American Airlines Pet Policy: What to Know Before Flying With Your Dog

After flying with my rescue pug Puglo to 19 countries, I can tell you that American Airlines is one of the airlines I get asked about most, right up there with United. American flies almost everywhere, which makes it a natural choice for pet parents planning a trip.

Here is the short version of the American Airlines pet policy: cats and small dogs can fly in the cabin for $150 each way to some locations, as long as they stay in an approved carrier under the seat in front of you. Checked pets are only for active-duty military and State Department personnel, so bigger dogs travel through American Airlines Cargo instead.

Below I break down exactly what that means for your trip, including the carrier sizes American actually enforces, where pets can and cannot fly, and the things I wish someone had told me before my first flight with Puglo.

American Airlines Pet Policy: Quick Facts

• Pet fee: $150 per kennel, each way, for carry-on pets
• Where pets fly: In the cabin under the seat in front of you (cats and small dogs only)
• Cargo option: Yes, through American Airlines Cargo and the American PetEmbark program
• Checked pets: Only for active-duty U.S. military and State Department personnel on official orders
• Weight limit: No published weight limit for carry-on pets, but your dog must fit comfortably in the carrier (one exception I cover below)
• Minimum age: 8 weeks within the U.S. and Puerto Rico
• Booking: Add a carry-on pet on aa.com or the app, then pay at the ticket counter

Can I Bring My Dog on American Airlines?

Yes, American Airlines allows cats and small dogs to fly in the cabin on most flights up to 12 hours within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and some Caribbean islands. Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old and stay inside an approved carrier under the seat for the entire flight.

American is one of many airlines that allow dogs in the cabin, and its rules land somewhere in the middle of the pack: more restrictive than Alaska, similar to Delta, and nearly identical to United on pricing.

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

American Airlines charges $150 per kennel, each way, for a carry-on pet. Checked pets (military and State Department only) cost $200 per kennel. Cargo pricing through American PetEmbark varies by route and kennel size. Service dogs always fly free. Pet fees are nonrefundable and are paid at the airport ticket counter. You can confirm current fees on the official American Airlines pet page.

One sneaky detail: if your itinerary includes a connection of 4 hours or more, the fee applies per segment, not per one-way trip. A cross-country trip with a long layover could cost you $300 instead of $150, so keep your connections short.

American Airlines Pet Carrier Requirements

American recommends soft-sided carriers up to 18 x 11 x 11 inches, which fit under the seat on all flights. Hard-sided carriers max out at 19 x 13 x 9 inches on mainline flights and 16 x 12 x 8 inches on smaller American Eagle planes. Your pet must fit comfortably inside with the carrier fully closed.

Soft-sided is the way to go. A squishable carrier gives your dog more wiggle room and gives you more forgiveness at the gate. Puglo flies in a soft-sided carrier with mesh on three sides, similar to the Sherpa Original Deluxe, and it has never been questioned. American requires soft carriers to be padded, water repellant, and ventilated on at least 3 sides.

Heads up on your other bags: when you bring a pet carrier on board, you can only bring one additional item, either a personal item or a regular carry-on bag, not both.

How Do I Add a Pet to My American Airlines Booking?

You can add a carry-on pet to an existing booking on aa.com or in the American app. Find your trip, open the Additional Services section, select Add carry-on pets, agree to the requirements, and choose your flights. You then pay the $150 fee at the airport ticket counter before your flight.

1. Find your trip on aa.com or in the American app
2. Go to Additional Services and select Add carry-on pets
3. Review and agree to the carry-on pet requirements
4. Select the flights your pet will travel on
5. At the airport, go to the ticket counter to pay the fee and have your carrier checked

Because payment happens at the ticket counter, you cannot use online check-in alone and head straight to security. Build in an extra 30 to 45 minutes. Each flight also has a cap on pets, so add your pet as early as possible.

Where Can Pets Fly on American Airlines?

Carry-on pets are allowed on most American flights up to 12 hours within the 48 contiguous states, between the U.S. and Canada, and to Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. Pets cannot fly in the cabin to Hawaii, Jamaica, or on any transatlantic or transpacific route.

Packing for a snub-nosed dog? Start with the harness. Here is my guide to the best harness for pugs.

