American Airlines is relaxing its pet policy and allowing those who travel with their animal companions to bring a full-size carry-on too, along with the pet carrier.
Earlier, travelers with pets were only allowed to bring a small personal item, that could fit under the seat if they were bringing their pet onboard. Anything bigger than that, like a carry-on, was required to be checked for $35. Alternatively, pet owners could put their pet in the cargo hold if they wanted to bring a bigger item with them on the flight.
However, there has been no change in fees required to bring a pet onboard. That remains fixed at $150, as per the American Airline’s website. Meanwhile, pet strollers are still required to be checked in and all checked bag fees apply.
Traveling with pets
Even with the relaxation in policy, experts advise thoughtful planning and research before traveling with pets and considering factors such as choosing a pet-friendly airline, insurance and preparing your pet for the journey ahead of time.
Every airline has its own guidelines for traveling with pets and the websites for domestic carriers like Southwest, JetBlue, American, Alaska, United and Delta each spell out what pets can travel where and the requirements for a carrier that can fit under the seat.
