Pets

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This page details American Airlines Policy and Procedure with regard to Pet Acceptance.

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• This applies to cats and dogs only (household birds in certain cases). Any other animals would need to be referred to cargo.
• Number of Pets Accepted (Applies all destinations):
  A maximum of 2 checked pets per passenger is accepted. The pets may be in 2 separate kennels or if they are of the same species and comparable size, weigh less than 20 lbs each and are between 8 weeks and 6 months old, both pets may be in the same kennel.
• Pets will be accepted on a first come, first ride basis.
• Pets may not be interlined between American Airlines and other airlines. They must be claimed and rechecked at connection city.
• No carry-on pets to/from Hawaii, Transatlantic, Transpacific, Central/South America.
• Seeing eye, hearing ear, or service and search animals are permitted as carry-on except for travel to Great Britain. When travelling from Great Britain, these animals will be allowed in the cabin.

• Minimum 8 weeks old for dogs and cats
• France - Under 3 months prohibited

• American pit bull
• American staffordshire terrier
• Bull terrier
• Doberman
• Rottweiler

• Service animals with or without a disabled passenger.
• Official search or rescue dogs with documentation.
• Official bomb/drug detection dogs with documentation.
• Puppies of these breeds between 8 and 12 weeks old.

• IATA regulations state that the height of the container/ kennel is the maximum height of a dog when standing up, just on head height in a full upright position.
• The length of the container is the length of the dog from nose to tail plus the length of the forleg (so the animal may be fully stretched).
• The width is denoted by twice the width across the shoulders.
• The dog must have 6 inches between the top of the cage and their head when they are standing up.
• A veterinary certificate of good health should be signed within ten days of departure. The vet will also advise the passenger whether or not to arrange tranquiliser for the pet.
• The carriage of amimals must conform to IATA standards.

• A new requirement for kennel acceptance has been developed to prevent any animal from escaping and possibly injuring an employee or damaging an aircraft. All kennels purchased from the AA ticket counter or any rigid plastic kennels purchased in a store by the customer (i.e. Doskosil, sky kennel, vari kennel, petmate, etc), for checked pets will require releasable cable ties attached to all four corners of the kennel door.
  Reminder:   Pet kennels will only be sold at AA ticket counters until current store is depleted, after which time, AA will no longer sell pet kennels.
• If a plastic kennel is made such that the ties can not be used the kennel may not be accepted.
• The ticket counter will provide the ties to the customer at no cost. The customer may supply their own ties or other locking mechanism provided they can be removed without the use of tools.
• Exception:
  There are some very expensive kennels typically used for professional show dogs which are constructed of other materials (i.e. wood, metal) which do not allow the use of the releasable cable tie. These kennels may be accepted if the closure of the door is secured.

• Pets will not be accepted when the current or forecasted temperature is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (75F for snub-nosed dogs or cats) at any location on the itinerary. This will maximize safety in the event of delays, cancellations or OSO situations.
• Some cities such as DFW, MIA, PHX, TUS, and LAS may not be able to accept checked pets all summer since their summer high temps average above 85F. Therefore, customers should be advised not to take pets if they are booking connections or destinations to hot climates. Nonstop flights or flights connecting through another city may be an option.
• Temperature restrictions apply at originating, connecting and terminating location, regardless of ground/connecting time at any point of the itinerary.
• Final acceptance is up to the local airport management.
• Pets not accepted at departure time remain the responsibility of their owner.

• The maximum weight allowance per pet/kennel combined is 100 pounds.
• The maximum kennel size in inches is 40LX27WX30H.
• Anything over the maximum size or weight must be referred to cargo.

• Effective May 15, 2004, American Eagle will no longer accept pets as checked baggage or PPS for all flights to/from SJU and ST KITTS (SKB) and Nevis (NEV).
• There will be no changes to the pet-in-cabin policy.
• Service animals are excluded from the restriction. If a service animal is too large to fit inside the cabin of the aircraft, the service animal will continue to be allowed to travel in the cargo compartment.

• Effective immediately, animals or pets may not be accepted as cargo, checked baggage or cabin pets for flights to Port of Spain, Trinidad (POS) if the arrival time at (POS) is:
  - On weekdays between 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 a.m.(local time)
  - Any time on weekends.
• This applies whether the final destination is Trinidad or if it is transit to another country.
• Service animals are exempt from this restriction

• Please remember that checked pets may not be checked to the final destination if the routing includes a connection to another airline. AA will only check pets to the final AA online destination.
• For example, if a customer is booked LON-SEA-FAI and the SEA-FAI portion is operated by Alaska Airlines, AA will check the kennel to Seattle only. Customer must claim the pet in Seattle. The customer must then check in the pet in SEA with Alaska Airlines to final destination Fairbanks (FAI). Alaska Airlines' pet acceptance policy and fee will apply from SEA-FAI.
• Please check the policy and fees of the other carrier when travelling with pets on a routing with a connection to another airline.

• Cats and dogs will need a number tattooed or chip implanted by a veterinarian that matches the number in the vaccination card.
• Important:
  Pets without the tattoo or chip will not be allowed to enter the European Union (or Switzerland) and will be sent back to the U.S. or possibly destroyed (be put down).
• The above policy is a new EU ruling. For full details on American Airlines pet policy and acceptance, please log on to www.aa.com