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American Airlines Pet Policy & Fees

Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Yes (Certain Flights) Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Active-duty U.S. Military & U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Can my pet fly with me as manifest cargo? Yes

In-Cabin Pet Policy

cat flying in-cabin

If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in American Airlines pet policy to travel in-cabin, you will need an approved airline pet carrier . The carrier must have a waterproof bottom, have room for your pet to stand up and turn around, must fasten securly and have adequate ventilation. Maximum size: 18in x 11in x 11in. (soft-sided carriers can be slightly higher.)

Pets Allowed:

Small dogs or cats.

Age Requirements:

Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to travel in the cabin.

Route Restrictions

American does not permit pets in the cabin on transatlantic or transpacific flights. Pets are permitted to fly in the cabin to most destinations in the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Canada, Mexico, Central America, Alaska, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Croix. Flights cannot be longer than 11 1/2 hours.

Pets traveling in the cabin are not allowed to or from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hawaii or EU countries. Service/assistance dogs only are allowed in the cabin on flights to Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Aircraft Restrictions

Carry-on pets are not permitted in First or Business Class on the following aircraft: 757-L, 757-EW, 767, 777-200, 777-300, 787-8, 787-9, Airbus A330-200 or A330-300.

Carrier Requirements

Carrier measurements will vary depending on the aircraft serving the route. There is one pet permitted per passenger unless you are carrying a mother cat or dog with her unweaned litter.

Two pets of the same size and species (generally puppies, kittens or toy dogs) may be allowed in one pet carrier, provided there is adequate room in the carrier for them to stand up and turn around. The total weight of the pets and carrier must not exceed 20 pounds. Birds are not permitted.

You will check in at the passenger counter as animals are not checked in at curbside. A fee will be collected at the time of check in. Your pet airline carrier will count as a piece of carry-on luggage.

American Airlines Pet Fee for In-Cabin

The fee for flying your small dog or cat in the cabin will be $125USD. Your pet airline carrier will count as a piece of carry-on luggage. You must check in at the passenger counter as animals are not checked in at curbside.

If your pet is a service dog, there will be no charge for the flight.

Forms Required

No health certificate is required for pets traveling in the cabin. Department of Transportation forms are required for service dogs.

Service Dogss

Only trained service animals can fly in the cabin and you will need to complete and submit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation form before your trip. If you are traveling with an animal that does not qualify as trained service dog, it may be transported as a regular pet.

See more information about American Airline policies on service and emotional support animals .

Crates, carriers, passports, microchips and more at PetTravelStore.com

Checked Baggage Pet Policy

checked baggage

American Airlines is currently not offering checked baggage service for live animals with the exception of active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders.

If your pet is too large to fit under the seat, it is an animal other than a dog or cat, or if it is a very long flight, American may transport your pet in the cargo section of the aircraft according to its regulations. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin. Live animals will not be transported in the cargo hold of the following aircraft: Airbus 319, Airbus 320, Airbus 321, Airbus 321S and Airbus 321H. Live animals are not transported on Air Wisconsin.

Larger dogs and cats. Birds are not permitted. Flight must be less than 12 hours. Up to 2 pets per passenger may travel as checked baggage.

Route Restrictions:

Pets traveling to Hawaii may travel as checked baggage through Honolulu. Pets traveling to the United Kingdom must fly as air cargo.

Checked pets cannot travel to/through/from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs from May 1 - September 30.

Checked baggage service is not offered on flights to Japan.

Checked pets cannot travel on A321, A321S, A321H, A320, A319 aircraft and all flights operated by Air Wisconsin.

Health Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel. If you are returning to your country of origin on the same ticket, the health certificate is valid for 60 days.

When flying as checked baggage, you will check in your dog, cat not more than 4 hours ahead of flight time at the passenger ticket counter at which time you will pay the fee for transport. Pet owners are encouraged to check in early as the number of pets per flight is limited and on a first come-first served basis. There is a maximum of 2 pets per passenger permitted to travel as checked baggage.

Flights cannot be longer than 12 hours. Pets must not be sedated or they will not be accepted.

American Airlines Pet Fee for Checked Baggage

American Airlines charges a flat fee of $200 ($150 for travel to or from Brazil) for larger dogs and cats flying as accompanied checked baggage.

Breed Restrictions

See banned breeds below.

Temperature Restrictions

Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate , however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C). American Airlines has a 24/7 help desk to assist with rescheduling pets when temperatures do not fall within this range.

Between May 1 and September 30, live animals will not be permitted in the cargo hold on flights to, from or transiting Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas and Palm Springs due to summer temperatures.

Health Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel.

Crate Requirements

Maximum size crate: max 63" high on B767, B777 and B787. 40" high on B757 and 28" high on B737 and A330 aircraft. elstore.com/pet-crate-hardware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet' crate together. Click here for crate requirements .

Two dogs or cats between 8 weeks and 6 months old can travel in the same crate if they are of the same species, a similar size and weigh less than 20 pounds each.

Need an IATA compliant pet crate? Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate ?

Manifest (Air) Cargo Pet Policies

manifest cargo

American Airlines Cargo serves the continental United States, Honolulu, Puerto Rico, Canada and international locations where flight time is less than 12 hours. Pet owners have 2 transport services to choose from: Priority Parcel Service (domestic up to 100 lbs.) and ExpediteFS (international).

Pets Allowed

American Airlines will ship warm blooded animals such as dogs, cats, birds, primates and some other animals. Cold-blooded animals must be packaged in accordance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations and must include heat or cold packs, as needed. American Cargo will not ship dangerous or offensive dogs or other animals, unhealthy animals or pets that will be banned by the country of destination. No venemous snakes or lizards will be transported.

If your pet is traveling to or through the United States, the use of a professional freight forwarder, IPATA agent, or customs broker with an established business relationship with the airline will be required. Flights cannot be longer than 12 hours.

All pets traveling to or from London Heathrow or Manchester must use the services of an agent. Agents can be found at IPATA.org. If you are departing from the United States, we can assist you with the booking. Please send an email to [email protected].

No live animals will be permitted on flights over 12 hours.

American Airlines will not transport animals on the following aircraft types: Airbus 319, 320, 321, 321S, 321H and 32B. Routes that are excluded from this restriction include New York JFK to/from LAX and San Francisco (SFO).

Reservations

Reservations can be made up to 10 days in advance.

Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned for domestic or international travel.

Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Also required are proof of vaccinations and pet passport documents for the country your pet is traveling to (international travel only).

Household pets such as dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, pot-belly pigs, rabbits, rodents and cold-blooded animals can be checked in at passenger ticket counters, baggage service offices and dedicated Global Priority Shipping Centers. You will pay for your pet's transport when your pet is dropped off.

Sedated pets will not be accepted.

All dogs going to the UK will need a photo to confirm the kennel is the correct size. See how to measure your dog for its crate .

See checked baggage above.

American Airlines will no longer accept Series 100 (small) pet crates in the cargo hold.

Two animals less than 6 months and 20 pounds each may travel in the same crate as long as they are of the same species and both animals are less than 20 pounds (9 kg). For animals traveling to the United Kingdom, a maximum of two adult animals (of comparable size, up to 20 pounds (9 kg) each (and who are known to eachother) may be transported in the same container.

More info on crate requirements . Have a crate already? Need accessories for your crate ?

More Information:

Airports served.

airplane

American serves locations worldwide in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean, North and South America including the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Puppies and Kittens

puppy and kitten

American will transport puppies and kittens over 8 weeks of age.

  • Traveling with a puppy

Banned Breeds

Banned Dogs

The following is a list of brachycephalic dog breeds and any "mix" of will not be accepted as checked baggage: Affenpinscher, Bulldog (All breeds), Lhasa Apso, Pug (All breeds), Cane Corso, Mastiff (All breeds), Pit Bull Terriers, Shar Pei, Boston Terrier, Dogue De Bordeaux, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Boxer (All breeds), English Toy Spaniel, Pit Bull, Tibetan Spaniel, Brussels Griffon, Japanese Chin and Presa Canario.

The following dog breeds and their mixes will not be transported as air cargo: Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer (All breeds), Brussels Griffon, Bulldog (All breeds), Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Dogue De Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff (All breeds), Pekingese, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Pug (All breeds), Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Terrier and Tibetan Spaniel.

Additionally, the following cats will not be accepted: Burmese, Persian, Himalayan and Exotic Shorthair.

A breed verification form will be required for all dogs and cats flying American Airlines in the cargo hold, whether as checked baggage or air cargo.

If your dog or cat is one of these breeds (or a mix), then you will need to find another airline or consider ground transport. Click here for a free quote for ground transport within the United States .

Other Animals

rabbits turtles other animals

All warm blooded mammals and birds including show or exhibition animals. American Cargo will not ship dangerous or offensive animals, unhealthy animals or pets that will be banned by the country of destination.

Need more information?

CITIES endangered turtle

The information published here is a guideline for airline pet policies for American. Further detail on airline pet policies as well as pet passport information are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com . We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

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Flying with American

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What you need to know before you go

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This guidance is not intended to replace the Conditions of carriage, which covers all of your rights and responsibilities as a passenger.

Conditions of carriage

Your ticket

We sell 2 types of tickets – refundable and non-refundable:

If you booked at least 2 days before departure, you can get a full refund within 24 hours from the time you bought your ticket, no matter if it's refundable or non-refundable.

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Checked bag policy

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Basic Economy rules

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Travel experience

Preparing to travel

Being prepared is the best way to ensure smooth travel. Every airport is different, so do a little research if it's your first time flying to or from a city. You'll need a valid photo ID accepted by the TSA (like a driver’s license or other government-issued ID) for domestic travel and a valid passport or visa, and any travel documents required by your international destination.

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Starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other accepted ID, like a valid passport or U.S. military ID, to fly within the U.S. REAL ID-compliant cards generally have a star at the top. If you’re unsure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to get a REAL ID-compliant card.

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The TSA Secure Flight program requires us to collect this information when you book including the:

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We may cancel your trip if we don't have this information at least 72 hours before departure.

You can check in on aa.com and in the app beginning 24 hours before departure. All airports have minimum check-in times. If you're not checked in by the minimum check-in time, you may lose your seat.

In most cities, you must be checked in:

  • At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the U.S.
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Some airports require you to check in earlier.

Check-in and arrival

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In general, you're allowed 1 bag and 1 personal item:

  • Your bag must fit in the sizer at the airport.
  • Your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you.

In the event the bins are full and you have to gate-check a bag, put any fragile or valuable items like keys, medication or computers in the personal item you bring on the plane.

There are additional carry-on restrictions for certain aircraft and airports.

Carry-on bags

If you’re a family traveling with children under 15, and do not already have seats assigned, our system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We’ll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we’ll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult.

Traveling with children and infants

We care about our four-legged customers too. Cats and small dogs can travel in the cabin, but they must stay in an approved carrier that fits under the seat. Larger dogs can travel in the cargo hold of some planes. There is a fee to travel with your pet.

Traveling with pets

Service animals are welcome at no charge if they meet the requirements. The animal must fit on your lap, at your feet or under your seat, and cannot block the aisle.

Emotional support animals require specific documentation; please review the requirements before travel.

Service animals

For everyone's safety on board, some common items are restricted by the TSA and FAA. Be sure you know what you can carry on and what you can check in your bags before you go to the airport.

Hazardous materials

We don't transport hazardous materials, except for small amounts of dry ice.

Restricted items

You can travel with firearms in checked bags only. Firearms must be declared to an agent at check-in. There are other rules that apply.

On occasion, there are more checked-in customers than seats. When this happens, our team gets involved as early as possible to find volunteers to change flights in exchange for compensation.

When we don’t have enough volunteers, we have to choose customers to change flights involuntarily, or deny boarding. If this happens, we'll follow the DOT's compensation rules and get those customers on the next possible flight. We will not involuntarily remove a revenue passenger who has already boarded in order to give a seat to another passenger.

At the gate

You must be at the gate and ready to board the plane:

  • 15 minutes before departure on domestic flights
  • 30 minutes before departure for international flights

Be sure to check your boarding pass for boarding times. If you're not at the gate in time, your seat may be given to a standby passenger.

The doors close at least 10 minutes before departure. Once the door is shut, it will not be reopened unless there is health, safety or security issue.

We board in groups; check your boarding pass for your boarding group. We offer early boarding to customers who need special assistance or more time to board, along with families with children under 2 years who ask to board early.

Strollers should be checked at the gate before boarding and picked up after your flight at the gate, free of charge.

Wheelchairs can be gate-checked and picked up after your flight at the gate, free of charge. We are available to help you to and from your seat once you check your wheelchair.

On the plane

Welcome aboard! Anything you carried on must fit in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you. If the bins are full or your bag is too big we'll help gate-check it. Musical instruments count as a carry-on and must fit safely in the bin, under the seat or in a closet (unless you paid for an extra seat).

Have a nut allergy? Though we don't serve peanuts, we do serve food that may contain other types of nuts and customers may carry on peanuts. We're unable to make special accommodations or provide nut-free zones on board, so we strongly encourage you to take all necessary medical precautions before flying.

And finally, our crewmembers are here to ensure a safe and pleasant flying experience for you and everyone onboard your flight. Please let them know if you have any questions and be sure to comply with their instructions, which are designed to keep you and everyone on board safe and comfortable.

When you arrive

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Guide to American Airlines pet policies

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Whether you’re moving, visiting family, or just taking a vacation, sometimes you just can’t leave your furry friend behind when you travel! American Airlines has historically been a great choice for anyone who wants to travel with their pet. But, American Airlines pet policy has recently changed, and their checked pet service is temporarily suspended, making carrying them on your only option.

We’ve broken down all their current policies and answered all your questions here, so you can be prepared next time you’re flying with pets in American Airlines. 

american airline pet travel fee

Summary of American Airlines pet policy

Due to increased flight changes on the airline, American has stopped checking pets for the time being , except for active-duty U.S. military traveling on assignment. This means that most passengers must carry-on your pet until this policy changes back to allowing pets as checked luggage. If your animal is large, American is still offering to transport pets as cargo. But this involves dropping them off at a cargo facility before your flight, which isn’t ideal for most pet owners. 