That transatlantic restriction surprises a lot of people. If you are dreaming of Europe with your dog, American is not the airline for the crossing (your dog would have to go cargo). I flew Puglo to Europe in the cabin with Delta instead, and I break down which ones allow it in my guide to European airlines that allow dogs in cabin. South America is similarly limited: no carry-on pets to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, or Uruguay.

For anything beyond simple domestic routes, I always cross-check the destination country rules too. My guide on how to travel with a dog internationally covers the paperwork side.

Flying American Airlines With a Pug or Other Snub-Nosed Breed

Pugs and other snub-nosed breeds can fly in the cabin on American Airlines, but they are banned as checked pets. American does not accept brachycephalic dogs (pugs, bulldogs, boxers, shih tzus, mastiffs, and similar breeds) in the cargo hold as checked baggage because of breathing risks at altitude.

As a pug mom, I actually appreciate this rule. Flat-faced dogs struggle with heat and pressure changes, and the cabin is the only place I would ever put Puglo. If you share your life with a flat-faced breed, my guides on flying with a pug and airlines that allow snub-nosed dogs go much deeper on keeping them safe in the air.

Where You Can (and Cannot) Sit With a Pet

Your pet carrier must go under the seat in front of you, so American blocks pet owners from bulkhead seats, exit rows, and First or Business on Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, where there is no under-seat storage. On the three-cabin A321T, premium passengers use dedicated pet compartments, and pet plus carrier must weigh under 20 pounds.

What About Big Dogs? Checked Pets and American PetEmbark

Dogs too large for the cabin cannot fly as checked baggage on American unless you are active-duty military or State Department personnel on official orders. Everyone else books larger dogs through American Airlines Cargo using the American PetEmbark program, which prices by route and kennel size and has its own temperature rules.

Cargo travel comes with real restrictions: no travel when temperatures exceed 85°F or drop below 45°F anywhere on the itinerary, no sedation (American follows the veterinary association guidance on this), and summer embargoes through hot hubs like Phoenix and Las Vegas. If your big dog is a regular travel buddy, it is worth reading my roundup of airlines that allow large dogs in cabin before defaulting to cargo.

Flying Back Into the U.S. With Your Dog

Every dog entering or returning to the U.S. needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and healthy on arrival. American also refuses carry-on dogs that visited a high-risk rabies country in the previous 6 months, so plan your route carefully if you travel widely.

The form is free and takes minutes, and the receipt is valid for 6 months. Fill it out at the CDC dog importation page before you fly home. If you are returning from Mexico, your dog also needs a screwworm inspection certificate from an authorized vet within 5 days before travel, a newer USDA requirement that catches many travelers off guard (details on the USDA APHIS pet travel site). And if your travels include high-risk rabies countries, read up on the dog rabies titer test well before your trip.

My Tips for a Smooth American Airlines Flight With Your Dog

• Arrive early. The ticket counter stop is mandatory to pay the pet fee, and lines can be long.
• Tire your dog out first. A long walk before the airport makes the under-seat nap much more likely.
• Feed light. I feed Puglo a small meal about 4 hours before we fly and keep water available until security.
• Line the carrier. A pee pad under a soft blanket saves you on turbulence days, trust me on this one.
• Pack a mini dog bag. Collapsible bowl, a few treats, waste bags, and wipes. My full dog travel packing list covers everything I bring.
• Practice at home. Weeks of short carrier sessions beat one stressful travel day. More on this in my tips for flying with your dog.

And if you are still choosing your travel companion, some breeds handle all of this far better than others. Here are the best dogs for travel based on my years on the road.

If the flight is the part making you nervous, that is exactly why I created my Flying With Your Dog guide. It walks you through everything you need to take your first flight with your dog!

American Airlines Pet Policy FAQ

Comparing carriers before you book is smart, because fees, in-cabin carrier limits, and where pets are allowed to sit change a lot from one airline to the next. If your route has options, it is worth reading the fine print on each. I have broken down two more North American carriers I fly with Puglo in my Air Canada pet policy guide and my Aeromexico dog policy guide, which is handy if you are connecting through Canada or Mexico.

All fees and policies in this post were verified against American Airlines’ official pet page in July 2026. Always double-check aa.com before you fly, as policies change.