American Airlines has a strict pet policy in place so it’s best to know ahead of time what you can and cannot do/bring when flying with your furry friend. This detailed pet guide discusses everything you need to know while flying with a pet, or Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or a Service Dog on American Airlines.
Flying In-Cabin with Your Pet
American Airlines does let pets into the cabin to travel with you, but with certain stipulations.
Pets have to be either a cat or a dog**. No other species of animals are allowed. Regardless of whether owners wish to take ESAs or pets into the cabin with them!
**As of 01/11/2021, the laws for flying with your Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) have changed. Currently, ESAs are considered as regular pets by American Airlines, and as such they will be subject to regular fees if they are traveling in cabin.
The size of the pet matters, as both the pet and the carrier together cannot weigh more than twenty pounds. Animals larger than this, unless they are service animals, cannot travel in-cabin.
The pets must also stay in this carrier, with the door closed and under the seat during the duration of the flight. There are also certain routes that no pets are allowed in the cabin, no matter how small and contained. These routes include flights to or from Hawaii, all Transatlantic flights, and flights to Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, or Venezuela.
Due to the fact that the pet and carrier together must both weigh less than twenty pounds, and fit under the seat, the carrier can be no larger than 23” long, 13” wide, and 9” high. Your pet must be able to stand up, lay down, and turn around in the carrier of this size. There is also a limit of seven animals per cabin per flight, and this is first come, first serve.
Assuming you and your pet meets all of the above requirements, you will have to pay a fee of $150 per pet carrier in the cabin. This fee is not a round trip and will be required each way. Curbside check-in or self-service are not allowed when traveling with a pet, so normal check-in will be required.
Service Animals Fly Free of Charge
Dogs that are professionally trained and certified as service animals can fly on American Airlines free of any type of charge. Individuals flying with service animals need to notify the airlines priori to their trip informing them of the dog’s breed and its approximate size and weight.
Documents as required by American Airlines to fly with an ESA
- Behavior Guidelines
- Veterinary Health Form
- Animal Sanitation During 8+ Hours Form (only required if your flight is scheduled to be over 8 hours)
All of this information will be verified, so American Airlines requires that you submit this documentation at least 48 hours before your flight, otherwise you might have to check the animal in a carrier, and they will not be allowed to travel with you as you would like them to, in the cabin.
Like in cabin travel, pets traveling in American Airlines Pet Cargo are subject to fees. For this kind of travel, the American Airlines pet fee is subject to variables to be confirmed before departure.
After 1/11/2021: According to American Airlines, “Starting February 1, 2021, only trained service animals can fly in the cabin and you’ll need to complete and submit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation form before your trip. If you’re traveling with an animal that doesn’t qualify as a trained service animal, it may be transported as a pet.”
American Airlines Pet Cargo
*Please note the change in checked pet service. As stated by American Airlines, ”Due to increased flight changes, we’ve stopped checking pets for now. We do accept checked pets at the ticket counter for active-duty U.S. Military traveling on assignments, fees, and applicable restrictions apply.
Carry-on pets, service and emotional support animals may fly in the cabin if they meet the requirements. If your pet is too large to fit in the cabin, please contact American Airlines Cargo.”
Before 2021: Unlike Southwest Airlines, American Airlines actually allow pets in the cargo hold. Pets that do not qualify for in-cabin travel can be checked the same way you would check your baggage, and will be traveling in the pet cargo hold. Like in cabin travel, cargo travel is restricted to cats and dogs only and is first come first serve, as there is a limit to the number of pets on any given flight.
To avoid issues check in early, but also be aware that checked pets are not accepted four hours prior to your scheduled flight.
American Airlines also cares about pet safety, and because of that, no pets will be allowed to travel in cargo if there are extreme temperatures of either hot or cold. Pets also must have enough room to stand, to turn around, to sit, and to lie down in their carriers. For cargo carriers have to be very sturdy, and made of either wood, metal, plastic, or other hard and leak-proof material.
Carriers must also have plenty of ventilation, and water containers that can be refilled without opening the carrier, in case there is a delay and the animals need to be given water.
Kennels, or carriers, cannot be bigger than 40” long, 27” wide, and 30” high on a standard flight. Some flights with smaller planes must have smaller carriers. For example, the Boeing MD-80 has a smaller cargo door, and kennels cannot be larger than 29” high and 53” wide in order to fit through the doors. Any and all pet carriers cannot weigh more than 100 pounds with the combined weight of the carrier and the pet.
American Airlines Pet Policy Tips and Tricks
Whether you are using American Airlines pet travel through in cabin or through cargo, there are certain points to remember.
The limit is also two pets per ticketed passenger for checked pets. All pet travel comes with an American airlines pet fee, although the in-cabin travel is slightly more affordable. It is advisable to always arrive early when checking in pets, but important to remember you can’t check in with pets more than four hours before your flight.
With proper preparedness, American Airlines pet policy will keep your pet safe, and make sure you, and your beloved animal, arrive safely and soundly in your destination.
Pet Policies of Other Airlines
How to Get an ESA Letter through CertaPet?
CertaPet is the world’s no. 1 emotional support animal service and the only online service offering a 100% legal and compliant process.Start by taking our free online 5-minute pre-screening process to see if you are a good candidate for an ESA, and if you are, we’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional quickly and easily. You can access your letter online immediately after its issued. You can also choose to receive a physical copy of the letter send to your mailing address.
An ESA Letter from CertaPet provides:
- Recognition that you are a patient on a case-by-case basis under a licensed mental health professional’s care for mental or emotional disabilities.
- Verification that you are significantly limited by an individual disability, such as depression or a similar condition, affecting your mental well-being.
- Prescription for an emotional support dog (also known as a companion dog), or other support animal, as a necessary reinforcement for your mental health within 48 business hour.
