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. The in-cabin fee is $150 per kennel each way (carry-on, within/between US, Canada, Mexico, Central America & Caribbean). 8 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.

Last verified 2026-07-23 · 8 of 15 carriers we track fit the published limit

The Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) leaves the most room — 1" on its tightest dimension, while the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) only just squeaks in with nothing to spare. American's 11" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 17 airlines we track (shared with Delta, United, Frontier, Allegiant, JSX): Breeze and Avelo allow more, while Air Canada allows only 8".

American Airlines pet rules

Recommended max carrier (soft)	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
Pets	1 carry-on pet carrier per passenger; counts as your carry-on or personal item
Booking	Add a carry-on pet to your trip; pay the fee at the airport

Source: official American Airlines pet policy · verified 2026-07-23

Citing this policy data? Go ahead — sourced from the official airline page, last verified 2026-07-23. Copy a ready-made reference:

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.

Carrier	Size	Fit	Buy
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small)	15 × 10 × 8.5 in	Fits 1" spare	See on Amazon →
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile)	16 × 10.5 × 9.8 in	Fits 0.5" spare	See on Amazon →
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Small)	17 × 10 × 10 in	Fits 1" spare	See on Amazon →
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium)	17 × 11 × 10.5 in	Fits 0" spare	See on Amazon →
Sleepypod Atom	17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in	Fits 0.5" spare	See on Amazon →
Petsfit Expandable Soft-Sided	17 × 11 × 11 in	Fits 0" spare	See on Amazon →
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small)	16 × 8 × 11 in	Fits 0" spare	See on Amazon →
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier	18 × 11 × 11 in	Fits 0" spare	See on Amazon →
Sleepypod Air	22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in	Fits collapsed	See on Amazon →
Diggs Passenger	17 × 12 × 10.5 in	Too big	See on Amazon →
Away The Pet Carrier	18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in	Too big	See on Amazon →
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large)	19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in	Too big	See on Amazon →
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable)	18.5 × 11.75 × 11.5 in	Too big	See on Amazon →
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height)	18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in	Too big	See on Amazon →
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack	18 × 12 × 12 in	Too big	See on Amazon →

How to confirm your actual under-seat space

American Airlines's number is a fleet-wide recommendation, not a promise 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 some window seats — they have less (or no) under-seat storage.
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: Delta · JetBlue · United · Southwest · Alaska · Frontier · 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?

8 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. Full shortlist: /fits/american/.

Does American Airlines require a soft-sided pet carrier?

American Airlines recommends soft-sided but allows a hard-sided kennel within its published limit. Height is what rules carriers out: American Airlines publishes 11", against 13" at the most generous airline we track.

How many pets can I bring in the cabin on American Airlines?

1 carry-on pet carrier per passenger; counts as your carry-on or personal item. Species accepted: cats, dogs. Add a carry-on pet to your trip; pay the fee at the airport