The carry-on pet fee at American is $125 per kennel and your pet must remain inside of it during the duration of your flight (so, make sure your pet has enough room to sit-up, turn around and lay down in there — especially on longer flights!.) The kennel can be soft or hard-sided, but must be smaller than 19” x 13” x 9” ( or 48 cm x 33 cm x 22 cm). There are no strict weight restrictions on pets as long as they fit in this carrier. But, there is an exception to this rule if you’re flying business or first class, in which case the weight of your pet and carrier combined cannot exceed 20 pounds. Additionally, all pets flying must be at least eight weeks old. 

Your pet carrier will r eplace your carry-on bag, but you’ll still be able to bring on an additional personal item (like a backpack, purse etc.) at no extra charge. American allows up to seven kennels per flight (excluding service and emotional support animals), which is more than most other airlines allow! But, it’s always a good idea to call ahead and reserve a space for your pet on your flight, especially now that checked baggage isn’t an option for pets. 

Types of pets allowed on American Airlines flights

American only allows cats and dogs on their flights. As long as they fit within the carrier size restrictions and are at least eight weeks old, most dogs and cats are allowed, with a few exceptions. 

Dogs with snub-noses cannot fly on American for their own safety. This includes breeds like boxers, bulldogs, Pitbulls, pugs and more. All cat breeds are allowed on board except for Burmese, Persian, Himalayan and exotic shorthair. 

International flights

Pets can only fly to the following destinations: 

  • The 48 contiguous United States + Alaska
  • Central America
  • Puerto Rico
  • South America (excluding Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile)

So, if you’re traveling elsewhere with American, your pet cannot travel with you as a carry-on. No pets are allowed on transatlantic or transpacific flights, nor on flights that are over 11 hours and 30 minutes.

Keep in mind, service and emotional support animals have different rules than regular pets, so read on for those guidelines! 

Fees for flying with pets

Flying with pets in American Airlines will cost you $125 per kennel. It’s important to note, American charges per kennel, not per pet. So, if you have two small animals (they must be of the same species) and they can comfortably fit in the same kennel, you only have to pay the pet fee one time. But, make sure both animals have enough room to lay down and move around before you engage in this money-saving hack!

If you’re flying with a trained and registered service animal on American Airlines, there is no charge. 

Pet carrier restrictions

The biggest thing to know about American Airlines pet policy regarding kennels and carriers is that your carry-on cage cannot exceed the 19” x 13” x 9” ( or 48 cm x 33 cm x 22 cm). It doesn’t matter if your kennel is hard or soft-sided as long as it fits in these restrictions. 

American has a loose policy that the combined weight of the carrier and the pet cannot exceed 25 pounds, but don’t worry too much if you’re a few pounds over. What’s the most important is that your pet is comfortable inside the carrier and has enough room to sit up, lay down, and turn around inside. Pets need to remain in their carrier under the seat in front of you, and it’s your job to make their flight easy!

Seven carriers are allowed on American flights and five are allowed on American Eagle flights. Typically, only one kennel will be allowed in business/first class, so be sure to call ahead to reserve your pet’s space ahead of time.

American Airlines restrictions for emotional support animals

The rules for service and emotional support animals on American are different than those for regular pets, as it is on most airlines. An emotional support animal is a registered animal that can help an individual with psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression and more. 

Only dogs and cats are allowed on American Airlines flights as emotional support animals and the airline must be notified of their presence on the flight at least 48 hours before departure. 

These animals come at no charge to you, but for your pet to qualify as an emotional support animal, you must submit to the airline a form from a medical or mental health professional detailing your need, a veterinary health form, and an animal behavior form stating you take responsibility for your pet’s behavior during the flight. On flights longer than eight hours, you will also need to fill out and submit an animal sanitation form, saying your animal will not relieve itself on the plane (or will do so in a sanitary manner if it does). Your animal must fit in the seat under you or on your lap and be four months or older to qualify as an emotional support animal. 

There is only one emotional support animal allowed per passenger, but there are no restrictions on how many per flight. Emotional support animals can travel to most destinations, but some places have special restrictions on emotional support animals, so make sure you check the rules for your location before flying!

Note: The DOT recently changed the rules surrounding emiltional support animals and now, carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets. We’ll have to wait and see how these new policies play out and how American Airlines will recognize emotional support animals going forward.

American Airlines restrictions for service animals

Service animals differ from emotional support animals because they are trained to perform life functions for individuals with disabilities. This includes service for those who are deaf, blind, have seizures, have mobility impairments and more. Passengers can have as many service animals as they need, and there is no limit to the number that can be on board at one time. 

On American, service animals can be a dog, cat or miniature horse, and traveling with them comes at no cost to the owner. Service animals can travel to any destination. Unlike emotional support animals, American Airlines does not require (but does recommend) advanced notice for service animals.

American Airlines typically does not require those traveling with service animals to bring or submit any forms to verify their status but does reserve the right to question owners to determine the classification of the animal. They also recommend you travel with your pet’s vaccination record and will require you to submit an animal sanitation form on longer flights.

Tips for flying with your pets on American Airlines 

A few quick tips and tricks to make understanding American Airlines pet policy and flying with your pet easy. 

Prepare, prepare, prepare!

The best thing you can do when flying with your pet in American Airlines (or any airline) is to prepare before. That way, most of the work will be done before you even arrive at the airport! Before your flight, make sure your kennel is within the size requirements and your pet is comfortable inside (you can even practice with them!) Call ahead to reserve your pet’s spot on the plane, and check that your destination is on the list of approved pet-travel locations. 

Give your pet potty breaks before the flight

No matter how long your flight is, you should always give your pet the chance to use the bathroom before getting on board. While you can get up and use the bathroom during the flight, your pet is stuck in their kennel. All airports have pet relief areas past the security checkpoint, so be sure to visit one at least twice before boarding. 

Consult your veterinarian

Most airlines have restrictions on certain breeds of animals that prohibits them from flying for their own safety. For example, on American snub-nosed dogs can’t fly due to their limited air capacity. But, just because your pet is okayed to fly by the airline, doesn’t mean they’re 100% ready to travel. Check-in with your vet at least two weeks before flying so they can give your pet the all clear, and update their vaccinations as needed. 

american airline pet travel fee

An anxious owner makes for an anxious pet, and you don’t want your furry travel companion to be scared during the flight. Once you’re on board, sit back and take a deep breath. You did it! You and your pet are safely on board and will soon be at your destination — the hard part is over. Distract yourself during the flight with books, movies, or sleep, and don’t forget to periodically check in on your pet!

A quick hit of everything you need to know about flying with pets in American Airlines. 

What type of pets are allowed on American Airlines flights?

Dogs and cats are the only pets and emotional support animals allowed on American Airlines flights. Miniature horses are also allowed only as service animals. 

How much is the American Airlines pet fee?

$125 per kennel. No fees for service animals. 

How many pets are allowed per flight and per customer? 

There is one kennel allowed per customer (with up to two pets of the same species inside). On most flights, there can be up to seven kennels, with one space reserved for those traveling first or business class with pets.

There is no limit on emotional support or service animals. 

What’s the weight and age limit for my pet to fly?

Pets must fit inside a carrier that is 19” x 13” x 9” ( or 48 cm x 33 cm x 22 cm) and the weight of the pet plus the carrier should be around 25 pounds. All pets must be at least eight weeks old to travel.

What documentation do I need to fly with my pet?

None! Documentation is only required for emotional support and service animals.

How many pet carriers are each customer allowed?

Each passenger is allowed one kennel (or carrier) on their flight. 

Bottom line

Although American Airlines has changed their pet policy to exclude pets as checked baggage, their policies for carry-on pets are clear and easy to follow. While you will have to pay a fee, you won’t have to worry about bringing lots of documentation for your pet. As long as your animal is within the airline’s restrictions, flying with them on American Airlines should be a breeze. 

Alexandra Maloney

Contributor

Alexandra Maloney is a contributor for Million Mile Secrets where she covers points and miles, credit cards, airlines, hotels, and general travel. She's worked as a writing consultant for the University of Richmond and is a features writer for The Collegian UR.

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American Airlines Pet Policy: How To Fly With a Cat

Flying With a Cat on American Airlines

If you have an upcoming trip on American Airlines or you’re trying to determine which airline is the most pet-friendly, there are a few things you should know before booking. 

In this article, I’ll take a closer look at American Airlines’ pet policy including how to book your flight with your cat, how much you can expect to pay, and what size your cat carrier needs to be. 

Flying With a Cat on American Airlines

American Airlines has a cat-friendly pet policy that allows you to bring your cat in-cabin with you in place of your carry-on bag. Unfortunately, the pet carrier fee is a bit more than the carry-on bag fee.

You can fly with a cat on American Airlines for $125 per carrier each way. Additionally, you’ll have to get an airline-approved cat carrier for the trip. 

Before you check into your flight, be sure to take the time to prepare for the trip. Here are five things you need to know about flying with a cat on American Airlines:

American Airlines Pet Travel Policy

American airlines carry-on pet fee.

  • American Airlines Pet Carrier Size Requirements

How To Fly With a Cat on American Airlines

Tips for flying with your cat.

Below, you’ll find more detailed information on how to fly with a cat on American Airlines and how you can best prepare for the trip.

Before you fly with your cat on American Airlines, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the airlines’ pet policy . American Airlines’ pet policy is cat-friendly and very straightforward.

Cats can travel as a carry-on as long as they stay in the kennel under the seat in front of you for the entire flight and you pay the carry-on pet fee. With American Airlines, checked pets are only accepted for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel. 

Your cat carrier will replace your carry-on bag for the flight, which means you can travel with your cat and one personal item in the cabin. A soft-sided cat carrier needs to be no bigger than 18″ x 11″ x 11″ and you can read more about the carry-on kennel size requirements here .

If you’re wondering where you can travel with your cat on American Airlines, there are a few restrictions to be aware of. According to the website , you can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours or flights to/from select locations:  

  • Within the 48 contiguous United States
  • The U.S. and Canada
  • Central America
  • Puerto Rico

Additional special restrictions apply to Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and South America. You cannot fly with carry-on pets to Hawaii or on transatlantic/transpacific trips.

Also, know that pets traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least eight weeks old.

No matter which airline you’re flying, bringing your cat won’t be free. Unfortunately, American Airlines charges one of the most expensive carry-on pet fees. So how much does it cost to fly with a cat on American Airlines?

The carry-on pet fee at American Airlines is $125 per kennel. This fee is for each destination without a voluntary layover or connection of 4+ hours; otherwise, fees may apply for each connecting trip. All pet fees are non-refundable and apply per kennel, each way.

Here are the additional pet services offered by American Airlines as well the region it’s available in and how much it costs: 

According to American Airlines’ website , fees for transporting your pet with American Airlines Cargo may vary depending on the trip details and size of the animal and kennel.

You can pay the pet travel fee when you book your ticket online at American Airlines . You can also pay at the airport or travel center with a credit card. 

In addition to researching the pet fees at American Airlines, I also checked out the pet carrier fees at a few other popular airlines to see how American Airlines compares:

  • Alaska Airlines : $100
  • American Airlines : $125
  • Delta : $95
  • Frontier : $99 
  • Southwest : $95
  • Spirit : $125
  • United : $125

Unfortunately, American Airlines is one of the more expensive airlines to fly with your cat. However, it’s only $30 more per kennel than the cheapest airline pet carrier fee.

Pet Carrier Size Requirements

American Airlines allows both soft-sided and hard-sided kennels on flights, but the company does recommend a soft-sided carrier. That’s because they’re more likely to fit comfortably under the seat. 

Here are the carry-on kennel dimensions for American Airlines: 

  • Hard-sided kennel: 19″ x 13″ x 9″ 
  • Soft-sided kennel: 18″ x 11″ x 11″

If you’re on a regional flight with American Eagle, the hard-sided kennel dimensions reduce to 16″ x 12″ x 8″. In either case, I recommend a soft-sided carrier to be safe.  

If you need to buy a new carrier for your trip, all six of the best airline-approved cat carriers fit within American Airlines’ required dimensions. You can also use this guide to determine if your current cat carrier is airline-approved.

While the maximum dimensions of airline-approved cat carriers vary from airline to airline, it can also vary from aircraft to aircraft. American Airlines recommends contacting reservations ahead of time to verify the maximum dimensions on your upcoming flight.

In addition to being small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you, an airline-approved cat carrier must also meet the following requirements:

  • Your cat must be able to stand up, turn around, and lay down without touching the edge or top of the carrier
  • There must be adequate ventilation on more than one side so your cat can breath
  • It must be able to fully enclose your cat and be escape-proof (zippers or clasps on openings)
  • The carrier can’t be broken in any way
  • The carrier should be leakproof and contain absorbent bedding

These requirements are based on both individual airline policies and those outlined by the  International Air Transport Association (IATA) .

If you plan on flying with your cat on American Airlines, you can book your ticket as normal for your flight. Instead of adding your pet and paying the fee along with your ticket, you will have to pay for your cat’s trip at the airport. 

I went through the process of booking a ticket with American Airlines to see how the process would go, and there was never an option during the booking process to indicate that I’d be bringing a pet carrier.

Instead, I recommend booking your ticket as normal and then calling reservations to let them know you plan on bringing your cat. 

For English, you can call 800-433-7300 any time of day to let American Airlines know you’ll be flying with a cat. For Spanish, call 800-633-3711. For hearing and speech impaired, dial 711 to be connected through the National Relay Service any time of day.

On the day of your flight, give yourself some extra time at the airport before your boarding time. This will give you time to pay the additional pet fees that can’t be purchased with your ticket.

