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American Airlines Pet Policies
The following American Airlines pet policy information will provide the answers to many common questions regarding the transportation of pets. Special pet guidelines apply for travel to international destinations and Hawaii. Please refer to the appropriate American Airlines pet policy sections below for more detailed pet information regarding those destinations.
The US CDC has issued a temporary ban on ALL dogs (carry-on and checked), including service dogs, from any country considered high-risk for rabies. [AMZ asins='B00QHC01C2,B00AAPGA2W,B000633ZOY,B0B77BRG75']
Only service dogs traveling to the U.S. from high-risk countries with an approved CDC Dog Import Permit, or that meet CDC U.S. vaccination and microchip requirements may fly on American Airlines. Cats from high-risk countries will not be accepted as carry-on or checked pets during the suspension.
Important Pet Travel Information
Customers with pets traveling as checked baggage are required to present a valid health certificate.
Important Temperature Restriction Information
To help ensure the well-being of pets traveling as checked baggage, American adheres to day-of-travel temperature restrictions.
Reservations for your pet on American Airlines
Pets traveling in the cabin require a reservation to ensure no more than seven pets are booked on any single flight. To ensure your pet is accommodated, please make arrangements in advance by contacting American Airlines Reservations as early as possible to confirm a spot for your pet.
Checked pets do not need a reservation.
Attention dog show participants: if capacity is reached, checked pets are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pets in the Cabin on American Airlines / Carry-On Pets
On American Airlines you may bring 1 kennel with your pet as your carry-on bag, upon payment of the pet carry-on fee. You must reserve your pet's spot ahead of time, as a maximum of 7 pets are allowed on any flight.
Your pet must stay in its kennel under the seat in front of you for the entire flight.
You can travel with your pet carrier and 1 personal item, but you will not be permitted to bring a carry-on bag in addition to a pet carrier and personal item. Instead, the kennel will replace your carry-on bag.
If your pet is too large to fly in the cabin, it must travel with American Airlines Cargo - you pet will not be accepted as checked baggage. American Airlines only accept checked pets for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Fees and restrictions apply.
Kennel Guidelines for American Airlines Carry-on Pets
Pets must be able to stand and sit erect, turn around normally and lie down in a natural position in their kennel (without touching any side or the top of the container).
Non-collapsible kennels can’t exceed the underseat dimensions of any aircraft included in your journey. Please contact reservations to verify maximum dimensions.
Soft-sided collapsible kennels can be slightly larger but still need to fit under the seat without having to excessively collapse the kennel, must be secure, padded, made of water-repellant material and have nylon mesh ventilation on 2 or more sides.
Maximum dimensions: 19 x 13 x 9 inches / 48 x 33 x 22 centimeters (length + width + height)
Max dimensions on regional (American Eagle) flights: 16 x 12 x 8 inches / 40 x 30 x 20 centimeters (length + width + height)
Due to the lack of underseat storage space, carry-on pets are not permitted in First or Business on Boeing 777-200, 777-300, 787-8, 787-9 flights.
American Airlines Pets in the Cabin Carry-On Fee 2022
American Airlines charges a fee of $125 per kennel - if your trip includes a stopover of more than 4 hours, you may be charged this fee for every segment of your trip.
Travel To Or Through Hawaii
Hawaii is a rabies-free state and state law requires 120-day quarantine for dogs/cats to protect residents and pets. The quarantine periods can be reduced to five (5) days or less if specific qualifications are met. See http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info for more information.
No pets are accepted on non-stop flights to Maui, the Big Island or Kauai.
Pregnant animals past 45 days gestation are not permitted.
Guide and service dogs may be eligible for reduced quarantine. Contact the Animal Quarantine office in Honolulu at 808-483-7171 for more information. For additional quarantine information please visit http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info
Important Notes
Pets may travel to Hawaii as checked baggage only.
ALL pet arrivals/connections in/through Hawaii must be via Honolulu.
Pets Connecting in Honolulu to points within Hawaii
American Airlines will transport all pets to Animal Quarantine in Honolulu. The pet will remain there for the pre-determined quarantine period at which time the owner makes arrangements to transport the pet to outer island, either by coming to Honolulu or through air cargo. The owner is responsible for making all necessary arrangement with the Animal Quarantine office in Honolulu at 808-483-7171.
Pets Connecting in Honolulu to points beyond Hawaii
Upon arrival in Honolulu, American Airlines will take the pet to a sterile area where the pet is held until the connecting flight departure time. The connecting carrier will pick up the pet from the sterile transit area and deliver the pet directly to the connecting flight. The owner of the pet is responsible for making all arrangements directly with the Animal Quarantine office in Honolulu at 808-483-7171 and with the connecting carrier. The owner pays each carrier directly for applicable charges.
Pets as Checked Baggage
American Airlines only accepts pets of active-duty US Military personnel and US State Department Foreign Service personnel travelling on official orders. If this is your case, please contact American Airlines reservations for more information. Otherwise, your pet may not travel with you, and must be sent as American Airlines Pet Cargo
SERVICE ANIMALS on American Airlines
Fully-trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements.
A service animal is defined as a dog that’s individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability, including but not limited to:
Visual impairments
Deafness
Seizures
Mobility impairments
Post-traumatic stress disorder
American Airlines team members are trained to ask certain questions to determine if your animal is a service animal acceptable for travel.
Please note, service animals in training, emotional support animals, and comfort animals may travel as pets, not as service animals. All requirements and applicable fees will apply.
Quarantine restrictions may apply. Your reservations agent or travel agent will be happy to check destination regulations for you.
Service Animals Traveling To Hawaii
Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the introduction and spread of rabies. Prior arrangements for clearance must be made directly with Animal Quarantine at 808-483-7151 or http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info*
Guide dogs, service dogs and emotional support animals may travel to/from Hawaii in the cabin. The animal will be taken to the Airport Quarantine Holding Facility for verification of compliance and examination upon arrival at Honolulu.
Service Animals Traveling To The United Kingdom
American Airlines is approved to carry service animal cats or dogs to the U.K. A disabled passenger must obtain and present a pre-approval letter issued from the animal reception center in the passenger's destination city. The passenger must also possess the original health documentation used to obtain the pre-approval letter. For pre-approval requirements go to: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine*
Passengers may also call the following Animal Reception Center:
London Heathrow (LHR) - (011) 44 208 745 7894
Manchester (MAN) - (011) 44 161 489 8220
Emotional Support or Psychiatric Service Animals
Emotional Support animals are only accepted for travel as pets, and upon payment of all standard pet fees. Emotional Support animals are no longer accepted free of charge, due to abuse of the allowances and changes to FAA regulations regarding emotional support animals.
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