American Airlines has made changes to its pet policy, allowing pet owners to bring their animal companion and a full-size carry-on bag into the cabin.
Prior to this update, passengers carrying a pet into the cabin had to pay a $150 fee and were only allowed one small item that could fit under the seat. Larger items, such as carry-on bags with wheels, had to be checked for a $35 fee or the pet could be placed in the cargo hold.
Under the new policy, passengers can now bring a pet in the cabin along with either a regular carry-on bag or a personal item, but not both. This change addresses concerns from pet owners who felt the previous policy was unfair considering they were already paying a pet fee. While passengers still need to pay a fee, their pet no longer counts as a carry-on.
An American Airlines spokeswoman confirmed that the updated rules came into effect on Thursday. The reason for the change was not provided as the airline's corporate offices were closed for Good Friday and decision-makers were unavailable.
Travel blogger Gary Leff, who first reported on the policy change, shared a personal anecdote of traveling with a Yorkshire terrier years ago.
"The frustrating part was always that my dog counted as the carry-on even though I was paying the extra (pet) fee, which sometimes cost more than my own ticket," he mentioned on Friday.
Leff expressed his belief that the new policy from American Airlines will decrease the temptation for travelers to falsely claim that their pet is a service animal in order to fly for free, allowing them to bring an additional carry-on.
Despite the updated policy, traveling with a pet still requires thorough planning and research beforehand, as there are various factors that could prevent pets like Fido or Felix from being permitted into the cabin. One limitation is the maximum number of pets allowed per cabin, which varies based on the aircraft type.
For example, United permits a maximum of four pets in Economy class on the Airbus 319, while up to six pets are allowed in Economy on the Airbus 320. Additionally, individual passengers are typically limited to bringing a specific number of pets in a single carrier.
Other U.S. airlines that accommodate pets onboard include Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska, and Frontier. Most of these airlines consider pet carriers as part of the carry-on allowance, as stated by the American Kennel Club.