Once you’ve booked your flight, there are a few things you can do to help your cat prepare for the trip: 

  • Make an appointment with your veterinarian. Before you make plans to travel with your cat, make sure they’re healthy enough to fly. Book an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to get a checkup, make sure your cat’s microchip information is up-to-date, and get any necessary paperwork. For American Airlines, you’ll only need a health certificate if your cat is traveling in cargo or if you’re flying to a destination with additional restrictions.
  • Get your carrier early. The airport and the airplane are both going to be stressful for your cat, especially if they aren’t used to being in hectic or new spaces. For this reason, it’s important to get your airline-approved cat carrier as soon as possible . The earlier you buy your carrier, the more time your cat will have to get used to it. Once you have your carrier, set it out in your house and encourage your cat to explore it with food and treats. 
  • Acclimate your cat to the car. If your cat isn’t a frequent traveler, they may be stressed just leaving the house. Start introducing travel to your cat as soon as possible before the flight. You can start by closing them in their carrier, picking them up, taking them outside, putting them in the car, and taking short trips around the neighborhood. Take it slow, and understand it may take days or weeks for your cat to get completely comfortable in the car. For more tips, check out my full guide on how to travel with a cat in the car .
  • Use a cat calming aid like Feliway. Many veterinarian offices and cat owners use Feliway to help cats stay calm. You can buy Feliway spray at Amazon and spray it in your cat’s carrier and your car to help them stay calm the day of the trip. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use it on the plane. If your cat is particularly anxious, talk to your vet during your cat’s appointment about a prescription sedative for the day of the flight.
  • Withhold your cat’s breakfast on flight day. To reduce the likelihood of your cat getting sick on the trip, withhold their breakfast the morning of. You can feed them a full meal no sooner than four hours before you leave, but avoid feeding them right before you head out the door unless told otherwise by your veterinarian. 

When it comes to the airport and plane, you’ll have to keep your cat in their carrier (outside of TSA). Consider packing some cat treats and small toys that they’re familiar with to help let them know they’re okay throughout the day.

Additionally, if you can pack a coat or familiar blanket, your cat may appreciate having their carrier covered in the airport or on the plane. This will help reduce some of the stressful stimuli around them, plus being surrounded by a familiar smell will be comforting for your cat.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, booking a trip through American Airlines is a great way to fly with your cat. The airline allows you to bring your cat with you in-cabin for the flight as long as they stay in their carrier under the seat for the duration of the flight.

You can expect an additional pet fee of $125 each way added to your ticket price, and you’re limited to one kennel per person. 

As you prepare for your trip, be sure to take your cat to the veterinarian, contact reservations to let them know you’ll be flying with a cat, and make sure you have an airline-approved cat carrier. American Airlines recommends a soft-sided carrier no larger than 18″ x 11″ x 11″. 

More Content To Help You Prepare For Your Trip:

  • 6 Best Airline-Approved Carriers For Flying With Your Cat
  • Is Your Cat Carrier Airline Approved?
  • How Long You Can Travel With a Cat Before Needing a Break

Dallas is a proud cat parent of three (Kitten, Meera, and Jojen) and they love to travel. In addition to running Travel Tabby, Dallas also writes money saving tips on Clark.com.

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HOME / BLOG / Travel Resources US Airline Pet Policies

US Airline Pet Policies

  • By Amy at GoPetFriendly.com
  • April 20, 2022

Guide to Pet Friendly Public Transportation | GoPetFriendly.com

A pet friendly vacation is the best kind of vacation! If that includes taking a flight, you’ll need to do some research on airline pet policies. Many U.S. airlines allow pets aboard their flights, but some are more pet friendly than others.

Airline Pet Travel Policies - Which airline is right for your pet?

Comparing airline pet policies, requirements, and additional fees allows you to make informed decisions about flying with your pet. To make that easy, we’ve gathered the policies for the major U.S. carriers, along with their contact information.

Be aware that government regulations can quickly change the rules for pet travelers. For example, in February 2021, the Department of Transportation ended requirements for U.S. Airlines to permit Emotional Service Animals in the cabin. And the Center for Disease Control has temporarily suspended dogs on flights from countries experiencing high rates of rabies infection. Check back often for updated information.

READ MORE ⇒ New Rules For Flying With Emotional Support Animals

Fluffy white dog waiting at the airport with airline cargo pet carrier and luggage in the background

U.S. Airline Pet Policies

Air Canada logo

Air Canada Pet Policy (888-247-2262 )

Air Canada allows one cat or small dog to fly with you in the passenger cabin. Their carrier must fit under the seat in front of you.The fee is $50 for flights within Canada, or between the US and Canada.

Passengers can also travel with one cat or dog (up to 100 pounds pet and carrier combined) in the baggage compartment. The fee for pets traveling in the baggage compartment is $105 to $121 each way within Canada, or between the US and Canada. The fees for other international flights are $270 to $319.

Air Canada Cargo can help you arrange for transportation of other types of pets.

Air Canada allows a limited number of pets on each flight. Pets cannot fly without reservations. Please see Air Canada’s website  for their pet policy with detailed information about carrier requirements, black out days, and required documents.

Review Air Canada’s policy for flying with service and emotional support animals .

Air Canada does not charge a fee to book your ticket by telephone. If you make your reservation online,  call the airline first to confirm there is space for your pet on the flight. Then call Air Canada Reservations within 24 hours to add pets to reservations.

Alaska Air logo

Alaska Airlines Pet Policy (800-252-7522 )

Alaska Air allows dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds to travel in the passenger cabin. A fee of $100 each way applies.

Other pets, (up to 150 pounds pet and carrier combined) including cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, non-poisonous reptiles, pot bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish can fly in the climate-controlled baggage and cargo compartments. The fee for pets traveling in the baggage compartment is $100 each way.

Alaska Airlines does not permit brachycephalic (short nosed) dog breeds or Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, or Persian cats to travel in cargo. Make sure you check the website for the complete list of restricted breeds.

Alaska Airline provides limited space per flight, so pets need reservations. Please see Alaska Airline’s website for a full explanation of their pet policy, including  required documentation, detailed information about carrier requirements, and black out days.

Review Alaska Airlines policy for flying with service or emotional support animals .

Alaska Airlines charges a $15 fee to book your ticket by telephone. To avoid the fee, call the airline to confirm there is space for your pet on the flight, purchase your ticket on-line, and then quickly call back to add your pet to your reservation.

Allegiant Air logo

Allegiant Air Pet Policy (702-505-8888)

Allegiant allows cats and dogs in the passenger cabin for a fee of $50 per segment. There is no limit on the number of pets per flight, though each paid traveler may have only one pet carrier.

Allegiant does not transport pets in the cargo area of the airplane. Please see the Allegiant Air website for their full pet policy, including carrier requirements.

Review Allegiant Air’s policy for flying with service or emotional support animals .

Allegiant Air charges a $15 per-segment fee to book your ticket by telephone. Howev er, because you must call to book your flight when traveling with a pet, you can a sk to have the fee waived.

READ MORE ⇒   Pet Friendly Hotel Chains Where Pets Stay Free

Cat and dog resting on bed

American Airlines Pet Policy ( 800-433-7300)

American Airlines allows small dogs and cats to fly in the passenger cabin for a fee of $125 each way. Limited space for pets is available, so pets need reservations.

Animals can join you on most flights less than 12 hours to/from the contiguous U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. Some additional restrictions could apply.

Larger cats and dogs can fly in the baggage compartment, on a first-come, first served basis. The American Airlines website states that the charge for pets flying in the baggage compartment varies. Fees are confirmed when your flight is booked, and up to two checked pets per passenger are allowed.

AA Cargo can help you arrange flights for larger pets, other types of pets, or pets traveling alone. Their website has a calculator to determine the fee based on your pet’s weight, departure airport, and destination. In our review of the calculator, it appears the fee is always over $600.

Please see American Airline’s website for their full pet policy, including required documentation, aircraft and destination specific restrictions, detailed information about carrier requirements, temperature restrictions, and age and health requirements.

Review American Airline’s policy for flying with service and emotional support animals .

American Airlines charges a $50 fee to book your ticket by telephone. To avoid the fee, call the airline to confirm there is space for your pet on the flight, purchase your ticket on-line, and then quickly call back to add your pet to your reservation.

Cape Air logo

Cape Air Pet Policy (800-227-3247 )

Cape Air gladly welcomes cats, dogs, rabbits, and household birds on their flights for a fee of $30. Only one pet (unless in the same family) is allowed on each flight, so pets need reservations.

Cats, rabbits, and birds must be in carriers on all flights. Carriers are required for dogs on all flights, except New Bedford to/from Nantucket and Hyannis to/from Nantucket, assuming certain conditions are met. Please see Cape Air’s website for their full pet policy and more information regarding carrier specifications.

Review Cape Air’s policy for flying with service and emotional support animals .

You must call Cape Air Reservations to book a flight with a pet. Cape Air does not charge a fee for telephone reservations.

Delta Airlines Logo

Delta Airlines Pet Policy   (800-221-1212)

Delta  allows passengers to carry on small dogs, cats, and household birds for a fee of $95 each way within the US and Canada. Pet fees are $200 outside the US, except to/from Brazil, where the fee is $75. Limited space is available, so pets need reservations.

Delta Cargo will help you arrange transportation for other types of pets. 

Please see Delta’s website for their full pet policy with detailed information regarding carrier specifications, documentation requirements, destination restrictions, and international and connection pet travel .

Review Delta’s policy for flying with service and emotional support animals .

You must call Delta Reservations to book a flight with a pet. Delta does not charge a fee for telephone reservations.

READ MORE ⇒     Hotel Chains that Welcome Cats

Small kitty sleeping on a pillow

Frontier Airlines Pet Policy (801-401-9000 )

Frontier allows cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and household birds to travel in the passenger cabin. A pet fee of $99 applies. Only dogs and cats can fly on international flights. Limited space for pets is available, so pets need reservations.

Frontier does not transport pets in the cargo area of the airplane. Please see Frontier’s website for their full pet policy, including detailed pet carrier specifications, documentation requirements, and weather restrictions.

Review Frontier’s policies for flying with service animals . Frontier no longer allows and emotional support animals  in the cabin for flights.

You must call Frontier Reservations to book a flight with a pet. Frontier charges a $35 fee for telephone reservations.

Hawaiian Airlines logo

Hawaiian Airlines Pet Policy   (800-367-5320 )

Hawaiian Airlines allows only small dogs and cats to fly in the passenger cabin on inter-island flights and on flights leaving Hawaii. The combined weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 25 pounds.

There is a $35 pet fee for inter-island flights, and a $125 fee for pets on flights leaving Hawaii. The airline limits the number of pets per flight, so pets need reservations.

Cats and dogs can fly in the cargo compartment on domestic flights from October 16 through April 14th, as long as the combined weight of the pet and carrier does not exceed 70 pounds. There is a $60 pet fee for flights within the state of Hawaii and a $225 fee for flights to/from North America. Limited cargo space is available per flight, so pets need reservations.

Please see Hawaiian Airlines’ website for their complete pet policy, including further details on pet carriers, restricted destinations, quarantine requirements, and options for transporting pets exceeding the 70 lb. weight restriction.

Review Hawaiian Airlines’ policy for flying with service animals.  Hawaiian Airlines no longer accepts emotional support animals.

Hawaiian Airlines charges a $25  fee to book your ticket by telephone. To avoid the fee, call the airline to confirm there is space for your pet on the flight, purchase your ticket on-line, and then quickly call back to add your pet to your reservation.

READ MORE ⇒ Hawaii’s Pet Travel Requirements

Black and white photo of a surfer holding his surf board with a German Shepherd Dog beside him

JetBlue Pet Policy (800-538-2583 )

Through their JetPaws program, JetBlue welcomes small cats and dogs in the passenger cabin on both domestic and international flights for an additional fee of $125 each way. The combined weight of the pet and carrier must be 20 pounds or less, and pets must have reservations.

JetBlue is the only U.S. airline that offers reward points for pet flights. If your pet is a frequent flier, accumulating points is a way to save costs on future flights!

JetBlue does not fly animals in baggage or cargo. Please refer to JetBlue’s website for their complete pet policy, including carrier specifications, documentation requirements, and certain destination restrictions.

JetBlue allows you to make book reservations online for your in-cabin pet. A $25 fee applies to reservations made by telephone.

Southwest Airlines logo

Southwest Airlines Pet Policy (800-435-9792)

Southwest allows small cats and dogs to fly in-cabin on domestic flights for an additional fee of $95 each way. The airline’s pet policy state that pets cannot fly on international flights.

Southwest allows six pets per flight with a limit of one pet carrier per customer. However, from time to time, circumstances might allow for more (or fewer) than six pet carriers per scheduled flight.

You must make your reservations in advance by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). On the day of your flight, you’ll check your pet in at the ticket counter and pay the pet fare before proceeding to the departure gate.

Southwest does not transport pets as baggage or cargo. Please refer to Southwest’s website for their complete pet policy, including carrier specifications and documentation requirements.

Review Southwest’s policy for flying with service animals . Emotional service animals must meet the regular pet policies.

Southwest does not charge a fee to book your flight by phone. 

Spirit Airlines logo

Spirit Airlines Pet Policy (801-401-2222)

Spirit  welcomes small cats, dogs, rabbits, and household birds to travel in the passenger cabin on domestic flights for an additional fee of $110 each way. (Note that birds and rabbits cannot join you on flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.) The combined weight of the pet and carrier cannot exceed 40 pounds, and pets must have reservations.

Spirit Airlines does not transport animals in the baggage or cargo areas of the airplane.  Please see Spirit Airlines’ website for their complete pet policy, including pet carrier specifications, restrictions on international travel, and required documentation.

Spirit charges a $35 fee to book your ticket by telephone. To avoid the fee, call the airline to confirm there is space for your pet on the flight, purchase your ticket on-line, and then quickly call back to add your pet to your reservation.

READ MORE ⇒ 9 Tips for Flying With A Pet

9 Tips for Flying with a Pet | GoPetFriendly.com

Sun Country Airlines Pet Policy (651-905-2737 )

Sun Country allows small cats and dogs to travel in the passenger cabin on flights within the contiguous United States. A pet fee of $75 each way applies. Pets without reservations arriving on a walk-up basis can join you on the flight for an additional $100 per segment. However, there is a limit of four pets per flight.

Sun Country suggests pets should weigh 16 pounds or less to meet the requirement of “fitting comfortably in a carrier without touching or protruding from the sides of the carrier, and with space for the pet to easily stand up and move around.”

