Getting your pets ready to fly takes a little legwork, but the information you provide helps us keep your pets safe and comfortable throughout their journey. This guide will walk you through the entire journey, from gathering check-in documents to finding the right kennel for when you're reunited with your pet.
By following this guide, we’re confident your pet will receive the best-in-class travel experience they deserve.
1Confirm your pet’s eligibility for travel
Because animal safety is our top priority, please take a moment to ensure your pet qualifies for travel on American.
- All dogs traveling on American Airlines domestically must be at least eight weeks old, and if traveling internationally, must be at least six months old.
- Confirm your breed is not on our restricted breeds list
- Confirm if your pet will be flying as PPS or as ExpediteFS
- Confirm your route is available and offers compatible aircraft
- Check the temperatures are forecasted to be 85°F or under
- Is your pet originating from outside the U.S.? Contact your local sales representative to get started
2Confirm you have the right kennel for your pet
Your pet's comfort is the most important part of their journey, so we can't stress enough how important it is for your pet to have the right travel kennel.
- Make sure you have the right kennel for your pet
- Confirm your kennel meets our construction guidelines
3Booking Request
We offer different solutions to ensure the highest levels of safety and comfort for animal transport. We recommend you make your pet's reservation a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 10 days prior to travel (30 days if inbound into London Heathrow). No payment is required until the pet is accepted at the airport.
Request a BookingBe sure to sign up for notifications so you can receive emails with your pet's tracking information.
Do you plan to create more pet bookings in the future? Consider registering for an account. Get started now.
4Dropping off your pet
Make sure you are fully prepared to drop off your pet in our care.
- Confirm your drop-off location and hours
- Reconfirm that the temperatures are in the safe range
- Offer your pet a light meal and water within four hours prior to drop-off
- Attach a bag of food on top of the kennel or in approved containers inside kennel
- Bring 2 forms of identification and all required documents and health certificates
- We will not accept household dogs and cats that have been sedated or tranquilized
5Tracking your pet
If you signed up for notifications, you will receive status updates by email. You can also track your pet online with your air waybill number and get flight notifications by accessing aa.com.
Track Get flight notifications6Picking up your pet
Pets are typically available for pick up one hour after flight arrival. However, times might vary depending on the destination station and service type.
- Confirm your pick up location and hours
- Have your air waybill number and identification readily available
- Account for time to clear customs if transporting internationally
- International bookings may require additional handling and customs clearance fees
- Need help clearing customs into the U.S.? Find out how we can help
7Reunite and share
Our favorite part of transporting pets is bringing them back home to their loved ones. Once you reunite with your furry friends, share your photos with us and let us know how your experience went at PetEmbark@aa.com!