Most people love traveling with friends and family, but what about bringing your furry little friend with you? Whether you have a dog who loves to explore new places or a feline friend you don’t want to leave alone, bringing your pets with you is a great way to level up your vacation experience. That said, if you’re not taking your car, you’ll need to follow the pet policy of the airline that you choose to travel with.
In this article, we’re here to help you explore American Airlines’ pet policy. If you’re on the fence about choosing American Airlines – or if you’re just curious – we have your back. Read on to learn more below.
Does American Airlines Allow You to Travel With Pets?
First and foremost, it’s important to know if you should even consider bringing your pet, right? Well, the good news is that American Airlines does allow pets to travel with passengers. Depending on your circumstances, American Airlines allows pets to travel in the cabin or in the cargo area of the plane.
While American Airlines allows pets to travel with passengers, there are rules in place that travelers must follow. Failing to do so can result in problems with your flight or could endanger your pet, always contact American Airlines before you fly.
What Is American Airlines’ Pet Policy?
American Airlines handles pets in a few different ways. There are rules for small cats and dogs, larger dog breeds and other animals, and even specialized animals. For these reasons, it’s important to understand what these policies look like for each pet classification. Learn more about American Airlines’ pet policies below.
American Airlines’ Pet Policy for Cabin Travel
When it comes to traveling in the cabin with your pets, your pets will need to meet specific requirements, mainly that they be cats or dogs. Other animals may be restricted, so make sure you contact the airline about your situation before you arrive at the airport.
When it comes to cats and dogs in the cabin, American Airlines requires your pet to remain in a specifically sized carrier. This limits larger dog breeds and some larger cats as well.
American Airlines’ Pet Policy for Checked Pets
Depending on the size of your dog or the type of animal you have, you may need to consider checking your pet and having them travel in the cargo areas of the plane. While this is possible, it’s important to note that American Airlines only allows pets to travel in the cargo area for active-duty military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel. What’s more, fees may apply in these cases.
Checked pets also need to meet specific requirements for their kennels. These requirements include that your pet be under 100 lbs and over 8 weeks old, and in a completely contained escape proof kennel with a metal door that lacks spillable bedding material (like wood shavings) and has a day’s worth of food secured to the top in case of emergency. Your pet must fit comfortably inside, so they must be able to stand, turn, and sit.
We highly recommend contacting the airline and the airport before checking your pet in these situations. They’ll guide you through the best practices before boarding.
American Airlines’ Pet Policy for Service Animals
Service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). When it comes to travel with service animals, your service dog can accompany you on American Airlines flights in the cabin. As long as your service animal is well-trained, you shouldn’t have any issues on flights or in the airport.
That said, it’s important to ensure that your service animal has the training necessary to behave. This is why service animal training is important, and we have some service dog training guides that can point you in the right direction.
American Airlines’ Pet Policy for Emotional Support Animals
According to the Fair Housing Act (FHA), emotional support animals (ESAs) are not “pets” in the same way that your average cat or dog is. Instead, they provide comfort as part of treatment for people who struggle with mental health disabilities. This is not the same as a service dog who has general public access.
While ESAs used to be allowed on airlines, like American Airlines, due to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), this is no longer the case. Instead, ESAs have to follow traditional airline pet policy.
American Airlines Pet Policy Travel Restrictions
American Airlines is one of the best airlines to travel with if you want to bring your pet with you. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can always bring your pet with you. If you have a service dog, you don’t have to worry about restrictions, but in other cases it helps to understand how location and travel times impact traveling with pets on American Airlines flights.
American Airlines Pet Policy for Domestic Flights
When it comes to domestic flights, as long as you follow the company’s pet policies, you should be fine. The only exceptions come down to Hawaii. For example, you can’t travel to Hawaii with a pregnant pet, and you can’t bring a carry-on pet with you to Hawaii. In other words, your pet needs to be in the cargo area or the plane or a checked pet. Hawaii also has some limits on nonstop flights; you can’t travel to Maui or the Big Island of Hawaii or Kauai.
American Airlines Pet Policy Restrictions for International Flights
When it comes to international flights, rules are often determined by the country. For example, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has suspended the import of dogs from countries that have a high risk of rabies.
Another example is how Australia limits the types of service animals that enter the country by plane. While service animals can be small horses or dogs, Australia only allows dogs, and you must make arrangements three days prior to landing.
Depending on the country, other restrictions may apply. Therefore, we always recommend learning more about your destination before making your travel plans.
American Airlines Pet Policy: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions about American Airlines’ pet policies? Or are you curious about how much it may cost? We answer some of the most commonly asked questions below.
How Much Does American Airlines Charge for Pets?
American Airlines typically charges around $150 per pet for domestic cabin travel. If you have a checked pet or kennel pet, the cost is $200 per kennel. That said, if you’re traveling to Brazil, it’s only $150 per kennel. Service animals are free, but you’ll have to pay pet fees for therapy dogs and emotional support animals.
What Are Some Other Airlines that Allow Pet Travel?
Other airlines that allow pets to travel with you include:
- Alaska Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
These are only a handful of examples, and it’s worth learning more about each airline’s pet policy in detail before traveling. Thankfully, we offer guides for airlines, like our pet travel guide for JetBlue.
What Are the Rules for Pet Travel in Airports?
Knowing that you can bring your pet with you on an American Airlines flight is helpful, sure, but what about the airport? For service animals, you don’t usually have to worry about any restrictions. However, pets usually need to be in carriers, at least eight weeks old, and current on their vaccinations. Also, fees for pet travel are usually paid at check-in counters.
It’s also important to note that your pet will need to be removed from the carrier before you’re allowed through TSA. This helps with inspection, and their carrier will have to go through the X-ray machine.
Our Final Thoughts on the American Airlines’ Pet Policy
At the end of the day, understanding American Airlines pet policy is critical if you want to travel using this airline. It will help you plan out your trip and determine if you need to leave your pet behind. What’s more, it’s worth understanding how the airline handles emotional support animals, service animals, and even therapy dogs.
While this guide focuses on American Airlines, it’s not the only airline that allows you to travel with pets. So, evaluate multiple airlines and consider the best options for you and your family. That said, don’t forget to consider airport pet policies because these can vary based on the airport, the terminal, and the state.