American Airlines pet policy
Flights operated by American Airlines. Pets that do not fly with their owner go through American Airlines Cargo, its cargo arm.
American carries only cats and dogs with passengers, checks pets into the hold only for U.S. military and State Department staff on official orders, and ships other pets through American Airlines Cargo.
- Cabin
- Varies by route
- Hold (checked baggage)
- Varies by routeChecked pets only for active-duty U.S. military and State Department Foreign Service staff travelling on official orders.
- Manifest cargo
- AllowedPets that cannot fly as carry-on or checked pets travel with American Airlines Cargo's PetEmbark service.
- Snub-nosed
- RefusedSnub-nosed dog and cat breeds and their mixes are not accepted by American Airlines Cargo or as checked pets.
Routes American Airlines flies with pets
This is what American Airlines offers on each route. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Route | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union → United States, dog | Quoted on request | ||||
| European Union → United States, cat | Quoted on request | ||||
| Great Britain → United States, dog | Quoted on request | ||||
| Great Britain → United States, cat | Quoted on request | ||||
| United States → European Union, dog | Quoted on request | ||||
| United States → European Union, cat | Quoted on request | ||||
| United States → European Union, ferret | Quoted on request | n/a | |||
| United States → Great Britain, dog | (Great Britain rule) | Quoted on request | |||
| United States → Great Britain, cat | (Great Britain rule) | Quoted on request | |||
| United States → Great Britain, ferret | (Great Britain rule) | Quoted on request | n/a | ||
| United States → Hawaii, dog | Quoted on request | ||||
| United States → Hawaii, cat | Quoted on request |
- Great Britain → United States, dog: American's pets page lists a checked-pet fee for flights from the United Kingdom.
- Great Britain → United States, dog: American's fee table has no checked-pet fee for Europe or the United Kingdom.
- Great Britain → United States, dog: American's filed international tariff says checked pets are accepted through AA Cargo.
Notes
From May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs.
All routes (dogs, cats and ferrets)
American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals when the ground temperature at the origin, a connection or the destination is above 85 or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Between 20 and 44 degrees it needs a vet's acclimation letter, and even then carriage is not guaranteed.
All routes (dogs, cats and ferrets)
American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more.
All routes (dogs, cats and ferrets)
No new cargo bookings for dogs from a CDC high-risk country for rabies, or for dogs that were in one at any point in the 6 months before travel.
Great Britain → United States; European Union → United States (dogs)
A pet shipped from outside the United States must be booked through an IATA-regulated freight forwarder or professional pet shipper.
Great Britain → United States; European Union → United States (dogs and cats)
No ferrets to or from California.
United States → Great Britain; United States → European Union (ferrets)
No pets on nonstop flights to Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii or Kauai, and no pregnant pets past 45 days' gestation.
United States → Hawaii (dogs and cats)
Where every rule above came from
- GOV.UK (APHA/Defra)gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-approved-air-sea-and-rail-carriers-and-routes/approved-air-routes-for-pet-travelRoute: United States → Great Britain
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/travel-routes-petsUnited States → Great Britain, dog: Cabin
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals-policy-and-restrictions.htmlRoute: United States → Great Britain; Route: United States → European Union; Route: Great Britain → United States; Route: European Union → United States; and 7 more
- American Airlines Cargoaacargo.com/downloads/rates/Domestic_International_Live_Animal_v1.04.pdfRoute: United States → Great Britain; Route: United States → European Union
- American Airlines Cargoaacargo.com/downloads/rates/International_to_International_Live_Animal_v1.09.pdfRoute: Great Britain → United States; Route: European Union → United States
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/downloads/Pet_Travel_Guide_FEB2026.pdfManifest cargo
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals.htmlFrom May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs; No new cargo bookings for dogs from a CDC high-risk country for rabies, or for dogs that…
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/downloads/know_before_you_go_FEB2026.pdfAmerican Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/customer-service/support/conditions-of-carriage.htmlFlights operated by American Airlines; American carries only cats and dogs with passengers, checks pets into the hold only for…; Cabin; Hold (checked baggage)
- American Airlines (Tariff No. AA1, published by Airline Tariff Publishing Company as agent)aa.com/content/images/tariff/american-airlines-general-rules-of-the-international-tariff.pdfFlights operated by American Airlines; Cabin; Hold (checked baggage); Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.htmlAmerican carries only cats and dogs with passengers, checks pets into the hold only for…; Route: United States → Great Britain; Route: United States → Hawaii; Cabin; and 7 more
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/service-animals.htmlCabin
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/customer-service/support/optional-service-fees.htmlHold (checked baggage)
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.