Please see Sun Country Airlines’ website for their complete pet policy, including pet carried specifications, required documentation, certain destination restrictions, and weather restrictions.

Review Sun Country’s policy on flying with service animals.  Emotional support animals can only fly in the cabin if they meet the pet travel guidelines.

Sun Country does not charge a fee to book your flight by phone. 

United Airlines logo

United Airlines Pet Policy (800-864-8331)

United allows cats and dogs to travel in the passenger cabin on most flights within the U.S. A pet fee of $125 each way applies. There is an additional $125 service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside of the U.S.

The airline’s pet policy requires that pets have reservations. And all customers traveling with in-cabin pets must also check in with a customer service representative at the United ticket counter to receive a yellow bag tag to attach to their pet’s kennel.

United also provides their PetSafe program , which ships cats and dogs via cargo with dedicated 24-hour Live Animal assistance at  1-800-575-3335  or  1-832-235-1541. Rates vary based on the total weight of the animal and crate combined. Please note that the PetSafe program has a long list of dog breeds (and a few cat breeds) prohibited from flying.

Visit  United’s website  for their complete pet policy, including documentation requirements, detailed information regarding carrier requirements, and for more information on the PetSafe program, as well as information on international travel.

Review United Airlines’s policy for flying with service animals.  United Airlines does not permit Emotional Service Animals to fly in the cabin unless they meet the guidelines for pets.

United allows you to book reservations online for your in-cabin pet (see the “Pets in Cabin” section of the reservation form). A $25 fee applies to reservations made by telephone.

WestJet logo

WestJet Pet Policy   (888-937-8538 )

WestJet allows small cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds to travel in the passenger cabin. Pet fees of $50-$118 each way apply. Limited space is available, so pets need reservations.

WestJet also allows birds, cats, dogs, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and rabbits to fly in the baggage compartment. Fees of $100-$236 each way apply. The combined weight of your pet and carrier cannot exceed 100 pounds. Limited space is available, so pets need reservations.

Please see WestJet’s website for the full policies, including restrictions on traveling with pets to certain destinations, specifications for pet carriers, and destination restrictions.

Review WestJet’s policy for flying with service dogs.  Emotional service animals can only travel in the cabin if they meet the pet requirements.

WestJet does not charge a fee for telephone reservations.

Charter Flights

If none of the airlines above meet your needs, consider the possibility of a charter flight. Private charter companies may allow you to fly with your dog in the cabin.

However, this is not a budget-saving option. Flights start at $15,000.

Will Your Pet Need A Health Certificate To Fly?

Each airline sets its own pet policy, and some require you to get a health certificate from a vet before flying with your pet.

When you search for veterinarians on the GoPetFriendly website , you’ll see health travel certificates as an amenity for the vets that provide them.

Honey the golden retriever looks lovingly at her veterinarian, Dr Armao.

As you can see, airline pet policies vary from carrier to carrier. Hopefully having the information in one place will allow you to book your flights with confidence!

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: GoPetFriendly.com LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, the owner of this site earns a commission from qualifying purchases.

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About American PetEmbark

As pet owners ourselves, we understand that it can feel stressful to drop your best friend off for a flight. You probably have the same questions we had: Will my pet be safe? Will they be comfortable throughout their journey?

American PetEmbark provides industry-leading policies and procedures to ensure your pet receives the best care in the air. Not only do we have more than 65 years of experience transporting animals, but our experts exceed industry standards to ensure the best possible travel experience for your pet.

When your pet travels with PetEmbark, they are in the caring hands of our compassionate team members, who treat your pet like their own.

How to fly your pet

We don't want you to miss a step, so take a moment to watch this video (featuring a lot of cute dogs) and learn everything you need to know about your pet's travel, or view this written guide .

Your PetEmbark toolkit

You can access all our PetEmbark guidelines, policies and restrictions, and required documents at the links below.

american airline pet travel fee

Rates & Guides

  • Day of travel preparation
  • Calculate your rate
  • See published rates
  • Pet travel guide

Kennel Guidelines

  • Choosing the right kennel

american airline pet travel fee

Policies & Restrictions

  • PPS or ExpediteFS
  • Payment guide
  • Temperature policy
  • Breed restrictions
  • Comfort stops and kenneling
  • Aircraft restrictions
  • Location-specific policies

american airline pet travel fee

Document Central

  • Know before you go checklist 
  • Acknowledgment form (ENG)
  • Acknowledgment form (ESP)
  • Acclimation letter
  • Breed verification form
  • Commercial shipper vet form
  • International shipper certificate

Keeping your pets safe in the summer

As we approach the warm summer months, we're taking important precautions designed to keep your pets happy and healthy. In order to keep them safe, we will not accept pets when temperatures are higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

View our summertime safety measures »

PetEmbark warm city embargoes

Pets & animals will not be accepted for flights originating, connecting or terminating in these cities from May 1 through Sept. 30.

  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Palm Springs, CA

Operational Alerts

Due to winter weather conditions, we have embargoed live animals traveling to, through or from Chicago (ORD) until Feb. 20.

Active travel embargoes for dogs

Effective August 1, 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the temporary suspension of the importation of dogs from countries classified by the CDC as high risk for rabies until July 31, 2024. This includes dogs arriving from countries not at high risk but that have been in a high-risk country within six months before U.S. arrival. Visit the CDC website for the latest restrictions and requirements.

Frequently asked questions

We know there's a ton of information to digest, so we've prepared some answers to frequently asked questions.

Committed to comfort and safety

american airline pet travel fee

A Family Reunion

When a military couple needed to move cross-country, they turned to us to protect their cats.

american airline pet travel fee

Member of IPATA

We're a proud member of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

american airline pet travel fee

Stop Wildlife Trafficking

We are working to protect endangered species and combat illegal wildlife trading and trafficking.

We're here to help

Your pet is special to us. We have more than 50 years of experience caring for furry friends, so please email us with any questions or concerns at [email protected] .

The Best Airlines for Pet Travel

Danielle Vito

So you're ready to travel the world with your pet by your side. But which airline is best for your fur baby? To help you choose the right airline for you and your favorite canine, feline, rabbit or bird, The Points Guy teamed up with Airfarewatchdog.com on a reader survey answered exclusively by traveling pet parents. We also asked TPG Lounge members to weigh in on their favorite airlines for pet travel; sifted through five years of Air Travel Consumer Reports from the Department of Transportation (DOT); and scoured pages of airline pet policies to identify the top (and, frankly, not-so-hot) airlines for pet travel.

According to the TPG and Airfarewatchdog.com reader survey, the most popular reason travelers fly with a pet (40.7%) is because they can't — or simply won't — leave their pet at home. Moving to a new location came in second, with 27.4% of the vote. For 21.9% of travelers, it's the need for emotional support.

A majority of pet owners (78.1%) have traveled with a dog, while 18.8% have traveled with a cat and 3.1% have traveled with another type of animal. To give you some idea of what that "other" might be, Spirit, Alaska and Delta Air Lines all permit birds inside the cabin. One airline even green lights hamsters and guinea pigs! (But we'll get to that later.)

Only about a third (30.3%) of pet owners reported putting their fur baby under the plane in cargo. Though it's rarely the preferred method of transporting pets, it's the only option for some.

Happily, 81% of travelers reported having only positive experiences when traveling with their pet. In fact, 35% of pet parents said they've actually had an exceptional experience while flying, nodding to accommodating and friendly flight attendants.

The Details

So welcome aboard, furry friends! In the back pocket of the seat in front of you, you'll find the airline pet policy cards ranked by the best-rated airlines from the survey. Each card features important information about flying with a pet on that particular carrier. The animals featured on each card represent the species that will be allowed to fly alongside their humans in the cabin. (Additional types of animals may be allowed in the cargo area, depending upon the carrier.) Pet fees apply to carry-on pets only, as animals flying in cargo need to be booked on a separate ticket with a price dependent on the individual flight.

Of course, there are a number of other things animal owners should consider before flying with pets. In addition to the airline, pet parents have to make important decisions about the right type of carrier, where they're staying upon arrival and whether or not it's necessary at all for their pet to fly.

10. Hawaiian Airlines (0.5%)

Hawaiian is one of the most restrictive airlines in terms of pet travel. Animals can only fly in the cabin on inter-island flights, and those departing the Hawaiian Islands. And pets flying from or to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are completely prohibited. Given the fact that people can't travel with their pet in the cabin unless they're leaving the Aloha State, it's not surprising to see this airline's low survey scores. The state of Hawaii has strict laws regarding incoming pets, including a mandatory quarantine if pet owners do not take the proper steps beforehand. This may be a turn-off for traveling pet parents.

9. Spirit Airlines (2.2%)

Despite the ultra low-cost carrier's notorious baggage restrictions, it actually allows one of the most spacious onboard carriers, compared to other domestic airlines (18 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches). The airline allows the heaviest pet carry-on, too: a combined 40 pounds for both the weight of the pet as well as the carrier. Dogs, cats and small household birds are welcome in the cabin. Bigger dogs are out of luck, however, since pets cannot fly under the plane on Spirit.

8. Frontier Airlines (2.4%)

Though Frontier received only 2.4% of the survey vote, its not all bad news for this regional airline. The fixed fee of $75 per pet, per segment is the most affordable across all the domestic airlines. Frontier also allows for a spacious in-cabin carrier and welcomes the largest variety of pets in the cabin, including dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and small household birds. Plus, TPG Lounge member Rachel H. said that though she's only traveled with her pet once, her experience with this airline was great. "Frontier let me hold my bird's carrier in my lap the whole way," she said.

7. Allegiant (2.7%)

Good news for young travelers, four-legged and otherwise. Allegiant is the only airline that allows minors (age 15 and up) traveling alone to bring a pet onboard. All other airlines, for reference, require solo passengers to be over the age of 18 to travel with a pet. Allegiant also does not enforce a minimum age for traveling animals, meaning you can start getting your kitten or puppy acclimated to air travel early. Pets can only travel as a carry-on, so leave the big dogs at home.

6. JetBlue (8.6%)

In her experience, Michele C. from the TPG Lounge said "JetBlue is the easiest" airline for pet travel, as it's the only airline with which you can "book and pay the pet travel fee with your itinerary." With other airlines, she explained, "you have to call after you've booked your flight and then pay [the fee] at the airport." This makes JetBlue one of the most straightforward and convenient airlines for travelers with four-legged companions in tow. When booking a JetBlue flight for you and your pet, a Pet Travel designation shows on your boarding pass. The airline also offers a complimentary JetPaws program that includes a guide to pet travel etiquette, a designated bag tag and an additional 300 TrueBlue points per segment for flying with your pet.

5. Alaska Airlines (10.8%)

Donna M. from the TPG Lounge had a great experience flying with her cats on Alaska. "We took our cats on Alaska [from] SFO to DEN when we relocated," she said. "We called and booked the entire row of three and then spoke to the gate agents, who had us preboard to be out of the way and have the cats settled under the seats in front. Such a good experience for all. But allow plenty of time, [and] be polite and grateful when people help you — not entitled!" Lisa V., meanwhile, has flown twice with her dog in the cabin on an Alaska flight with zero issues to report.

4. United (11.3%)

Despite snagging the No. 4 spot in the reader survey, United has a notoriously bad reputation when it comes to pet travel. But this might have something to do with the fact that United is the only airline that will fly brachycephalic dog breeds in cargo. Brachycephalic breeds include dogs with flat faces and short noses, such as pugs, boxers and bulldogs. These breeds are more likely to have respiratory issues in flight, which is the reason all other major US carriers have banned brachycephalic dogs from flying in cargo. According to the Air Travel Consumer Reports from the DOT, six out of the 10 dog deaths reported by United in 2017 included brachycephalic breeds. Although United has its issues, it is frankly the only airline for travelers who need to transport their brachycephalic dog.

3. American (15.6%)

American Airlines offers one of the biggest carrier dimensions (19 inches x 13 inches x 9 inches), so your pup can enjoy a bit more space during the flight, though the total weight limit is half what Spirit allows. The airline allows pets to be transported in the cabin when traveling to and within the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Colombia and the Caribbean. If you're flying in first or business class on an A321T, pets will need to be put in their carrier and stored in a special compartment at the front of the plane during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence.

2. Southwest (22.6%)

Southwest ranked in second in the pet travel survey, and it also offers the second least expensive pet fee, behind Frontier's $75. The airline also makes it easy for pet owners to pick out an appropriate carrier by offering a branded carrier of their own that will fit under any Southwest seat. The airline allows cats and dogs to travel within the US, but does not offer this service on international flights. Only small cats and dogs will be able to fly on Southwest, as they do not allow pets in cargo. And according to a TPG reader eyewitness report, you may have a lot of freedom on a Southwest flight with your pet. "I don't think [Southwest] enforces keeping dogs in the carriers or under the seat," Connie C. observed . "My last few flights had dogs on laps the entire flight."

1. Delta Air Lines (23.4%)

TPG lounge member Brittani S. said she was "very pleased" with Delta's pet cargo. "It's climate controlled and well-regulated. We flew from Texas to Hawaii [during] the summer and they were able to accommodate us despite the heat because of air conditioned transport between the terminal and plane." Likewise, Lindsey B. was also pleased with her experience flying a pet in Delta's cargo hold. "The crew verified our dog was on board before take off," she reported. If you have to fly with your pet in cargo, Delta may be the best airline for you.

What airline do you like best when traveling with your pet? Sound off in the comments below!

All illustrations by Aida Amer .

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Airlines' Pet Fees Can Be More Expensive Than Flights

Here's everything you should know.

Clover, also known as Clovie, is a three-year-old, 13 pound Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and a seasoned traveler. She has accompanied her owner, Gillian Small, on planes, trains, buses and boats since she was about six months old.

Small never checks Clovie, but carries her on planes in an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of her. The pair prefer to fly JetBlue .

“They have a special program for dogs , and their JFK terminal even includes an area for dogs to go to the bathroom inside the terminal,” Small said. “That is magical for pet owners like myself that often struggle to walk through security with a big suitcase, take my laptop out of my bag and remove my shoes, all the while holding on to a 13 pound pup whose collar and leash have been removed for the metal detector.”

