Aeromexico Dog Policy: What to Expect Flying With Your Dog

Puerto Vallarta is home base for me and my rescue pug Puglo, so Aeromexico is the airline I fly more than any other. After taking Puglo through 19 countries, I get asked about the Aeromexico pet policy constantly, especially by fellow snowbirds and nomads flying in and out of Mexico.

Here is the short version: small dogs and cats can fly in the Aeromexico cabin as long as your pet plus its carrier weighs 9 kg (about 20 pounds) or less and fits in a soft carrier under the seat in front of you. The cabin fee runs $1,520 to $1,910 MXN for domestic Mexico flights and $182 to $189 USD for international flights, charged per segment. They also allow emotional support animals, which is how me and Puglo fly.

Below I break down exactly what that means, including the carrier sizes Aeromexico actually enforces, the real costs, the seating rules, and the extra screwworm certificate you now need to bring a dog into the United States from Mexico.

Aeromexico Pet Policy: Quick Facts

Can I Bring My Dog on Aeromexico?

Yes. Aeromexico accepts small dogs and cats in the cabin as long as your pet plus carrier weighs no more than 9 kg (around 20 pounds) and your pet can stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably inside a soft carrier stored under the seat in front of you. Anything larger travels through Aeromexico Cargo.

If you have a snub-nosed breed, read my notes on flying with a pug and which airlines allow snub-nosed dogs before you book, because rules vary a lot by carrier.

How Much Does It Cost to Fly With a Dog on Aeromexico?

Aeromexico charges the pet fee per flight segment, not per trip. Domestic flights within Mexico cost $1,520 MXN in low season and $1,910 MXN in high season. International flights cost $182 USD in low season and $189 USD in high season. A connection counts as two segments, so a one-stop route means paying twice.

That per-segment structure adds up fast on connecting itineraries, so I always try to book Puglo on nonstop Aeromexico routes out of Puerto Vallarta when I can. For budgeting the rest of your trip, my packing list for traveling with a dog covers the gear that saves money over buying at the airport.

Aeromexico Pet Carrier Requirements

Aeromexico requires a soft-sided carrier made of flexible material, with a leak-proof, one-piece absorbent base and good ventilation. It has to fit under the seat in front of you, and the maximum size depends on your cabin. Premier and Main Cabin (Tourist) each have their own limits, shown below.

An airline-approved soft carrier in these dimensions is the single most important thing to get right. I use a soft, under-seat carrier for Puglo and would not fly without one. Browse airline-approved soft carriers on Amazon, we use the Sherpa carrier!

Aeromexico Cabin Rules

A few acceptance conditions trip people up at the gate. Pets are only allowed in window seats, and never in a bulkhead row or a row with an emergency exit in front of it. You must check in at the counter at least 2 hours before departure, since pet bookings are handled in person and not on the app. Your pet has to stay inside the closed carrier the entire flight.

• Only one pet per carrier, and only dogs or cats in the cabin.
• Minimum age is 8 weeks, or 6 months for any flight to the United States.
• Females nursing young or unweaned animals are not accepted.
• Pets receiving veterinary treatment need a letter of good health to fly.
• Cabin flights are limited to routes under about 6 hours; longer routes move pets to cargo.

For the bigger picture on connecting through Mexican hubs, my guide to traveling with a dog to Mexico and my list of dog-friendly cities in Mexico pair well with an Aeromexico itinerary.

Flying a Large Dog on Aeromexico

Dogs that exceed the 9 kg cabin limit cannot fly in the cabin on Aeromexico. Instead they travel as checked pets or through Aeromexico Cargo, subject to availability and a rigid, ventilated kennel that meets IATA standards. If a big dog is your travel companion, compare your options in my guide to airlines that allow large dogs in cabin, since a few carriers have more generous cabin limits than Aeromexico.

Flying Aeromexico With an Emotional Support Dog

Yes, Aeromexico still lets emotional support dogs and cats fly in the cabin at no extra cost, which is rare now that most US airlines have stopped accepting them. Your emotional support animal has to be a dog or cat under 26 lb (12 kg) and no bigger than 22 inches long by 12 inches tall, and you need a psychiatrist’s letter plus Aeromexico’s emotional support request form submitted between 48 and 6 hours before your flight.

This is how I fly with Puglo, and it is a big reason Aeromexico is one of my favorite airlines. They fly to Canada, the US, and Europe, and every trip we have taken together with them has been smooth. If you travel with an emotional support dog the way I do, it is worth building your routes around the airlines that still welcome them.

