Navigating American Airlines' Pet Policy: What You Need to Know

Planning a trip with your furry companion? Then it becomes important to know all the airline’s regulations when travelling with pets. In this, American Airlines' pet policy makes the process simple. It outlines all the important details related to your pets, including the carrier size, applicable charges, and other specific regulations. Whether you are traveling with your service pet or your domestic ones, everything is covered in this blog. Come on, let’s know all the rules and regulations for your pets before flying with American.

What are the American Airline Pet Regulations? 

The pet regulations of american airlines are not that complex. It depends on the type of pet you are bringing. However, it is limited to small cats and dogs. 

There are some rules in the American Pet Policy that the passenger needs to follow: 

• Passengers can take their small pet in the cabin only. 
• Larger pets may travel in the cargo. 
• Some of the destinations restrict pet travel. So, make sure to check the destination before boarding.
• Only harmless animals are allowed inside the flight. Offensive or destructive-natured animals are not permitted. 
• For Cabin- your pet must be in a carrier approved by the airline authority.

Other Important Regulations to be Noted: 

• Only dogs and cats are allowed as carry-on pets. 
• The carrier of the dog is made up of soft fabric and is approved by the authorities. 
• Your pet must stay inside the carrier throughout the journey. 
• Checked pets are not allowed for the general public. They are only permitted in the U.S. military or the U.S. State Department Foreign Service officer. 
• Pets that are coming under the service animals may travel free inside the cabin.
• More than 12 hours of travel is not allowed for the pets travelling either in cargo or cabin. 
• Your pet must be more than 8 weeks old. 

What are the Applicable Charges? 

American Airlines' pet policy cost depends on the type of service and the destination you choose. These charges are completely non-refundable and apply per kennel. Below is a list of charges applicable: 

Note: American Airlines will charge extra if the passenger has booked the flight with the stopover of more than four hours. 

What are the Different Carry-On Rules? 

According to the AA airline pet policy, the carry-on transportation depends on the animal breed and size. Here is a list of some carry-on rules for your pets, through which your journey becomes easier: 

1. As per the carry-on pet policy for American Airlines, only one pet carrier is allowed per person. 
2. Passengers have to pay a carry-on pet fee.
3. Your pet must stay inside the carrier. 
4. Carrier size and weight must be: 
   Maximum Size: 19x13x9
   Maximum Weight: 20 pounds
5. The pet must be seated in front of the passenger seat. 
6. One additional item is allowed per passenger along with the pet. Those personal items include: 
   Your Purse
   One Small Handbag
   One personal carry-on bag that meets the airline requirement. Also, it must be fitted in the overhead bin. 
7. Please ensure that pet strollers are checked at the ticket counter. Also, the checked bag fee is applicable. 

What is American Airlines' Pet Cabin Policy? 

The pet cabin policy of the airlines is not so difficult to understand. American Airlines allows only small cats and dogs inside the cabin. It is applicable for some domestic and international flights. Here are some more rules listed for your pet to be fitted in the cabin: 

1. To get eligible for the cabin, your pet must comfortably fit in the hard or soft side of the kennel.
2. Kennel Requirements: 
   Maximum Size: 36x26x28 inches
   Weight: under 100lbs is allowed
3. The dog kennel must be positioned under the passenger seat. 
4. Only some destinations allow pet travel on American Airlines, which are: 
   Mexico 
   Canada 
   U.S
   Central America 
5. Some Caribbean countries. 
6. Your pet must be 8 weeks old. 

Checked Pets Regulations: 

As per the american airlines pet policy, there are some rules for the checked pets, which are as follows:

1. Checked pets are only accepted for the active-duty U.S. military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service Personnel. 
2. Only 2 pets are allowed per passenger as checked pets. 
3. The pet must clear the age and health requirements of the destination. 
4. The passenger must contact the reservation department at least 48 hours before the onboarding. It is compulsory for your pet reservation. 
5. Bring your pet for check-in at least 2 hours before the flight departure. 
6. Provide all the necessary health certificates of your pet to the check-in agent. 
7. You have to keep a health certificate with you that is issued by a vet and follow these rules: 
   Issued within 10 days of the first flight
   60 days of the return, while travelling on the same ticket
   10 days after the return, while moving on the separate ticket. 

American Airlines Pet Policy International: 

On the american airlines flight, only some countries allow pet travel, both domestically and internationally. Those countries are:

1. Any state contiguous to the United States. 
2. Canada and the U.S
3. Alaska
4. Mexico
5. Puerto Rico 
6. St. Croix 
7. St. Thomas

How to Book Your Pet Slot with American Airlines?

Before travelling with American Airlines, it is a must to book your pet slot. Below are some easy steps through which you can book your slot: 

1. First, buy the passenger ticket for yourself. Then check the pet travel eligibility according to the departure destination. 
2. Make a call on the American Airlines Reservation Department. Tell them that you want to add your carry-on pet, and give your ticket confirmation number. 
3. Provide all the necessary details such as, 
   Your pet type 
   Age 
   Weight of the carrier 
   Your itinerary, etc. 
4. At last, make the check-in of your pet at the check-in counter. Make sure check-in cannot be done online. 
5. Once your pet passes the eligibility criteria, pay the applicable charges. And your pet is ready to fly.

What are the Required Pet Documents During Check-In? 

For international travel, some documentation is required under the American Airlines pet travel policy: 

• Health Certificates: 

Always have the pet's health certificate with you on your trip. Health certificates come in two forms: one specifying if the pet is healthy or not for travel, and a vaccination certificate proving the pet is disease-free. The different requirements depend on the destination.

• CDC Certificate: 

All the pets, especially dogs, entering the United States require the CDC Dog Import Form. It doesn’t matter from which country they belong. Dogs from high-risk rabies countries must have the additional documents demanded by the airline authorities.

• Microchip Requirements: 

For international travel, all the dogs must have a microchip number. This number has to be listed on the required documents of the dog.

What are the American Airlines Pet Policy Restrictions? 

American Air Pet Policy provides these restrictions: 

Breed Restrictions: 

1. Those animal breeds are not allowed that exhale harder, or have any respiratory illness. 
2. Breeds that have very unsafe behaviour in confined spaces are not allowed inside the flight. Until they are trained enough. 

Restricted Dog Breeds: 

• American Bully, 
• Affenpinscher, 
• Boxer (all breeds), 
• Bulldog (All breeds), 
• Brussels Griffon 
• Lhasa Apso 
• Shih Tzu 
• Japenese Chin 
• Pit Bull 
• Pug (All Breeds)
• Cane Corso 

Restricted Cat Breeds:

• Burmese 
• Exotic Short Hair
• Persian, and 
• Himalayan Cats 

Temperature Restrictions: 

American Airlines follows various temperature rules to protect the pets from cold and heat: 

• Heat restrictions include that the pet cannot travel to locations where the temperature is above 85 degrees Celsius. 
• If the temperature is in the range of 20 to 40 degrees Celsius, obtain a letter for acclimatisation. 
• Your vet must specify the safe temperature that a pet can tolerate. 

Final Words:

The American Airlines pet policy is simple and structured; they describe the regulations related to pets and service animals, and also provide documentation regulations. There are some common rules and regulations to ensure that both pets and passengers are not bothered. Please visit the rules of carrier size. Be sure to read all the guidelines carefully since the omission of even one document can create a lot of difficulties while boarding.

Read More Related Post: 

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