American Airlines Pet Transport: In-Cabin, Cargo, and PetEmbark Costs

American Airlines is one of the larger US carriers for pet transport, with both in-cabin and dedicated PetEmbark cargo programs. They’re also one of the most-restricted carriers for snub-nosed breeds — bulldogs, pugs, and persian cats face hard bans in cargo. This guide covers exactly what American Airlines allows, what it costs, and how to book it.

American Airlines pet policy at a glance

• In-cabin (carry-on pets): $150 per pet per flight segment
• Pet cargo (PetEmbark program): $200-$1,000+ depending on destination and size
• Weight limit (in-cabin): Pet + carrier under 20 lbs combined
• Carrier dimensions (in-cabin): 19″ x 13″ x 9″ maximum (soft-sided), under-seat fit required
• Pets per passenger (in-cabin): 1 — kennel counts as your carry-on
• Breed bans (cargo): all brachycephalic breeds, plus several specific dog breeds

In-cabin pet travel on American Airlines

For small dogs and cats — under 20 lbs total weight including carrier — American Airlines allows pets in cabin on most domestic and select international routes. The pet must remain in an FAA-compliant soft-sided carrier under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. The pet doesn’t get its own seat, no exceptions.

Cost: $150 per pet per flight segment. A round trip with one connection each way = 4 segments = $600 total. Two pets = $1,200.

PetEmbark cargo program

For larger pets that don’t fit in-cabin, American Airlines runs PetEmbark — a dedicated cargo program with climate-controlled holds, specialized handling, and ground crew trained in live-animal transport. PetEmbark is IATA-compliant and accepts pets between 8 weeks and 8 months for first travel, plus adult animals.

Cost ranges $200 to $1,000+ depending on:

• Domestic vs international destination (international roughly 2x the domestic price)
• Crate size (which depends on pet size — IATA-spec crate required)
• Whether you’re shipping the pet alone (cargo-only) or as accompanied baggage

Breed and seasonal restrictions

American Airlines bans the following from cargo entirely:

• Brachycephalic dog breeds — bulldogs (English, French, American), pugs, boxers, boston terriers, mastiffs, shih tzus, pekingese, Brussels griffon, Lhasa apso, chow chow, dogue de Bordeaux, presa canario
• Brachycephalic cat breeds — persian, himalayan, exotic shorthair, burmese
• Heat embargo (May-September): additional breeds may be banned on routes through hot-weather hubs
• Cold embargo (December-February): additional restrictions on cold-weather destinations

If your pet falls into a banned-from-cargo breed category, your options are: in-cabin (if under 20 lbs), ground transport, or private jet charter.

How to book pet transport on American Airlines

• In-cabin: book during flight purchase; add pet at booking or call 800-433-7300 within 24 hours of booking. Limited spots — book early.
• Cargo / PetEmbark: book through American Airlines Cargo at 800-227-4622 or aacargo.com. Quote and book at least 7 days before travel.

Documentation required at the airport

• Health certificate (CVI) from a licensed veterinarian, issued within 10 days of travel
• Rabies vaccination certificate (current within 1 year)
• Microchip documentation (recommended; required for international)
• For international: destination-country specific paperwork (USDA endorsement, country-of-entry forms)

Common questions

Bottom line

American Airlines is a solid US carrier for pet transport if you’re flying a small in-cabin pet ($150/segment) or a medium-to-large pet of a non-brachycephalic breed via PetEmbark cargo ($200-$1,000+). For brachycephalic breeds, look at ground transport or private jet — American’s cargo bans are strict and not negotiable.