For the pleasure of Clovie’s company on JetBlue flights, Small pays $100 for each one-way flight.

“The pet travel fees can get expensive,” Small said. “Sometimes when flying to Florida to visit my parents, her add-on fare can be more expensive than my flight. But rules are rules, and it is a small price to pay to be afforded the luxury of traveling with her by my side.”

“The only thing I wish I could change is that I wish I could be given an extra carry-on bag, since the carrier, in addition to being an extra fee, counts as one of your two allotted carry-ons, which means no backpack, for me,” she added.

Morgan Johnston, a spokeswoman for JetBlue, declined to comment on how the pet fees are set, but referred to the airline’s JetPaws program , which offers 300 TrueBlue points on each flight segment for traveling with a pet.

At $100, JetBlue is in the midrange of pet fees airlines charge. For bringing a pet as carry-on to a domestic flight, fees can go up to $125 on American, Delta and United Airlines . American and Delta charge $200 to check a pet, while rates vary for United.

Spokespeople for those airlines did not respond to questions about how the pet fees are set.

For domestic air travel, Frontier and Southwest are among the cheapest for pet fees, at $75 and $95, respectively, for carry-on pets. Neither airline allows you to check a pet in the cargo hold.

Alyssa Eliasen, a spokeswoman for Southwest, said the fees are charged because while the airline is happy to accomodate pets, “there are some additional considerations and costs associated with that service.”

Those include staff to look at the animal “to make sure they fit within our pet fare guidelines,” she said.

On all airlines, people who bring a service animal on board do not pay any extra fee. A service animal is different from an emotional support animal because it’s “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability,” according to the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network .

But many airlines allow both service animals and emotional support animals as long as a medical health professional fills out a form .

So does that encourage travelers to register their pets as animals to avoid paying extra?

Ross Feinstein, a spokesman for American Airlines, said the airline is reviewing its requirements for service and support animals “with the goal of protecting our team members and our customers who have a real need for a trained service or support animal.”

“Unfortunately, untrained animals can lead to safety issues for our team, our passengers and working dogs onboard our aircraft,” he said. “We will continue to support the rights of customers, from veterans to people with disabilities, with legitimate needs.”

Feinstein added that between 2016 and 2017, American Airlines saw an increase of more than 40 percent in customers who transported a service or support animal.

Small, the owner of Clovie, said she wouldn’t consider registering her as a service animal.

“Because no matter how well trained she is — she takes commands in two languages--she does not fit the definition of service animal,” she said. “She is my pet.”

Same goes for Laurie Richards, who travels frequently with her Mi-ki Zoey.

“The flights limit the number of pets on each flight, and I believe that service animal certifications should be reserved for those with true needs,” she said.

Though she does at times break another rule.

“The rules say she is to stay in her carrier at all times,” Richards said. “I'll confess, I take her out at the gate area. She's content to sit on my lap, so I don't think it's a problem.”

Explore

What You Should Know About Airlines' Pet Fees

F lying with your pet can be expensive, but traveling without your pet can be expensive, too. Depending on the type of pet you own and where you live, the cost of overnight boarding can add up quickly. Comparable boarding costs aside, however, people are usually struck by how expensive flying Fido and Fancyface actually is.

If you're planning a trip with your pets in tow, you'll need to incorporate their flights into your budget, and pet fees and policies vary dramatically among airlines. While shopping for the cheapest airline pet fee is a great place to start, you'll need to find an airline that accommodates your situation. Some airlines only allow one pet, some charge for long stopovers, and some only accept carry-on companions.

Finding a budget-friendly flight without taking a pet is hard enough. But, by comparing airline pet fees and finding the right policy, you can plan a fur-filled getaway without breaking the bank. 

Comparing Pet Fees Among Airlines

Until recently, passengers could fly with an emotional support animal for free, but too many people gamed the system to avoid pet charges. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) stopped requiring airlines to accommodate emotional support animals. After incidents of passengers claiming emotional support iguanas, peacocks, and at least one miniature horse, airlines were happy to stop recognizing emotional support animals as "service animals," which can still fly for free under the Air Carrier Access Act.

Currently, as far as carry-on pets, Frontier and Southwest are among the cheapest airlines for pet fees, while American and United charge some of the highest fees. While some airlines allow up to two pets if they fit in the same carrier, other airlines, such as United, stipulate that only one pet is allowed per carrier, meaning you'd need to purchase an additional ticket for two pets. And, if you have something other than a dog or cat, you'll need to fly Frontier, Alaska, or Spirit, though Delta does allow birds.

Pet owners with larger breeds have far fewer options, as many airlines stopped carrying pets in their cargo holds. As far as major airlines, only American, Alaska, and Hawaiian Airlines still carry larger pets in cargo holds, and Alaska is the only airline to carry checked animals other than cats and dogs. Also, we should mention that traveling with a pet in the cargo hold is considerably more expensive than carry-on pets. 

Other Considerations For Finding Pet-Friendly Flights

Finding the cheapest airline pet fee may also involve finding the right route. While that flight with long layovers may save you money, many airlines charge an additional pet fee when the flight has stopovers . For instance, Spirit and United charge a fee equal to their one-way pet fee if a stopover lasts longer than four hours.

Before booking your flight, you also need to check with the airline to ensure there's still space available for your pet, as airlines limit the number of pets allowed. For example, JetBlue and Southwest only allow six pets on any given flight, so you'll need to reserve a spot for your pet before booking your own ticket.

Lastly, you'll need to read the fine print concerning each airline's pet policy. Airlines set their own restrictions concerning size and breeds, and most airlines will require passengers to present a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection before boarding. But if you can get through the ​​rigmarole and find a flight that's both budget- and pet-friendly, then you and your fur-buddy should be set for a tail-wagging good time.

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Delta updates baggage fees along with these other major airlines

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Delta made waves last year when it announced sweeping policy changes to its loyalty program , and now, along with other major airlines, the carrier has announced additional changes that will impact how much passengers pay for checked bags.

Delta Airlines raises checked bag fees

"Beginning March 5, Delta will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $5 for most U.S.-originating domestic and short-haul international routes," the Atlanta-based airline said in a statement to ABC News.

"Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members, customers flying with First Class, Delta Premium Select and Delta One itineraries, and those with eligible co-branded Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards will continue to receive their allotment of complimentary checked bags,” Delta's statement continued.

The fee will increase from $30 to $35 for the first checked bag, and from $40 to $45 for the second checked bag.

This increase, which keeps Delta on par with competitors and rising industry costs, does not apply to tickets purchased before March 5 and is the airline's first price change on domestic baggage fees since 2018.

These changes will not impact checked bags between US/Canada and Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay.

United Airlines raises checked bag fees

Last week, United Airlines announced an increase to its checked bag fee by $5, which came on the heels of American Airlines announcing  increased costs for checked bags both online and at the airport.

As of Feb. 24, customers who book United economy on domestic flights will pay $40 for the first checked item, but if they prepay online at least 24 hours before departure the same bag is just $35. A second checked item will now cost $50 at the airport, or $45 if paid for in advance. Both options mark a $5 increase from the previous cost.

While the changes will apply to most flights throughout North America, certain credit card holders and frequent flyers with elite status, as well as active military and travelers in top-tier classes can still check a bag for free.

JetBlue Airways recently upped its checked-bag fee to $45 and $60 for the first and second checked bags, respectively, which is up $10 from the former base rate.

Alaska Airlines also raised its bag fees to $35 this year.

american airline pet travel fee

American Airlines new bag fees

In a push to get more flyers to book directly with American Airlines, the carrier has also updated "the way customers earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights, depending on where they book."

Vasu Raja, American's chief commercial officer, said in a statement that "the best fares" will come when booking directly with the airline, adding that the shift in policy will be most rewarding for members of its AAdvantage program.

american airline pet travel fee

Previously, a passenger's first checked bag on domestic flights cost $30. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier has raised that fee to $35 when purchased online, or $40 when purchased at the airport. A second checked item will cost $45, another $5 increase, both online and at the airport.

The changes will go into affect for flights booked on or after Feb. 20 for travel within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean .

There are a few exceptions: Passengers with status in the AAdvantage loyalty program, those who use an American-branded credit card, and those who buy a premium-class ticket will continue to receive complimentary bags on domestic and international flights.

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American also offers complimentary bags to active-duty U.S. military personnel on all American flights.

The airline last raised its bag fees in 2018.

American Airlines lowers fees for oversize, overweight checked bags

In a bright spot for American customers, the airline has introduced its lowest fee ever for checked items that are only a few pounds heavier or a few inches larger than a standard bag, which the airline said can "result in savings of more than $350 for some customers."

American will also reduce the oversize checked baggage limit to 115 linear inches.

For bags over the weight limit between 50-53 pounds, the new fee will be $30, and overweight bags between 53-70 pounds will be charged a fee of $100 to $200. Bags weighing between 70-100 pounds will still be charged $450.

For bags that are over the size limit, between 62-65 linear inches, passengers will be charged a new fee of $30, with bags between 65-115 linear inches charged $150 to $200.

Previously, customers were charged $100 to $200 extra for overweight bags between 50-70 pounds, and all oversize bags between 62-126 linear inches were charged an extra $150 to $200.

Additionally, bags that are both oversized and overweight will now be charged a single fee, rather than two separate fees, ranging from $30 to $450, depending on size and weight.

The lower costs and simpler fee structure for oversize and overweight checked items will go into effect for travel on or after April 17.

american airline pet travel fee

Additionally, the airline has said it will no longer allow javelins, pole vaults or hang gliders to be checked starting April 17.

American Airlines updates how flyers earn AAdvantage miles, loyalty points

American is also updating the way customers can earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights, which is contingent upon where they book, "starting with tickets issued on May 1, 2024."

How to ensure you're earning miles and Loyalty Points

american airline pet travel fee

In order to earn points in the AAdvantage loyalty program, American Airlines said most customers will be required to purchase tickets directly from the airline or its eligible partner carriers. Additionally, Basic Economy fare tickets will only earn points when the flight is booked directly with American or its eligible partners.

Customers can book travel anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or contracted corporate traveler to keep earning points and miles. Corporate travelers won't be affected by this change, the airline stated.

American said it will share a list of eligible preferred agencies on aa.com in late April, for customers who wish to book through those travel agencies to earn miles and points.

American Airlines loyalty members, credit card holder benefits

american airline pet travel fee

Certain AAdvantage members and credit card holders will still receive important benefits, such as complimentary bags on American Airlines flights.

AAdvantage members who book directly with the airline will also receive benefits like same-day standby and Trip Credit for canceled flights.

The airline said that booking directly will also help loyalty members reach AAdvantage status and unlock rewards faster.

Finally, for tickets purchased on or after Feb. 20, the pet-in-cabin fee will be $150.

ABC News' Sam Sweeney contributed to this report.

An earlier version of this story was originally published on Feb. 20, 2024.

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Delta Air Lines Follows Others and Raises Checked Bag Fees

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Checking your bags has become more expensive across multiple major airlines. Delta Air Lines has raised its bag fees by $5 to $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag on domestic flights.

It is the latest in a series of hikes in fees among major airlines. United Airlines also raised its bag fees last month by $5 if passengers wait to check bags within 24 hours of departure. Now, the first checked bag for domestic trips will now cost $35 in advance or $40 at check-in. A second checked bag will now cost $45 in advance or $50 at check-in.

Similarly, American Airlines announced in February that domestic bag fees would increase by as much as 33%. For domestic flights, the old $30 fee for the first checked bag is now $35 if purchased online or $40 if purchased at the airport.

In January, Alaska Airlines bag fees increased by $5, bringing the cost to $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag.

JetBlue Airways also swooped in with a bag fee increase this month for passengers who don’t plan ahead. The first checked bag is still $35 if you pay for it 24 hours before departure. But if you wait until within 24 hours of departure to check a bag, the fee has increased from $40 to $45.

It’s all part of the ongoing trend of unbundling airfare, as seen with the proliferation of basic economy fares. These no-frills fares often guarantee you a seat on the plane, but not much else. Basic economy fares can cost far less than main cabin, but in basic economy, the ability to select your seat, check a bag or be among the first to board almost always incurs an extra fee. You may even have to pay to carry on more than a personal item.

For passengers who check bags, the price hikes can feel unsettling. But it’s not all bad news. American Airlines lowered some checked luggage fees for bags that are barely overweight or oversized. Starting April 17, a bag that weighs from 50 to 53 pounds will cost $30 extra, instead of the typical $100 to $200 fee for any bag over 50 pounds.

And if you don’t need to check a bag, you might be able to get cheaper tickets than you would have in the past.

Airfares are getting cheaper, data shows

While fees are indeed on the rise, airfares have seen a significant decrease not just in recent months, but over many years. Average fares for flights from the U.S. in January 2024 fell 6% compared with January 2023, according to consumer price index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published in February. Fare costs are even down 15% versus a decade ago.

Growing demand for basic economy fares could be contributing to lower average airfares. For example, United Airlines reported in its fourth quarter 2023 financial results that its basic economy option saw a 20% revenue increase compared with the fourth quarter in 2022.

United’s basic economy airfares average 22.3% cheaper than standard economy airfares, according to NerdWallet's analysis for its annual best airline awards . Most other airlines offer similar basic economy discounts. For example, American Airlines’ basic economy fares averaged 24.7% cheaper than economy, based on the same analysis.

Meanwhile, fees are a growing revenue stream: Airlines worldwide collected $33.3 billion in baggage fee revenue in 2023, according to an analysis of airlines' ancillary revenue disclosures by the consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany. This means bag fees comprised 4.1% of overall airline revenue, compared with 3.7% of 2019 revenue, the IdeaWorksCompany analysis found.

How to save on bag fees

The trend of rising bag fees but lower airfares might be a net win for passengers who don’t mind having just the bare essentials that come with basic economy. Traveling without a checked bag can be one of the best ways to save.

