Are you flying with AA and planning to carry a pet along? It might be complicated as different airlines have their specific guidelines and policies for the same. So, it becomes important for you to know about American Airlines pet policy.
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 American Airlines Pet Policy?
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The pet types that AA allows you to carry are only dogs and cats. As per the American Airlines pet travel policy, you can have a dog or cat onboard (if they meet the set standards of age and size). It is applicable to 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
Please note that 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 cases, 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 or 646-974-1422.
How to Use the American Airlines Pet Policy?
To use the AA’s pet policy, all you have to do is to connect with an AA reservations representative and add your pet to it.
If there is kennels’ capacity on your selected flights, an agent will assist you to add a pet to your record.
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.
| 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
As you are planning to take an AA flight, keep the following points in mind that comply with the American Airline pet policy:
- Talk with your vet and make sure that your pet is healthy.
- agreeable transporter is significant.
- Provide an I.D. to your pet necessities.
- Get info on pet-accommodating facilities.
- Research well.
- Pad your travel budget.
- 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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FAQs
How strict is the pet policy of American Airlines?
As long as your pets fit in the air carrier, AA does not levy any strict restrictions on them. However, if you are flying in first-class or business class, the rule comes with an exception. According to this, your pet with its carrier should be within 20 pounds of weight.
Furthermore. Every pet that is flying with AA must not be less than eight weeks old.
What documents should I carry to fly with my dog on American Airlines?
Apart from ID proofs, you must have a health certificate for your pet that certifies its optimum health. Teh certificate must be issued by a vet within 10 days of your travel and 60 days of your return (travel on the same ticket).
