Before we go on our planned flight we wonder are service dogs allowed on American Airlines? However, there are several pet policies that you need to be aware of when traveling with your dog.
Here we will cover everything you need to know about flying with your dog, service dog, or emotional support dog on American Airlines. Keep reading to learn more.
We all love to travel with our dogs from one place to another. However, one of the biggest challenges when traveling or shopping with your dog.
Not all public facilities or transport services will allow you to travel with your furry friend. You might have probably come across a dog in an airport and wondered if dogs are allowed onboard.
Does American Airlines Allow Dogs?
Yes, you can travel with your service dog on American Airlines. The American Airlines pet policy 2022 allows pets, including dogs and cats, to fly in the cabin as long as they are in their travel bag.
The kennel or travel bag must meet the specifications outlined in the American Airlines pet travel policy.
While onboard, the travel bag or kennel will be stowed underneath the seat in front of you, and you will not be allowed to remove your dog for security reasons.
Other rules that apply when flying your dog in the cabin with American Airlines include:
- Dogs must be able to sit up and stand, lie down in a natural position in their travel bag and turn around normally without touching the top or any side of the travel bag.
- Non-collapsible travel bags should not exceed the under-seat dimensions of the aircraft included in your journey. You can contact American Airlines Reservations Department to know the required dimensions.
- Soft-sided travel bags can be slightly larger, although they should still fit under the seat in front of you. Besides, they should be secure, made of water repellent material, padded, and have nylon mesh ventilation on two or more sides.
The American Airlines Pet Policy
American Airlines normally operates an extensive domestic and international network, with scheduled flights throughout South America, North America, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
The following pet policy information will answer any questions regarding the transportation of dogs.
Important Dog Travel Information
If you are traveling with a dog as checked baggage, you will be required to provide a valid dog health certificate.
To ensure the well-being of your dog traveling as checked baggage, American Airlines adheres to the day of travel restrictions.
Dogs traveling in the cabin will need a reservation to ensure that only a maximum of seven dogs are booked on any single flight.
You can ensure that your dog is accommodated by making arrangements early enough by contacting American Airlines Reservations to confirm a spot for your furry friend. Checked dogs will not need a reservation.
Flying In-Cabin with Your Dog
American Airlines allows pets, including dogs, into the cabin to travel with their handlers, but with specific guidelines.
First, the pet has to be a cat or a dog. Other species of animals are not allowed, regardless of whether the handlers want to take pets or emotional support animals into the cabin with them.
Secondly, the size of the dog matters. Both the dog and the carrier should not have a combined weight of more than 20 pounds. Pets, large than this, are not allowed to travel in-cabin unless they are service animals.
In addition, the dog must stay in the kennel with the door closed and should be under the seat throughout the flight duration.
Dogs may also not be allowed in the cabin on some routes, no matter how contained or small they are.
The routes include flights to and from Hawaii, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, and all Transatlantic flights.
Flying In-Cabin with a Service Dog Or Emotional Support Dog
American Airlines permits travelers to be accompanied in the cabin with their emotional support animals or service animals.
The dog will travel with you without charges if it is a psychiatric animal or service animal and fits either at your feet, under the seat, or on your lap. The dog should not block the aisle in any way.
In addition, you are not allowed to sit with your dog in the emergency exit row because if there were an emergency, your dog might not be able to follow instructions needed of those seated on that row.
Cost Of Flying a Pet In Cabin With American Airlines
It will cost you about $125 one way to pay for a dog or other pet as additional carry-on baggage. However, there is an option to travel with your furry friend in their travel bag or kennel with one personal item.
American Airlines Routes That Allow Dogs
You can travel with your dog on most flights for a maximum duration of 11 hours or flights to and from:
- Alaska
- Within the United States of America and Canada
- Mexico
- Central America
- St. Thomas
- St. Croix
- Puerto Rico
Does American Airlines Permit Pets In The Hold As Checked Baggage?
American Airlines only permits checked pets for active-duty US State and US Military Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders.
A maximum of two pets can be checked in and should meet the minimum age as well as the health requirements of the destination. Because the capacity is limited, checked animals are accepted on a first-time basis.
When checking your pet, you will need to:
- Contact Reservations 48 hours before traveling.
- Check in with the official orders at the ticket counter.
- Allow more check-in time (between 2 hours to 4 hours before the flight)
- Complete the checklist with an agent
- Provide a health certificate
American Airlines does not permit brachycephalic breeds of dogs and cats to fly as checked baggage. They include:
- Persian
- Burmese
- Exotic Shorthair
- Himalayan
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Affenpinscher
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Pit Bull
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Mastiff (All breeds)
- English Toy Spaniel
- Dogue De Bordeaux
Travel To And Through Hawaii With Your Dog
Hawaii is a rabies-free state, and its law requires a 120-day quarantine for pets to protect residents and other pets.
The period can be reduced to five days or even less if some qualifications are met. Dogs are not accepted on non-stop flights to the Big Island and Maui. Besides, pregnant pets past 45 days gestation are not allowed.
Airlines That Accept Pet Travel
For many dog owners, it is inconceivable to leave behind their canine friends when traveling. Every airline has its rules and regulation regarding dog travel.
Some will allow you to travel with your furry friend in the cabin, while a few others will transport your dog in the cargo hold. Here are other airlines that will allow you to travel with your dog and some of the rules and regulations they have in place.
Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines has one of the friendliest dog travel policies. There is no maximum weight limit for your dog, and you can bring any size of the dog as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.
You can also travel with your dog to international destinations for $200, while it will cost $125 for North American destinations. Here are other things you should keep in mind:
- You can only travel with one dog carrier
- The dog carrier should be leak-proof as well as well ventilated on at least two sides.
- The dog must remain inside the carrier while onboard the aircraft, at the airport lounge, and at the boarding area.
- The airline online permits you to fly with dogs, domestic birds, and cats.
- Your dog should be at least 16 weeks old for international travel, and for domestic travel, it should be at least eight weeks old.
- One dog is allowed per carrier
- They have a first-come, first-served policy, and not more than four pets are permitted on every flight.
JetBlue
JetBlue has a program known as JetPaws, which allows travelers to fly with their furry friends if they meet certain requirements.
The dog should be kept in an approved waterproof carrier with enough space for the pet to stand, lie, or sit down.
It should also be fastened under the seat in front of you during the flight. They do not offer checked baggage services for live pets and will allow you to only fly on board with small dogs and cats. You need to be aware of other things when traveling with your dog with JetBlue.
- For domestic flights, the dog should be at least eight weeks old.
- They do not accept dogs traveling to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica.
- The maximum size of the carrier should be 17″ x 12.5″ x 8.5″
- The dog carrier will count as your carry-on item
- You will be allowed to fly with only one dog.
- They only allow a maximum of 4 pets onboard
- For international travel, health and vaccination certificates are mandatory.
Conclusion
If you have been asking yourself whether or not American Airlines allow service dogs, you are now answered. They will allow you to travel with your service dog, although they have various rules and regulations that you need to be aware of before taking your dog. You can contact them in advance to know more.