American Airlines Pet Policy 2026: Fees, Carrier Sizes and Eagle Limits

Travel · PetzDay Editorial · 2026-11-13

American charges $150 each way for a cabin pet, allows 18 × 11 × 11 inches soft-sided and 19 × 13 × 9 hard-sided, drops to 16 × 12 × 8 on American Eagle regional jets, and limits hold pets to military and State Department orders.

American charges $150 each way for a cabin pet and is the only one of the five largest U.S. airlines that publishes a meaningfully larger hard-sided limit than soft-sided — 19 × 13 × 9 inches against 18 × 11 × 11. The catch is regional aircraft: on American Eagle, the hard-sided limit drops to 16 × 12 × 8 inches, which is smaller than most "airline approved" kennels on the market.

For larger dogs, American accepts checked pets only from active-duty military and State Department personnel on official orders; everyone else is routed to American PetEmbark cargo.

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An American 737-800 main cabin. Seat type, not just airline, decides whether a carrier fits. Photo: Cory W. Watts / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

American pet fee in 2026

• $150 each way, per carrier, for a carry-on pet within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
• A round trip is two fees, and a connection on a separate ticket can add a third.
• One carrier per passenger, and the carrier replaces your carry-on or personal item — you may bring one or the other, not both.

American carrier sizes: 18 × 11 × 11 soft, 19 × 13 × 9 hard

• The hard-sided allowance is the most generous of the five on mainline aircraft — 19 inches of length and 13 of width is real room for a cat or a small dog.
• Eagle aircraft cut that to 16 × 12 × 8, which is smaller than the soft-sided limit. If your itinerary has a regional leg, the regional number governs that leg.
• Some first and business cabins have no under-seat space, so pets are not sold in those seats.
• The dog stays inside, under the seat, for the entire flight.

Because the limit changes with the aircraft, the number to write down is the one for the smallest aircraft on your itinerary. The airline pet carrier size chart puts all five airlines side by side.

Under-seat stowage varies by row: aisle and middle seats are usually deeper than window seats, and bulkhead rows have none. Photo: Douglas P. Perkins / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Top-Side Expandable Pet Carrier, Treat Window,18x11x11 Airline Approved

18 × 11 × 11 in matches American's soft-sided limit — check any Eagle leg separately

Compare carriers on Amazon

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How to add a pet to an American reservation

1. Book the passenger ticket first. American requires an existing reservation before a pet can be added.
2. Add the pet and pay the fee before travel, and confirm the pet is noted on the booking. A ticket is not a pet reservation.
3. Check in at the ticket counter, not a kiosk, so an agent can inspect the carrier.
4. Security means the dog comes out. The carrier goes through the X-ray, the dog walks through with you on a leash.
5. Find the pet relief area after security, then board with your zone.

Where American does not allow cabin pets

• Exit rows, bulkhead rows and seats without under-seat stowage.
• Some first and business cabins — there is no under-seat space at all, so no pet is sold.
• Checked pets are accepted only from active-duty military and State Department personnel on official orders.
• International routes follow the destination country's rules; some countries restrict cabin pets outright.

American PetEmbark: the option for larger dogs

American is the only one of the five with a named cargo product for pets that do not fit in the cabin.

• American PetEmbark handles pets travelling as cargo rather than as checked baggage.
• It requires a hard-sided kennel meeting IATA-style requirements, a health certificate, and a temperature-sensitive route.
• It is not a same-day, walk-up service — it is booked, not checked in.

Alaska is the only one of the five that still sells hold space to ordinary passengers. For a dog that fails the cabin test, the airline pet fee comparison lays out which carrier offers which route.

An American 737-800 arriving at DFW. If any leg of the itinerary is an Eagle regional jet, the smaller carrier limit applies to that leg. Photo: Tim / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

American domestic paperwork

American does not publish a blanket rabies-record requirement for domestic cabin pets, but that does not mean nothing applies.

• The destination state can require a health certificate or proof of rabies vaccination. USDA APHIS lists the state-by-state rules.
• Checked pets always require documentation, which is another reason the military-and-State restriction exists.
• International travel needs an APHIS-endorsed export certificate plus the destination country's requirements.
• Returning to the U.S. needs the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a scannable microchip and a dog at least 6 months old.

The health certificate and vaccine guide covers documents end to end.

FAQ

How much does American charge for a pet in the cabin?

$150 each way per carrier within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. A round trip with one dog is $300.

What size carrier does American allow?

18 × 11 × 11 inches soft-sided, and 19 × 13 × 9 inches hard-sided on mainline aircraft. On American Eagle regional jets the hard-sided limit drops to 16 × 12 × 8 inches.

Can I bring a hard-sided kennel in the cabin on American?

Yes on mainline aircraft, up to 19 × 13 × 9 inches — the most generous hard-sided allowance of the five largest U.S. airlines. Check the aircraft type, because Eagle regional jets allow only 16 × 12 × 8.

How do I ship a large dog on American?

Through American PetEmbark cargo, not as a checked pet. Checked pets are accepted only from active-duty military and State Department personnel on official orders.

Does American require a health certificate for a domestic flight?

Not universally for cabin pets, but the destination state may require one, checked pets always do, and international travel always involves documentation.

Is American pet-friendly compared with other airlines?

It has the most generous hard-sided cabin allowance and a named cargo product, but the $150 fee matches Delta and United, and regional jets cut the carrier space sharply. Alaska is cheaper and still sells hold space to ordinary passengers.

References

• American Airlines — Traveling with pets
• American Airlines — Optional service fees
• Alaska Airlines — Pets in the baggage compartment
• USDA APHIS — Take a pet from one U.S. state to another
• CDC — Dog import form and instructions
• U.S. DOT — Flying with a pet

All web sources accessed November 13, 2026. American's carrier limits differ by aircraft; confirm for your specific flight before buying a kennel.

Last reviewed: November 13, 2026.