American Airlines
Pet travel policy for American Airlines (AA) — based at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), United States.
Policy summary
American Airlines accepts pets in the cabin on most flights of seven hours or less within the 50 US states, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The combined weight of the pet plus the soft-sided carrier must be 20 pounds or less, and the carrier must fit fully under the seat in front of you — maximum dimensions are 19 by 13 by 9 inches. There are seven in-cabin pets allowed per flight in main cabin and one per first/business cabin, so you must call American Airlines reservations to add the pet at least 48 hours before departure. The fee is 150 USD per kennel, each way, and you pay a separate fee for each connecting segment that is longer than four hours. Checked-pet service is no longer offered for general passengers; only US military and US State Department personnel on active orders can ship pets as checked baggage. American Airlines Cargo handles pet shipments through its Priority Parcel Service on a route-by-route basis. International itineraries through London Heathrow, Australia, and several other destinations follow that country's national import rules and may require quarantine.
Quick reference
| Cabin pets | Yes — cats & small dogs in approved under-seat carrier |
|---|---|
| Cargo / checked program | Yes — IATA-rated kennel via dedicated cargo division |
| Cabin fee (one-way) | $150 USD (typical, route-dependent) |
| Carrier max dimensions | 19 x 13 x 9 soft-sided in |
| Weight limit | 20 (carrier + pet) for cabin |
| Breed restrictions | AA Cargo Priority Parcel Service replaced AA Cargo pets program in 2020 for most routes. |
| Reservations | 1-800-433-7300 |
| Hub airport | Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) |
| Country | United States |
How to book a pet on American Airlines
Almost every airline requires you to add a pet to your reservation by phone — there is no online self-service for in-cabin or cargo pets at the major carriers, because the airline must confirm there is space on the specific aircraft type and route. Call 1-800-433-7300 within 24 hours of buying your ticket and ask the agent to add the pet to your booking. You will be quoted the fee at the time of booking and pay it at airport check-in. Bring printed proof of vaccinations and a recent veterinary health certificate, especially for international itineraries.
At the airport, plan to arrive 90 minutes before a domestic departure or three hours before an international departure. The airline gate agent will inspect your carrier, attach an in-cabin pet tag, and confirm that your pet meets the under-seat dimension and weight limits. If your animal is travelling in cargo, you will drop them off at the carrier's dedicated cargo-acceptance facility (separate from the passenger terminal) at least four hours before departure for kennel inspection and loading.