But even if you need to check a bag, you might still be able to do so for free. For starters, book flights with airlines that offer free baggage . Southwest Airlines offers two free checked bags to all passengers, no matter your fare class.

Other airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines, offer free checked bags — but only to loyal customers. Travelers who hold elite status in the airlines' loyalty programs receive complimentary bags. Many airline co-branded credit cards also offer cardholders their first checked bag free on domestic flights.

Featured photo courtesy of United Airlines.

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american airline pet travel fee

Air travel may be about to get better. Here's what it means for your next flight.

Your next flight may get an upgrade.

No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It's bigger than that − much bigger.

Air travel in the United States could soon improve dramatically. Here's how:

  • New federal protections for air travelers. The U.S. Senate passed new rules that require better fee disclosure, free family seating, and new ticket refund rights. It also proposed appointing a new assistant secretary to handle airline service problems. 
  • Better seats. Southwest has announced ambitious plans to overhaul its cabin interiors. It joins other carriers, including Japan Airlines, LOT and Swiss in rolling out new and more comfortable seats. 
  • Upgraded airline performance. Air carriers have canceled fewer flights lately. For the first 11 months of last year, domestic airlines canceled only 1.4 percent of flights, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). That's way below the 2.5 percent cancellation rate for the first 11 months of 2022 and significantly better than the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

"There's a sense of optimism for the future of U.S. air travel," said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, chief travel designer for Global Travel Moments , "The airline industry has an opportunity to rebuild and reimagine air travel, potentially ushering in a new golden age marked by superior service, innovation and passenger satisfaction."

Passengers want to get off the plane first. Here's how you can do it.

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Is it time to start celebrating a new golden age of air travel? 

Hang on, hang on. We're not there yet. 

In fact, economy class passengers are still pretty unhappy with their travel experience, according to the latest J. D. Power North American Airline Satisfaction Study . In categories such as ease of travel, onboard experience and trust, the airlines scored lower than they did last year. 

"We’re seeing signs of weakening consumer satisfaction," said Mike Taylor, J.D. Power's managing director for travel and hospitality.

The silver lining: Amid declining fares, passengers say they got more value for their money when they flew compared with 2022. 

Hey, it's a start.

But passengers say change is in the air. Alex Beene, a community coordinator from Nashville, Tennessee, and a frequent air traveler, said his past few flights were on time and went smoothly. And he hardly had to wait at the TSA screening area.

"I've never felt as good about air travel as I have the last few months," he told me.

I've spoken with many air travelers who share his sense of optimism. It feels as if for the first time in years, the stars are aligning for airline passengers. 

But are they really?

This golden age could be a fake-out

Reality check: This new golden age could turn out to be fool's gold.

New luggage fees announced last week felt like a splash of cold water on all that optimism. This year, four domestic airlines have raised their fees for checked baggage. United Airlines is the latest to announce an increase. You'll pay $40 for your first checked bag, or $35 if you pay online at least 24 hours before your flight. That's an increase of $5.

And the new Senate provisions for air travel , while positive, still have to be reconciled with the House version of the FAA reauthorization bill this spring. That probably means some of the more pro-consumer provisions will be stricken by the airline-friendly Congress. 

How about those new airline seats? Generally, new aircraft interiors improve the flying experience. But Southwest's new interior design , which arrives next year, has been a little controversial. Critics have hammered its new seats for looking too thin and uncomfortable. One popular TikToker called them "lawn chairs." 

That may be unfair. True, the seats cut a slender profile, but they are the result of "careful and extensive" research, according to the airline. Also, none of the critics have sat in one of the seats yet, so there's that.

What about the airline industry's performance? Yes, it's impressive, and the government wastes no opportunity to take full credit for it. But it will last only until the next computer outage or bad weather plunges an airline hub into chaos.

"Let me be blunt," said Bill McGee, a senior fellow for Aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project . "The airline industry is still broken."

Here's how to protect yourself: Hackers are coming for your travel accounts

Hotel parking fees are out of control. Here's how to fight them.

How to have a better flight anyway

Golden age or not, only one thing really matters: How is your next flight? None of the trends and statistics matter if an airline cancels your flight and leaves you sleeping on the airport floor. Here's how to sidestep bad service:

  • Book a ticket on an airline that offers excellent service. There's a reason airlines like Delta, Southwest and Alaska keep winning customer service awards. If you cheap out and buy a ticket on a discount airline, you will get what you pay for. No golden age for you!
  • Avoid chaos. Try to avoid weekends and especially the days before and after major holidays. And always try to book the first flight of the day so that if something goes wrong, you won't be stranded at an airport waiting for a connection. If you have to fly on a busy holiday, pack your patience and a good travel insurance policy.
  • Know your rights . Whether Congress passes new laws or not, you still need to know your rights as an air traveler. (Yes, you have some.) For domestic flights, the DOT's Fly Rights page is an excellent resource. You can fly during a difficult time and still get decent service if you know your rights and can advocate for yourself if service goes south.

But perhaps the best advice of all is to keep your expectations modest. No one is turning the clock back to the 1960s, when even the economy class seats had plenty of legroom and the service was stellar. In a deregulated, post-pandemic airline industry, take nothing for granted – and focus on the basics.

"The greatest service of all," said MIT management professor Arnold Barnett, "is getting you to your destination safely."

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

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Frugal Traveler

To Protect Your Miles, Be Careful How You Book

American Airlines recently announced new restrictions on point allocation based on how you book a flight. What does that mean for loyalty members?

A commercial airplane with red and blue stripes on its tail and the word "American" in large blue letters on the side of the aircraft, takes off from an airport runway.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

Earlier this month, American Airlines announced that beginning May 1, it will require travelers to book directly with the airline, partner airlines or “preferred travel agencies” in order to receive points in its loyalty program.

The unprecedented move confused many travelers eager to protect their mileage currency, prompting posts like this one on X: “@AmericanAir your news about earning miles/loyalty points is a bit concerning — we’re loyal to you no matter who we book through!”

In an email, a representative of the airline said that the approved list of travel agencies would not be published until April.

While there is much to be determined about the new policy, a battle for customers between the airline and third-party ticket sellers, which includes online travel agencies like Orbitz, has emerged. Here’s what travelers should know before booking their next flight.

What are the new points rules at American?

Currently, the biggest domestic carriers — including Delta Air Lines , United Airlines , Southwest Airlines and American — award points and miles to members of their loyalty programs on most tickets regardless of where they are sold.

American’s new rules state that in order to receive miles and points, travelers must book through its website, a Oneworld partner airline or approved travel agencies (with exceptions for those enrolled in its business program, which targets small companies, or with a corporate contract).

Also beginning May 1, fliers booking basic economy fares, the airline’s cheapest fares, may only earn points by booking through American’s website or its airline partners.

What’s behind the switch?

According to analysts, this is largely a behind-the-scenes fight over technology.

Travel agencies have long used distribution systems like Sabre and Amadeus to sell airline tickets. But many airlines are interested in using an emerging channel developed by the International Air Transport Association called New Distribution Capability . It offers airlines a more direct means of communicating with passengers, whom they can target with personalized fares or bundled offers not available in the traditional systems, providing opportunities to sell more services.

The “preferred” agencies that American said it will announce in April will be those making a substantial number of bookings on the new platform.

“American is dead set on being a more efficient airline and reducing its cost of sales, so they have issued this new edict and travel agents who choose not to follow along will find themselves on the losing end of the battle,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and the founder of the Atmosphere Research Group.

Many travel agents object to the speed of adopting a technology they say still has bugs. In a recent letter to the 18,000 member agencies of the American Society of Travel Advisors , the president and chief executive of the trade organization Zane Kerby called it “an underdeveloped technology,” with “basic servicing” issues that include problems with cancellations, booking multiple people on the same itinerary and rebooking.

Mr. Kerby cited a heightened risk to most business travelers using external agencies to make their bookings. “It feels like American Airlines is disenfranchising or willing to disenfranchise its most profitable and lucrative segment, which is the frequent business traveler,” he said.

In American’s new requirement that basic economy fliers book directly with the airline to earn miles, Brian Sumers, who writes the Airline Observer newsletter, sees a play for greater loyalty from thrifty travelers at a time when many airlines have abandoned them. Delta , for instance, no longer awards points to its basic economy passengers. United restricts basic economy fliers to one personal item carried aboard when flying domestically.

American wants those basic economy passengers, Mr. Sumers said. “The end goal is to get people so excited about having AAdvantage points and using them all the time, because that’s where they’re making money.”

How should I book to ensure I’m awarded miles for American flights?

If you are accustomed to booking online with the airline directly, earning miles is not endangered.

If you use a travel agency, including online sites like Expedia or Orbitz, check the list of approved agencies when it is published in April.

But even for travelers who are accustomed to D.I.Y. bookings, the new American policy poses some threat to earning miles. If you use a travel agent to plan a more complicated trip — say, an African safari or a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru — make sure the agent is approved by American or be prepared to make the booking yourself to earn miles.

“American is counting on the fact that travelers engaged with AAdvantage will want to remain engaged, so that if their travel agent is not onboard, the customer will find a different travel agent or opt to book directly,” Mr. Harteveldt said.

Will other airlines follow suit?

Experts say commercial aviation is a copycat industry; if a policy is successful, others are likely to follow. But it may not happen quickly in this case.

“There are some very expensive tickets that go through using the older system,” Mr. Sumers said, describing other airlines as “taking a watch-and-wait approach” to see if any defections from former American customers boost their business.

“By no means has this play reached its conclusions,” Mr. Harteveldt said. “We are in the first part of the first act.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Delta Airlines is hiking checked-baggage fees, following similar moves by United and American

FILE - A Delta Airlines aircraft taxi's, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In case you needed yet another incentive to cram all your travel items into a carry-on, Delta Airlines just boosted the cost of your first checked bag by 17%. The increase adds $5 to the previous, and not-exactly-insignificant, $30 fee for domestic flights.

Delta is the third major U.S. carrier to hike bag fees in the past several weeks. Its move follows similar increases that American Airlines and United Airlines  announced in February ,  three days apart ; those high fees themselves followed fee hikes by smaller carriers  Alaska Airlines  and  JetBlue Airways . Major U.S. carriers often copy one another’s pricing changes, a move that behavior analysts sometimes refer to as herd instinct.

Delta said Tuesday that the first bag checked on a domestic flight will now incur a $35 fee. The charge for a second bag rose from $40 to $45.

Delta last raised bag fees for domestic flights in 2018. The airline said the increase will help it keep up with unspecified rising industry costs. Customers with status perks can still  check their first bag for free ; those with first class tickets can  check two free bags .

Bag fees have become a dependable source of revenue for airlines since American introduced them in 2008, when jet fuel prices were surging. In 2022, the last full year for which statistics are available, U.S. airlines took in  $6.8 billion in checked-bag fees , led by American at $1.4 billion and United at $1.1 billion. Delta was in third place with $979.4 million.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Five quick questions answered on Virgin Australia's plans to allow animals into flight cabins

Two air hostess lie next to a dog wearing a pilot costume.

Virgin Australia has announced it will be allowing  small cats and dogs on specific domestic routes within the next 12 months. 

The news has been met with a mixed response, with some commenters on social media excited to bring their pets on holidays, and others worried about allergies. 

On the ABC News Facebook page, there were just as many "woo!" comments as there were people saying "no!"

"Cats being chased by dogs up and down the aisles now that's in-flight entertainment for the passengers," one user commented. 

"About time we caught up with the rest of the world," another said. 

A disappointed passenger wrote: "just perfect if you've flown Virgin Australia all your life and now you won't be able to as you're allergic to cats."

"This is not good. Kind of disgusting really. Now passengers have to put up with barking dogs on flights on top of everything else that comes with air travel," another person wrote. 

These are some of your pressing questions answered:

How will they manage passengers with allergies?

Concerns about pet allergies was one of the most common comments after the announcement. 

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the company would be spending the next few months designing a safe proposition, with strict rules to manage this issue. 

The spokesperson said pets would be limited to a small number of designated rows and would not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps.

"Cabin airflow dynamics (air circulating from top to bottom), the renewal of cabin air 20-30 times per hour and use of hospital grade HEPA filtration in our aircraft (which captures greater than 99 per cent of airborne particles) mean the risk of allergy-triggering particles being circulated on-board is low," the spokesperson said. 

They said the airline has robust systems in place for guests who have severe allergies to identify themselves, so those risks for these guests could be mitigated and arrangements put in place prior to travel.

"We also want to point out that pets in cabin flights work effectively overseas and we believe there's no reason why they won't work in Australia too," the spokesperson said. 

A woman in a pink shirt holding two dogs in pilot uniforms.

How will animals cope with air travel? 

RSPCA Australia Chief Science Officer, Suzie Fowler, said while there were risks associated with air travel for any type of pet, travelling in the cabin was generally a preferable option to pets travelling in the cargo with the right safeguards in place.

"If animals are in the cabin, owners or caregivers should ensure that their animals are under control, socialised to other animals and people and are calm and comfortable when travelling," Dr Fowler said. 

A woman with short red hair standing in front of a tree trunk.

"Travel can be stressful for animals, so we recommend that owners start preparing them for travel at least a few weeks beforehand.

"This includes getting them comfortable with their container (for example, by placing it somewhere they like to relax in the house and making it as inviting as possible, such as with your pet's favourite bedding, toys and treats) — hopefully meaning that they associate the container with good things and positive feelings.

"Ensure that any container complies with International Air Transport Association regulations, and that the animal has enough space to turn around normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position."

Dr Fowler warned that some flat-faced breeds such as British Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and Persian cats are at greater risk of heat stress. She said that owners should be aware of the increased risk that comes with air travel.  

She recommended owners consult their vet prior to travel for an assessment of the animal's suitability for travel, regardless of whether it is in cargo or in the passenger cabin. 

What steps are being taken to manage the extra mess and noise?

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said these finer details would be revealed in due course following appropriate stakeholder consultation and regulatory approval.

What they can confirm is that only small dogs and cats would be allowed on board, those which can fit into pet carriers stowed under the seat for the duration of the flight. 

This means pets will not be allowed to sit on owners' laps. 

