American Airlines in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
American Airlines allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 18 × 11 × 11 in, stowed under the seat in front of you. Already own a carrier? Enter its measurements below to check it against this limit. The in-cabin fee is $150 per kennel each way (carry-on, within/between US, Canada, Mexico, Central America & Caribbean). 9 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
The Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) leaves the most room — 1" on its tightest dimension, while the Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) only just squeaks in with nothing to spare. American's 11" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with Allegiant, American Eagle (regional, incl. Republic Airways), Copa, Delta, Frontier, JSX, United): Air Europa, Avelo, Breeze and Pegasus allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit American Airlines?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses American Airlines’s published 18 × 11 × 11 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Carriers that clear American Airlines (18 × 11 × 11 in)
Roomiest margin first. Sized to the airline’s limit, not to your pet — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
 Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Fits 0.5" spare | See on Amazon → |
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
American Airlines pet rules
| Max soft-sided carrier | 18 × 11 × 11 in |
| Max hard-sided kennel | 19 × 13 × 9 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Soft recommended; hard allowed within its limit |
| In-cabin fee | $150 per kennel each way (carry-on, within/between US, Canada, Mexico, Central America & Caribbean) · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | cats, dogs |
| Minimum age | At least 8 weeks (within the U.S. and Puerto Rico) |
| Pets | 1 pet carrier per passenger as a carry-on; you may bring only one more item — a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both |
| Booking | Find your trip on aa.com or the American app and choose "Add carry-on pets" under Additional Services; at the airport, pay the fee at the American ticket counter · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Seating restrictions | Not in bulkhead or exit row seats, First or Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9, or seat 13D on the A321neo. In First or Business on the 3-cabin A321T the carrier goes in the dedicated animal compartment at the front of the plane. |
| Routes & cargo | Carry-on pets are allowed on most flights up to 12 hours or to/from select places: the 48 contiguous states, the U.S. and Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. No carry-on pets to or from Hawaii, on trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific trips, or to/from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. Checked pets only for active-duty U.S. military and State Department Foreign Service staff on official orders. |
Source: official American Airlines pet policy · verified 2026-09-23 · how American Airlines ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit American Airlines
Matched to American Airlines's published 18 × 11 × 11 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full American Airlines carrier shortlist →
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
This table ranks by American Airlines’s size limit — not by your pet. The weight under each carrier is what that size is rated to hold. A bag can clear the airline and still be the wrong size for the animal, which is the most common reason one goes back — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Fits 0.5" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | Search Amazon → |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Fits collapsed | See on Amazon → |
5 carriers too big for American Airlines
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
American Airlines's number is its published maximum, not a guarantee for your exact seat. Before you buy or fly:
- Check which aircraft operates your flight (in your booking or on a seat-map site).
- Avoid bulkhead and exit rows — bulkheads have no under-seat storage and most airlines ban pets there — and check this airline's seat rules above.
- Call American Airlines to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · Austrian Airlines · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does American Airlines allow in the cabin?
American Airlines's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 18 × 11 × 11 in (soft) or 19 × 13 × 9 in for a hard-sided kennel. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the American Airlines pet policy.
How much does American Airlines charge for an in-cabin pet?
$150 per kennel each way (carry-on, within/between US, Canada, Mexico, Central America & Caribbean). Always confirm the current fee on the official American Airlines pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit American Airlines?
9 of the 15 carriers we track clear American Airlines's published 18 × 11 × 11 in. The roomiest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small), with 1" to spare on its tightest dimension. The heaviest pet any carrier that clears American Airlines is rated for is 22 lb (some fitting carriers publish no pet rating). Full shortlist: /fits/american/.
Is American Airlines's 18 × 11 × 11 in limit guaranteed on every aircraft?
No. American lists cabin stowage per aircraft. For the Airbus A321T (3-cabin) its own page says: "No under seat stowage in First. Only smaller, soft-sided carriers will fit in Business. The total weight of your pet and its carrier must not exceed 20 pounds (9.07 kilograms). We will weigh them at check-in." Treat the published figure as a fleet-wide maximum, not a promise for your seat, and prefer a collapsible or flexible-height carrier.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on American Airlines?
1 pet carrier per passenger as a carry-on; you may bring only one more item — a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both. Species accepted: cats, dogs. Find your trip on aa.com or the American app and choose "Add carry-on pets" under Additional Services; at the airport, pay the fee at the American ticket counter
What paperwork do I need to fly internationally with a pet on American Airlines?
The CDC sets requirements for bringing dogs into the U.S. (applies to all dogs including service dogs and returning pets, regardless of owner citizenship); rules depend on your dog's travel history in the 6 months prior to arrival, with additional requirements for dogs from high-risk rabies countries. American directs travelers to CDC's own guidance rather than publishing its own document list. Confirm current requirements with the USDA APHIS pet travel site and the CDC dog import rules before you fly — they change without notice and American Airlines does not administer them.