Puglo is a rescue pug, so his harness has to protect his breathing. I share the one I trust in my best harness for pugs guide.

Here is exactly what Aeromexico asks for with an emotional support animal (they call it an ESAN):

• A psychiatrist’s certificate. It has to be issued within the last year, on letterhead, and include the date, the doctor’s medical license number, and their psychiatry specialty license. It must say you need to travel with your animal for a mental health reason and that you are under that doctor’s care. Aeromexico does not accept letters from psychologists or any other specialty, and a vet’s note saying your pet is trained for emotional support does not count.
• The emotional support request form. You submit it, with the psychiatrist’s letter, no more than 48 hours and at least 6 hours before departure. If you book inside that window you will not be able to use the service, so plan ahead.
• The signed liability letter for transporting animals in the cabin, printed in original and copy for the check-in counter.
• Your dog’s paperwork. At least 8 weeks old, an up-to-date rabies vaccine, and a Certificate of Good Health (original and copy, valid for 5 days). For flights into the US, the rabies shot has to be given at least 28 days before you arrive.

Because the rules shift by route, I always double-check the current requirements on Aeromexico’s service and emotional support animal page before every booking. If you want to compare your options, I break down the whole landscape in my guide to what airlines allow emotional support animals.

Flying Aeromexico With a Service Dog

Aeromexico carries trained service dogs in the cabin free of charge. Since October 2021 only dogs qualify as service animals (they no longer accept other species), and your dog has to be trained to help with a specific disability. For flights to the US, your service dog also has to meet the CDC’s dog import rules.

Aeromexico recognizes service dogs (they call it SVAN) that are trained to do things like:

• Guide a passenger who is legally blind
• Signal a person who is deaf or hard of hearing
• Alert to an oncoming seizure
• Assist someone with a mobility disability

Plan to get to the airport early. Aeromexico asks you to be at the counter at least 3 hours before departure so a representative can review your documents and do a quick physical check of your dog. For US-bound flights you will need your dog’s health certificate with a microchip number, proof of service-dog training, and a completed, pre-approved CDC Dog Import Form (filled out in English). If you are flying out of Mexico, you will also need a screwworm-free certificate from a SENASICA-authorized vet, issued within 5 days of entering the US.

Aeromexico Emotional Support vs Service Dog: Quick Comparison

Flying From Mexico to the US With Your Dog

This is the step that catches Puerto Vallarta pet parents off guard. Because of the New World Screwworm outbreak, dogs entering the United States from Mexico now need a screwworm-freedom certificate from a government-authorized vet, issued within 5 days of travel, on top of the CDC Dog Import Form. Mexico is not on the screwworm-free list, so this applies to every dog flying north.

In practice that means two documents for the trip home: the online CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and a screwworm-free health certificate from a SENASICA-authorized (MVRA) veterinarian. The USDA APHIS page on country screwworm status lists which nations require it. I book Puglo’s vet visit for the day before we fly so the certificate stays inside the 5-day window.

Documents You Need to Fly Aeromexico With a Dog

For domestic Mexican flights, bring a current rabies vaccination record and a health certificate from your vet. For international routes, add the destination country’s specific requirements. For flights to the US, add the CDC Dog Import Form and the screwworm certificate above. Always confirm the current rules on the official Aeromexico pets in cabin page before you fly.

My Tips for Flying Aeromexico With Puglo

After dozens of Aeromexico flights with Puglo, a few habits make every trip smoother. I get to the counter early, because the 2-hour check-in is strict and pet spots are capped per flight. I request a window seat when I book so we are never bumped from a pet-eligible row. I walk Puglo right up until security and skip his meal a few hours before boarding so he sleeps through the flight instead of needing a bathroom he cannot use.

Since Aeromexico hubs through Mexico City, I keep a running list of pet-friendly hotels in Mexico City for layovers. If Vallarta is your destination, my guide to whether Puerto Vallarta is dog friendly covers the beaches and cafes that welcome Puglo.

Once you land, book a stay that actually welcomes dogs. I search pet-friendly hotels in Puerto Vallarta on Booking.com, and for things to do I check Puerto Vallarta tours on Viator for the outdoor, dog-welcome options. For the wider journey, my guides to how to travel with a dog internationally and general tips for flying with your dog go deeper than any single airline policy.

Aeromexico Pet Policy FAQ

Fees, carrier sizes, and US screwworm requirements verified against Aeromexico’s official pets-in-cabin page, USDA APHIS, and the CDC on July 24, 2026. Airline policies change, so confirm the current rules before you book.