In the United States, where animal travel in the cabin is generally allowed on domestic flights, most airlines recommend taking the pet to the bathroom before the flight, and using potty training pads as a back up. 

American Airlines, for example, does not allow animals under 8 weeks to fly, restricts certain breeds, and allows pets only on flights under 12 hours. 

Who is supporting the move?

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)  updated the rules on flying animals in December 2021 , giving airlines permission to bring pets into the cabins. 

Virgin Australia is the of the major first airline groups to begin to bring the CASA change into practice. 

Virgin conducted a survey in April 2023 with 643 Australian travellers, of which 426 were pet owners. 

Of those pet owners, 286 said if it was allowed by the airline, they would most likely fly with their pets in the cabin "more than zero" times. 

Additionally, 164 of those pet owners said they would take at least one extra return flight a year if they could fly with their pet in the cabin. 

Dr Fowler said the RSPCA welcomed the announcement, as it supported policies that allow companion animals to travel, appropriately contained, in the aircraft with their owner or caregiver. 

"We look forward to continuing to work with the airline industry to ensure that any transport of pets is done safely and with the animals' welfare front of mind," Dr Fowler said. 

A Qantas spokesperson said there were no changes to their current policy for any Qantas Group flights, including Jetstar.

A Rex spokesperson said the airline was not ruling out the carriage of pets in the cabin. However, it had no immediate plans to introduce it, adding that assistance animals are still welcome in the cabin. 

Will it cost more to bring your pets on board?

Two cavoodles wearing a pilot and air hostess costume

A spokesperson says Virgin Australia is still working on the finer details in regards to things like cost. However, they confirmed there would be a fee for guests to bring their pet onboard.

This cost does not apply to service animals. 

In the US, United Airlines charges a $US125 ($190) fee to bring a pet on board. 

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American Airlines raises checked bag fees, introduces lower price for overweight luggage

american airline pet travel fee

Get ready to shell out a little more for your next checked bag on American Airlines.

American announced Tuesday it is raising the price of a first checked bag to $40 on most flights – or $35 if you pay before you get to the airport. It’s the first time American has raised the fee since 2018. The airline previously charged $30 for a first checked bag on most flights.

“Fuel has gone up quite a bit. That’s a big component of our costs when we’re carrying bags,” Scott Chandler, American’s senior vice president of revenue management and loyalty, told USA TODAY. “We periodically look at all of our costs and where we can sort of help balance cost out with revenues.” 

Chandler emphasized that elite frequent flyers, co-branded credit card holders and premium cabin customers will continue to be eligible for free checked bags under the new program. However, he added that passengers would still have a more efficient experience at the airport if they registered those bags in advance.

“For all of them we want to make it also easy to go through the airport,” he said. “If all you’re doing is printing a bag tag, we’re investing in technology to make that really easy.” 

The new bag fees apply to any itinerary booked starting Feb. 20. Existing bookings – any reservation ticketed on or before Feb. 19 – will still be charged the previous bag fees.

A full breakdown of the new costs by region is available here on American’s website .

New oversize, overweight fees

In addition to the higher bag check price, American announced a new fee structure for oversized and overweight bags . Overweight bags between 50 and 53 pounds will be charged a $30 fee instead of the full $100-$200. Similarly, luggage up to three linear inches over the 62-inch limit will be charged $30 instead of $150-$200.

“Obviously, it’s a little frustrating when you’re barely over the limit and you have to pay the entire charge,” Chandler said. “It’s really good for customers (who) might be just above that limit, and it is a lower fee. It should help manage the process at the airport, should help our employees and the customers as well.” 

The new oversized and overweight bag fees will begin on April 17.

How can I avoid bag fees?

The best way to avoid bag fees is to have an airline co-branded credit card, to earn elite status with your preferred carrier, or to fly in a premium cabin where bags are more likely to be complimentary.

Check out this column for more information about how bag fees work and tips on how to get around them.

Changes to AAdvantage

American also announced changes to mileage earnings in its AAdvantage program.

“You’ll always earn miles booking direct, but if you’re booking indirectly, you need to be part of booking through one of our preferred agencies,” Chandler said. 

American has been pushing travel agents to adopt new backend technology for searching, displaying and booking their flights. Third-party bookings will also need to use that technology for travelers to earn miles and loyalty points on their flights after May 1. 

“Right now, 80% of our customers will be unaffected,” Chandler said. “Since we’ve been on this journey for 18 months with all these agencies and we’ve been helping them adopt the technology and we’ve set the bar pretty low, we fully expect everyone has an opportunity to make (the May 1 implementation deadline).”

AAdvantage Business members and contracted corporate travelers are exempt from the technology requirement.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

  • Travel Advice

Virgin’s first of its kind move in Australia

Virgin Australia has just revealed its plans for a huge change – and, if approved, it will be the first airline in the country to offer it.

Shireen Khalil

Unusual sight on new flight to Australia

Qantas slashes fares in $109 flight sale

Qantas slashes fares in $109 flight sale

Emirates uniform rule shocks

Emirates uniform rule shocks

Passengers who have pets could soon take their furry friends with them on a Virgin Australia flight following the airline’s huge new move.

On Wednesday, it announced it is hoping to operate flights with pets with the Australian-first service currently subject to regulatory approval.

If given the green light, it will likely launch the service within 12 months.

“The reality is that 70 per cent of our passengers would love to have their fur babies on-board with them,” Virgin Australia Group CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka told news.com.au.

“So for us it’s really important to be able to innovate and lead and show the way, and to satisfy a really important desire of the majority of Australians to travel with their fur babies.”

Virgin Australia has just announced a first of its kind in the country — to operate flights with pets. Picture: Alex Coppel

Ms Hrdlicka said it’s for small dogs and small cats only and that the animal must fit into a predefined space underneath the seat in front of the passenger.

She also said they must fit into a predefined carrier and stay in it at the airport and on-board the aircraft.

“This will only be in predesignated rows so that anybody who doesn’t want to be near an animal underneath a seat in front of a pet owner, doesn’t need to be,” she added.

In the airline’s latest research with Australian pet owners, nearly 70 per cent of respondents said they would travel with their pet in the cabin, with 57 per cent saying they would fly more regularly if the service was a reality.

Pets can’t roam freely or sit on laps — instead passengers will have to carry their pets in a Virgin Australia approved carrier. Picture: Alex Coppel

The move also comes following a social media survey on the airline’s Facebook page back in 2021 where 85 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the airline launching pets in cabin flights.

“Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia’s first-ever pets in cabin flights,” Ms Hrdlicka continued.

“Overwhelmingly, our guests tell us they want to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality.”

Pets also can’t roam freely or sit on laps — they must stay put in the Virgin Australia approved carrier.

Pets will be restricted to a limited number of designated rows, so you don;t have to sit next to a dog or cat if you don’t want to.

Those who are eligible to bring their pets on flights will be charged a fee, with the amount yet to be revealed.

“It’s something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well,” Ms Hrdlicka said.

Almost all major carriers in North America offer a pets on-board service for domestic flights, including United Airlines and Air Canada.

They’re hoping to launch the service within 12 months. Picture: Alex Coppel

Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus said the airport was looking forward to helping Virgin deliver the Australian-first.

“We’ve been investing significant effort into providing relief areas for assistance animals and these facilities have ample capacity to serve Virgin Australia’s new guests,” she said.

“Animals being carried on board Virgin Australia flights will be required to remain in their approved pet carriers at all other times within the terminal.

“We expect the pets in cabin concept will prove a popular offering and we look forward to working with Virgin Australia to make it a reality.”

Ms Hrdlicka, who has two dogs of her own, said hers are too big for the service, but she’s excited to see it happen as she knows how important it is to travel with pets.

“I know this is going to make a massive difference,” she said, adding it’s also a great thing for pet-friendly accommodation providers who will “benefit greatly” from increased connectivity.

More Coverage

american airline pet travel fee

“It really will be a whole new economy for pet travel in Australia.”

Some hotels across Australia that are pet-friendly include The Langham Melbourne; Pier One Sydney Harbour, Sydney; Ovolo The Valley, Brisbane; Hotel Vera, Ballarat; Wildes Boutique Hotel, Kangaroo Valley; Ace Hotel, Sydney and QT Melbourne, Victoria.

The proposed pets in cabin flights will not result in any change to approved assistance animals being able to travel in the cabin of Virgin Australia aircraft at no additional cost. Virgin will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services.

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As Turkish Airlines start a new route between Melbourne and Istanbul, there was a surprise appearance inside the cabin.

Millions of seats across Qantas’ entire domestic network will be “slashed”, with the airline saying almost every route will be impacted.

An Emirates flight attendant has revealed there is a big uniform rule they can’t break — and for good reason.

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Wells fargo launches a new travel rewards program with 6 transfer partners and more to come, qualified wells fargo cardholders will get a big boost to their rewards points' value..

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Wells Fargo is making a big splash with the introduction of a transferable travel rewards program. Starting April 4, 2024, you'll be able to transfer Wells Fargo Rewards points to six travel loyalty programs and more partners are expected to be added. Transfers will be available for all points-based Wells Fargo credit cards , such as the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card and the new Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Journey Visa® Card . If you have either of these cards, you'll be able to combine rewards from any other Wells Fargo-branded consumer card and transfer those rewards to the new travel partners.

CNBC Select has the details of what we know about this program so far and how it compares to other credit card rewards programs .

What credit cards earn transferable Wells Fargo Rewards?

There are currently two Wells Fargo rewards credit cards that will allow point transfers once the system is in place:

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

  • Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Journey Visa® Card (open for in-branch applications on March 9, 2024, and online applications on March 20, 2024)

The Autograph card has no annual fee, earns 3X points in useful spending categories and offers an intro 0% APR for new cardholders. It's uncommon for a no-annual-fee card to earn transferable points, and given this card's other benefits it's easily among the best travel credit cards with no annual fee .

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

$0 annual fee

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR

Balance transfer fee

Up to 5%, min: $5 

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Journey Visa® Card is a mid-tier travel credit card with a $95 annual fee that can be partially offset by a $50 annual airfare credit. The rewards it earns for hotel (5X points) and airline (4X points) purchases are hard to beat because you'll get that high rate of return regardless of how you book (e.g., you don't have to book through the issuer's travel portal).

Cardholders also get 3X points on other travel spending and dining purchases, which makes this card one of the most rewarding options for common travel expenses. It has additional perks such as cell phone protection , trip cancellation and interruption protection and no foreign transaction fees .

Wells Fargo told CNBC Select that the rewards you earn from any Wells Fargo-branded consumer cards can be converted into transferable points, provided you also have either the Autograph or the Autograph Journey card. For example, the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns 2% cash rewards back on all purchases (see rates and fees ) and if you also have the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card , you'll be able to transfer those rewards to Wells Fargo travel partners.

Wells Fargo Rewards travel partners

There are currently six Wells Fargo Rewards transfer partners, and it has said more will be announced this year. As of April 4th, you'll be able to transfer Wells Fargo points to these five airline partners at a 1:1 ratio:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue (partners with Delta)
  • Avianca LifeMiles (partners with United Airlines)
  • British Airways Executive Club (partners with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines)
  • Iberia Plus (partners with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines)

In addition, Wells Fargo points transfer to Choice Hotels at a 1:2 ratio.

While this is a smaller list of partners, it's a decent start because it gives you access to award flights with all three of the major airline alliances. There are quite a few sweet spots (a flight or hotel stay that gives you outsized value for your rewards) that you can book with this initial group of programs.

Use Wells Fargo Rewards for Oneworld flights

British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus are all part of the Oneworld alliance , which includes American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Iberia is an excellent option for business-class award flights to Europe because you can book one-way off-peak business-class flights from a handful of U.S. cities to places like Barcelona and Madrid for only 34,000 points each way. If Ireland is on your bucket list, Aer Lingus offers one-way awards to the Emerald Isle from East Coast cities such as Boston and New York for 13,000 points on off-peak dates. You can even fly from West Coast cities such as San Francisco or Seattle to Dublin for only 16,250 points each way on off-peak dates. The best part is, over 30 weeks of the year qualify for off-peak prices.

Use Wells Fargo Rewards for Star Alliance flights

Avianca may have the most versatile program of Wells Fargo's partners. It's a member of the Star Alliance , which is the largest global airline alliance. When you transfer points to Avianca, you can book awards flights with airlines such as United , Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada. You can book one-way business-class awards from the U.S. to Europe for around 63,000 miles or one-way domestic awards starting at 7,500 miles or less. Avianca charges a $25 award booking fee but it doesn't add fuel surcharges, so the fees are generally less than other options for international business class awards.

Use Wells Fargo Rewards for SkyTeam flights

Flying Blue is the loyalty program for Air France and the Dutch airline KLM (both part of the SkyTeam alliance , which includes Delta) and it has several features that make it extremely useful. There are monthly Promo Rewards which include discounts of 25%-50% on different routes and classes of service. You can also add free stopovers on many award flights, which unlocks all sorts of options. You could book a flight to Germany and add in a free visit to Paris for no additional miles, and each stopover can last from 24 hours to up to a year.

Use Wells Fargo Rewards for hotel deals in Norway and Japan

Choice Hotels is the only Wells Fargo hotel partner. It includes brands such as EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, Comfort, Quality Inn and Sleep Inn, which typically aren't the most aspirational properties to visit. However, it also includes upscale brands such as Cambria Hotels and the Ascend Hotel Collection. Certain geographic areas offer great value for Choice points (especially when you factor in the 1:2 transfer ratio with your Wells Fargo rewards), and include locations in Norway and Japan.

Choice Hotels award prices vary, but you can book The Clarion Hotel The Hub in Oslo, Norway for 16,000 Choice points per room on dates it costs $350+ a night. You'd only need 8,000 Wells Fargo points to book a night, which is a value of over four cents per point. This is an exceptionally nice hotel and includes a free full breakfast spread which may feature ingredients from its rooftop garden. In Japan, there are lots of Choice Hotels available for 8,000 Choice points per night (4,000 Wells Fargo points). While the Japanese Choice Hotels generally cost less, you can often get a solid value per point. With the Autograph Journey's welcome bonus of 60,000 points, you could realistically book all your hotels for a two-week trip to Japan.

