breeds. Those traveling with their mixed-breed pets have to fill out a form, stating the details.
Restricted Dogs
- Affenpinscher
- American Bully
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boston Terrier, Boxer (All breeds)
- Brussels Griffon
- Bulldog (All breeds)
- Cane Corso
- Chow Chow
- Dogue De Bordeaux
- English Toy Spaniel
- Japanese Chin
- Lhasa Apso
- Mastiff (All breeds)
- Pekingese
- Pit Bull
- Presa Canario
- Pug (All breeds)
- Shar Pei
- Shih Tzu
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Tibetan Spaniel
Cats
- Burmese
- Exotic Shorthair
- Himalayan
- Persian
Things to Remember while Taking Your Pets Along in AA Flights
When flying on an AA flight, make sure that you follow the points mentioned below. These are in accordance with the American Airline pet policy and make your and your pet’s journey more convenient.
- Provide a valid fitness document, stating that your pet is healthy enough to travel.
- An agreeable transporter is significant.
- Provide an I.D. to your pet necessities.
- Know about the facilities to accommodate your pet properly.
- Research well.
- You can bring one kennel as your carry-on bag if you:
- Pay the carry-on pet fee
- Make your pet stay in the kennel and under the seat in front of you during the flight
- If your fully-trained service dogs meet the set parameters and requirements, you can take them in the cabin, without paying extra.
- You can have a personal item and a pet carrier, but with both of these, you can’t have a carry-on bag. Instead, you can take a kennel.
Therefore, traveling with your furry friends can be a challenging task when you are on an American Airlines’ flight. However, when you follow American Airlines pet travel guidelines mentioned above, things are streamlined.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How strict is the pet policy of American Airlines?
If your pets fit in the air carrier, there are no strict restrictions. However, First-class or business class travelers are exempted and their pet with its carrier should be within 20 pounds of weight.
What documents should I carry to fly with my dog on American Airlines?
You must have an ID proof and a health certificate issued by a vet within 10 days of your travel and 60 days of your return (travel on the same ticket).
