American Airlines Pet Policy

Millions of people fly on American Airlines annually. Many of whom, want to take their pet on vacation – who would want them to miss out on all of the fun of a family trip!? That being said, if you’re thinking of flying a pet you must ensure you adhere to the American Airlines pet policy when flying pets on the airline.

Do American Airlines allow pets?

Yes, you can take your pet on an American Airline flight. However, there are certain rules and regulations that travellers must adhere to when thinking about taking your pet on an American Airline flight. You must consider the American Airlines animal policy.

Yes, it’s safe to fly a pet on American Airlines as long as you follow the American Airlines pet policy to ensure your beloved animal has the safest trip possible. American Airlines offer a variety of ways to transport an animal onboard an aircraft, however, it does depend on the length and destination of the flight, and the type of animal you are wishing to travel.

How to fly with your pet on American Airlines

If you are thinking of taking your pet on an American Airlines flight, it is a good idea to understand their pet policy to ensure you don’t fall foul of any of the rules and regulations. We have provided a brief step-by-step guide below to help ensure the smoothest trip possible:

1. When planning your trip determine what kind of pet will be travelling and if you wish/can bring them on board as in-cabin luggage, checked baggage or whether they will need to travel as cargo.

2. If your pet falls outside of the scope of the standard policy, make contact with American Airlines to determine if your pet is allowed to travel and what fees will be charged.

3. Make sure you fill out any necessary paperwork ahead of taking the flight.

4. Make sure you understand the policy and make contact with American Airlines if needed.

5. Ensure to pay any fees for taking your pet on board American Airlines.

6. Ensure you take the necessary steps at check-in to ensure your pet is safely placed on board the aircraft, brief details of this process have been provided below:

· For in-cabin flights, pets will need to be checked in at the passenger counter with fees being paid at the same time

· For other methods, American Airlines requests that travellers check their pets no more than 4 hours ahead of the flight time. As with in-cabin flights, fees are also paid at the passenger ticket counter. American Airlines also recommends that travellers check in as early as possible as there are a limited number of spaces per flight which are given out on a first come first served basis.

You can pay for your pet’s travel fees on American Airlines either at the airport or at a registered travel centre. The two acceptable methods of payment are credit card or paper voucher (where accepted). Please note that cash or cheques are not accepted.

The fees for carrying your pet do depend on the method in which the pet is travelling, the type of pet and the destination, as per the following table:

Method of travel	Type of pet allowed	Cost
In-cabin	Small dogs or cats	$125
Checked baggage	Larger dogs and cats	$200 (except to and from Brazil where cost is $150)
Cargo	Warm-blooded animals such as birds, dogs, cats, primates and some other animals. It is recommended if travelling with a different type of animal you enquire directly with American Airlines to get all the relevant information. Cold-blooded animals are also allowed, however, these must be packaged in accordance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations.	The cost varies by type of pet and destination. American Airlines can provide more information.
Service Animals	From early 2021 only trained service animals can fly in the cabin. A completed U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air form needs to be completed before a trip.	No charge

What pets can fly with American Airlines?

Even though American Airlines has a very pet-friendly policy, it still only permits small dogs or cats to travel as in-cabin luggage, and any pets travelling in this manner must be in an approved airline pet carrier.

However, American Airlines will also transport other types of pets as cargo, which include, birds and primates, all warm-blooded mammals, and some cold-blooded ones too.

If you are unsure if your pet can travel onboard an American Airlines flight, it is recommended to contact them directly during the planning stage of your trip.

Pets you can’t fly with on American Airlines

American Airlines’ pet policy is quite clear on the animals it will not accept on board its airlines, which include any unhealthy animals, animals under 8 weeks old, dangerous animals, and also animals that will be banned by the country of destination.

Tips for flying pets on American Airlines

This section will provide you with some of the top tips for flying with pets on American Airlines:

· Always check the American Airlines pet policy when planning your trip to check the best method of flying your pet.

· Ensure your pet meets the rules and regulations for travelling onboard an American Airlines flight e.g. no animal less than 8 weeks old, meets the size requirements etc.

· Ensure your destination is one of the allowable routes for pet travel

· Make sure you are aware of the charge for carrying a pet on board American Airlines

· Ensure your pet has all the appropriate documentation to allow them to travel

· Ensure the temperature is ok for pets to travel – American Airlines will not allow pets to travel as checked baggage where the temperature is above 29.4°C or below 7.2°C.

· If you are unsure about anything about travelling with a pet, contact American Airlines directly who will be able to provide the answers to any of your questions

How to contact American Airlines about flying with pets

American Airlines offer a brilliant service if you need to contact them with any questions about travelling with a pet, they have a live chat function through their website or you can email them at PetEmbark@aa.com and they will be able to help you with any queries.

There is also an excellent FAQ section on their website which answers some of the most commonly asked questions about travelling with a pet.

FAQs

This short FAQ section will answer some of the most common questions relating to flying with pets on American Airlines:

How strict is American Airlines about pets in the cabin?

American Airlines are very strict about which pets they allow in the cabin. According to their flying with pets policy, you are allowed the following: 1 kennel as your carry-on bag (providing you have paid the carry-on fee and as long as your pet stays in the kennel under your seat for the duration of the flight) You will also need an approved airline pet carrier. The American Airlines website provides further information on the suitable style of carrier. Pets are only allowed in the cabin for most US destinations, Canada, Mexico and some other nearby countries, providing the flight time does not exceed 11.5 hours. Pets are not allowed in the cabin for transatlantic or transpacific flights.

Does my pet need a passport to fly on American Airlines?

If your pet needs a passport to fly on American Airlines is largely dependent on the destination of travel and the type of pet being flown. For domestic flights, it’s unlikely that a pet passport will be needed, however, a health certificate may be needed depending on the state/country you are travelling to. For international flights, it is much more likely that a pet passport will be needed. It is helpful to use the services of a registered agent who will help to complete this process and advise on everything you need.

Do American Airlines fly pets internationally?

Yes, American Airlines will fly pets internationally, however, there are strict rules with taking a pet onboard an international American flight. For international flights, pets will only be allowed onboard as cargo, so any travellers wishing to take pets on a long-haul flight will need to ensure they comply with the relevant American Airlines regulations.