How this travel program stacks up against the competition

It's difficult to judge Wells Fargo Rewards against other programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards® , Citi ThankYou or American Express Membership Rewards because these other programs have been around for years. Wells Fargo has far fewer partner programs, but it will grow from here.

Wells Fargo's partnerships overlap with other travel rewards programs, which makes the rewards you earn potentially more useful. If you want to book an expensive business-class award with Avianca, you could transfer points from American Express, Capital One and Wells Fargo to the same Avianca account. So as it stands, Wells Fargo Rewards are at the very least a strong supplement to other rewards you may have, and it also has several cards with unusually high rates of return in specific categories.

However, anyone who wants to use credit card rewards for hotel stays may have more flexible options than Wells Fargo points right now. For hotel awards, most people are better off with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which earns points you can transfer to Marriott, IHG and Hyatt. With the Sapphire Preferred , you can also book hotels through the Chase Travel portal and pay with points at an elevated value of 1.25 cents each. That means that Chase Ultimate Rewards® currently gives you more options for booking hotel stays with points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

If you're a loyal Choice Privileges member or can take advantage of one of the program's sweet spots, Wells Fargo's 1:2 transfer ratio can be a stellar deal. Plus the Autograph Journey card earns 5X points at hotels, so you could effectively earn 10X Choice points on hotel spending. The only other major rewards program that matches Wells Fargo's 1:2 transfer ratio to Choice is Citi ThankYou . You can access all of Citi's transfer partners with a card such as the Citi Premier® Card . For a limited time, you can earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through the Citi Travel portal (valid through June 30, 2024).

Citi Premier® Card

3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and on hotels and air travel, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

21.24% - 29.24% variable

5% of each balance transfer, $5 minimum

Good/Excellent

See rates and fees . Terms apply.

Read our Citi Premier® Card review.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Bottom line

Wells Fargo is revamping its rewards program and adding transfer partners to select cards. While the list of travel partners is smaller than other programs, this can dramatically increase the value of the rewards you earn with Wells Fargo's travel credit cards. If you're looking for a travel credit card, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card and Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Journey Visa® Card are both options worth considering.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

Information about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Journey Visa® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Chime

  • Wells Fargo Autograph Card review: A travel card that earns high rewards for no annual fee Andreina Rodriguez
  • Wells Fargo's new credit card is set to compete with the top travel credit cards Jason Stauffer
  • What is a 401k and how does it work? Ryley Amond

comscore

  • Airline and Airport News

Tips to navigating airline travel in 2024

american airline pet travel fee

It’s important for travelers to know their rights

american airline pet travel fee

Airline travel can be stressful, and knowing how to navigate last-minute changes , delays, and disruptions to your itinerary can be even more stressful. 

As part of this year’s Consumer Protection Week, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund shared its best insights for consumers to utilize when they're flying. This includes everything from knowing your rights when flights are canceled or delayed, when bags go missing or when you’re suddenly bumped from a flight. 

“Airline travel has often been unreliable for years as the airlines struggled with post-pandemic staffing and logistics,” wrote Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Almost every airline has had at least one disastrous weekend with mass cancellations during the last couple of years. We could be past the worst, but it’s still best to plan for possible problems.” 

What are your rights as a traveler?

The U.S. PIRG Education Fund has created a Flyer’s Bill of Rights that details everything consumers need to know when flying, including information about canceled or delayed flights, rebooking, tarmac delays, getting bumped from flights, flight delays, delayed bags, lost or damaged bags, and filing complaints. 

Airlines are required to give travelers a full refund, including ticket prices, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges, and ancillary fees if the carrier cancels the flight. Many airlines will cover the cost of a transfer ticket to another airline if your original ticket has been canceled; however, this isn’t required by law. 

If your flight is significantly delayed or canceled because of staffing or equipment issues, or any other reason within the airline’s control, you have options. The U.S. PIRG Education Fund found that: 

Six of the 10 major airlines will rebook you on another airline for no extra charge. 

All 10 major airlines will provide a meal voucher. 

Nine of the 10 major airlines will pay for hotels and ground transportation if you’re stuck somewhere overnight. However, you may have to ask them to do so. 

What about bags? 

Sometimes, you end up at your destination but your checked bag doesn’t. What is the protocol for travelers? 

Most airlines will reimburse flyers for necessities, like a change of clothes or toiletries, if bags are delayed. 

When bags are completely lost, travelers should receive reimbursement for any baggage fees as well as up to $3,800 for the items inside. 

As a consumer, you’re also entitled to file a complaint with either the airline or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Any complaints filed with airlines must be acknowledged within 30 days, and responses must be sent in writing within 60 days. 

Tips before you book a flight

Before you book your next trip, there are many things you can do to help reduce your stress levels when you get to the airport. Some tips from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund include: 

Be careful about booking through third-party ticket websites. While they may offer a discount, when it comes time for a refund or rebooking, it’s often more difficult through these sites, as opposed to navigating the specific airline’s website. 

Flying early in the morning reduces your chances of delays or other mishaps. 

Limit how often you book connecting flights, as this can also reduce the likelihood of delays, cancellations, or other frustrations. 

There are resources online to look at a flight’s statistics in terms of on-time arrivals and departures. This can help you know if you’re more likely to get stuck in a long delay. 

Avoid a checked bag when possible. However, if you do need to check a bag, put a tracker in it so you know where your bag is at all times. It’s also recommended to take pictures of everything that’s inside your checked bag in the event the bag gets lost and you need to file a claim. 

Looking to protect what matters most? Get matched with your best security system.

american airline pet travel fee

Kristen Dalli is a New York native and recent graduate of Marist College. She has worked as a writer and editor for several different companies and publications, including Thought Catalog, The Oddysey, Thomas Greco Publishing, and several travel blogs.

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IMAGES

  1. What Is The American Airline Pet Policy 2022?

    american airline pet travel fee

  2. The Best Airlines for Pet Travel

    american airline pet travel fee

  3. American Airlines Pet Travel Policy

    american airline pet travel fee

  4. American Airlines Pet Policy, Know Pet Cargo Cost and Rules

    american airline pet travel fee

  5. Airline Pet Policy Guide for All U.S. Airlines

    american airline pet travel fee

  6. A Guide to American Airlines Pet Policy

    american airline pet travel fee

COMMENTS

  1. Pets − Travel information − American Airlines

    All pet fees are non-refundable and apply per kennel, each way. Fees for transporting your pet with American Airlines Cargo may vary depending on the trip details and size of the animal and kennel. **For tickets issued on / before February 19, 2024, the carry-on pet fee per kennel is $125 and for tickets issued on / after February 20, 2024, the ...

  2. American Airlines' pet policy: Here's how to fly with your cat or dog

    American Airlines only allows passengers to carry on cats and dogs; no other types of pets are allowed. According to the American Airlines pet policy, you can bring a cat or dog along (assuming they meet the size and age requirements) on most flights up to 12 hours or flights to or from the following locations: The 48 contiguous United States.

  3. American Airlines Pet Policy & Fee to Fly Your Dog or Cat

    American Airlines Pet Fee for In-Cabin. The fee for flying your small dog or cat in the cabin will be $125USD. Your pet airline carrier will count as a piece of carry-on luggage. You must check in at the passenger counter as animals are not checked in at curbside. If your pet is a service dog, there will be no charge for the flight.

  4. American Airlines Pet Travel Policy

    Pets in the Cabin. American Airlines allows cats and dogs to travel in the cabin if they are at least 8 weeks old and the combined weight of the pet and carrier does not exceed 20 lbs (9 kg). Small pets must remain completely inside a carrier and under the seat during the entire flight. The fee for pets traveling in the cabin is $150 each way.

  5. Flying with American − Support − American Airlines

    American Airlines app Carry-on bags This content can be expanded. In general, you're allowed 1 bag and 1 personal item: ... There is a fee to travel with your pet. Traveling with pets Service animals This content can be expanded. Service animals are welcome at no charge if they meet the requirements. The animal must fit on your lap, at your ...

  6. Guide to American Airlines pet policies

    The carry-on pet fee at American is $125 per kennel and your pet must remain inside of it during the duration of your flight (so, make sure your pet has enough room to sit-up, turn around and lay down in there — especially on longer flights!.) The kennel can be soft or hard-sided, but must be smaller than 19" x 13" x 9" ( or 48 cm x 33 ...

  7. American Airlines' Pet Policy Explained

    American Airlines allows fully trained service animals in the cabin but requires specific forms and fees for emotional support animals. Pets can travel in the cabin on certain flights but must ...

  8. American Airlines Pet Policy: How To Fly With a Cat

    American Airlines has a cat-friendly pet policy that allows you to bring your cat in-cabin with you in place of your carry-on bag. Unfortunately, the pet carrier fee is a bit more than the carry-on bag fee. You can fly with a cat on American Airlines for $125 per carrier each way. Additionally, you'll have to get an airline-approved cat ...

  9. Can I Bring My Dog on American Airlines?

    The Booking Process. Pets traveling on American Airlines must be booked over the phone. When planning to travel with a four-legged passenger, you'll need to first make sure the flight you're taking allows pets, then go ahead and book your own flight. Once you're booked, call the American Airlines customer service line at 800-433-7300 to ...

  10. American Airlines Pet Policy: Everything You Need to Know Before Flying

    What is the pet fee for checked pets on American Airlines flights? Active-duty US military or State Department personnel can use this service to take their pets for a $200 fee per kennel. Each customer can take up to two pets in one kennel if they meet the airline's requirements.

  11. Pet-friendly airlines: The best airlines for pets in the US

    Delta Air Lines. Small dogs, cats and household birds. $95 for flights within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. $200 for other flights ($75 for flights to or from Brazil). Household birds are only allowed on domestic U.S. flights (excluding Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam).

  12. US Airline Pet Policies

    United Airlines Pet Policy (800-864-8331) United allows cats and dogs to travel in the passenger cabin on most flights within the U.S. A pet fee of $125 each way applies. There is an additional $125 service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside of the U.S.

  13. Pets & Animals

    Your pet is special to us. We have more than 50 years of experience caring for furry friends, so please email us with any questions or concerns at [email protected]. With American PetEmbark, we offer more than 65 years of expertise transporting animals and are committed to the welfare of every pet in our care.

  14. The Best Airlines for Pet Travel

    8. Frontier Airlines (2.4%) Though Frontier received only 2.4% of the survey vote, its not all bad news for this regional airline. The fixed fee of $75 per pet, per segment is the most affordable across all the domestic airlines. Frontier also allows for a spacious in-cabin carrier and welcomes the largest variety of pets in the cabin ...

  15. Airlines' Pet Fees Can Be More Expensive Than Flights

    For bringing a pet as carry-on to a domestic flight, fees can go up to $125 on American, Delta and United Airlines. American and Delta charge $200 to check a pet, while rates vary for United.

  16. Best Airlines for Pet Travel and Dog Airline Policies

    Yes: for travel between Hawaii and North America, there's a fee of $125 each way for pets in the cabin and $225 each way for pets traveling in cargo or checked baggage. Hawaiian's full pet policy.

  17. What You Should Know About Airlines' Pet Fees

    Currently, as far as carry-on pets, Frontier and Southwest are among the cheapest airlines for pet fees, while American and United charge some of the highest fees. While some airlines allow up to ...

  18. What to know about airline policy changes on baggage fees, earning

    The changes will go into affect for flights booked on or after Feb. 20 for travel within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and ... The airline last raised its bag fees in 2018. American Airlines lowers fees for oversize, overweight checked bags ... for tickets purchased on or after Feb. 20, the pet-in-cabin fee will be $150. An earlier version of this ...

  19. Delta hikes checked-baggage fees 17%, following American and United

    In 2022, the last full year for which statistics are available, U.S. airlines took in $6.8 billion in checked-bag fees, led by American at $1.4 billion and United at $1.1 billion. Delta was in ...

  20. United and Other Airlines Raise Bag Fees

    American Airlines announced last week that domestic bag fees would increase by as much as 33%. For domestic flights, the old $30 fee for the first checked bag is now $35 if purchased online or $40 ...

  21. How these air travel changes could make your next flight better

    This year, four domestic airlines have raised their checked baggage fees. United Airlines is the latest to announce an increase. You'll pay $40 for your first checked bag, or $35 if you pay online ...

  22. Airline bag fees are increasing: Can you avoid them?

    JetBlue, too, raised fees for the first and second checked bags to $45 and $60, respectively, but offers a $10 discount (making the final cost $35 or $50, respectively) for those who pay online at ...

  23. American Airlines Changes How Miles Are Accrued. What You Need to Know

    Beginning May 1, American Airlines will require travelers to book directly with the airline, partner airlines or "preferred travel agencies" in order to receive loyalty points.

  24. Delta Airlines is hiking checked-baggage fees, following similar ...

    In 2022, the last full year for which statistics are available, U.S. airlines took in $6.8 billion in checked-bag fees, led by American at $1.4 billion and United at $1.1 billion. Delta was in ...

  25. Five quick questions answered on Virgin Australia's plans to allow

    American Airlines, for example, does not allow animals under 8 weeks to fly, restricts certain breeds, and allows pets only on flights under 12 hours. ... Some passengers are excited to travel ...

  26. American Airlines raises bag fees, updates rules on earning miles

    It's the first time American has raised the fee since 2018. The airline previously charged $30 for a first checked bag on most flights. "Fuel has gone up quite a bit.

  27. Virgin Australia announces pets in cabin flights

    The move also comes following a social media survey on the airline's Facebook page back in 2021 where 85 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the airline launching pets in cabin flights.

  28. Wells Fargo Launches New Travel Rewards Program

    The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Journey Visa® Card is a mid-tier travel credit card with a $95 annual fee that can be partially offset by a $50 annual airfare credit. The rewards it earns for hotel ...

  29. Tips to navigating airline travel in 2024

    Airlines are required to give travelers a full refund, including ticket prices, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges, and ancillary fees if the carrier cancels the flight.