American Airlines Updates Pet Policy For Travelers

American Airlines is making it easier for travelers to bring their pets onboard. Effective immediately, American Airlines is allowing pet owners to carry a full-size carry-on bag in addition to the pet carrier. 

New Rules

The new rule means, according to American Airlines’ website, passengers can carry “one additional item on board with your pet.” That means you can take on the pet carrier plus a full-size carry-on bag. 

The old rule considered the pet carrier as a passenger’s carry-on bag. This limited what the passenger could bring onboard the aircraft to just a personal item. The new, relaxed rule, brings American Airlines in line with its competition regarding traveling with a pet inside the main cabin. 

American Airlines allows cats and dogs to fly in the cabin, as long as “your pet stays in the pet carrier and under the seat in front of you the entire flight,” according to the airline’s website. The fee is $150 per pet carrier.

American Airlines is one of only a few airlines that allow pets to be checked into its cargo hold. But, American only allows that for active-duty U.S. military personnel or U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official business. Otherwise, all cats and dogs must fly in the main cabin and be small enough to fit in the seat in front of you.

Other Airlines

Every major airline allows small domestic animals to fly in the main cabin. Each airline, however, has a different fee, and slightly different requirements, such as how many animals are allowed on each flight. 

Delta Airlines allows small dogs, cats, and household birds to travel in the main cabin for a fee of $95 one way. The pet has to be in a kennel that’s big enough for the animal to move around. It also has to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. In addition, pets have to be at least eight weeks old and have their own kennel. There are few exceptions like a female and her unweaned litter and pets of the same breed and size under six months old.

As with American Airlines, the pet kennel counts as one carryon item. Travelers are allowed to bring one more personal item onboard. If you’re bringing a pet onboard, note that you aren’t allowed to sit in the bulkhead, an exit row or any seat with a lie-flat bed. 

Southwest Airlines allows dogs and cats to fly on domestic flights for a $125 per carrier fee. Pets are not allowed on international flights or to ride in the cargo area of the plane. Southwest only allows six pets onboard a plane. So, they are taken on a first-come, first-served basis and each traveler is only allowed one pet carrier.

To make it easier, Southwest actually sells pet carriers for $58. At the airport, you must check in with an agent to ensure the pet carrier meets Southwest’s carrier requirements. The animal must also be fit to fly (meaning it’s not showing any aggressive behavior, etc.) Southwest Airlines does not allow pets to fly in its cargo area. 

United Airlines allow travelers to take up to two pets onboard, but only cats and dogs. But, if you are traveling with two pets, you must buy two seats on the plane and they are required to be next to each other. This way you can have access to both animals. The fee on United is $125 each way for each pet. And United tacks on another fee of $125 for each layover that’s more than four hours long in the United States and more than 24 hours internationally. 

All of the airlines allow service animals, regardless of size, to travel in the cabin with no fee. The service animal must have proper documentation to fly that will be checked by airline personnel before the flight. 

Whichever airline you fly with your pet, be sure to check the rules and vaccination requirements before you book, so you aren’t running into any surprises at the airport. Some international destinations do not allow pets to be brought in, so it’s best to check with your airline before booking an international flight if you plan to bring an animal.