• by Tanya Gazdik , April 1, 2024

American Airlines is making it easier and cheaper to bring a pet onboard the plane. 

“Until this week, people who carried a pet into the cabin — which involves paying a $150 fee — could only have one other small item that fit under the seat,” according to the Associated Press. “Anything bigger, like a carry-on bag with wheels, needed to be checked — for a $35 fee. Or they could put the pet in the cargo hold.”

The carry-on pet category is dependent on breed and size and is limited to cats and dogs that meet the requirements, per the policy.

“We made the change to provide a more convenient and comfortable experience to customers whose pets fly American,” a spokeswoman for American told the AP.

The latest policy update comes after American Airlines announced in February it will raise checked bag fees. 

“One checked bag used to cost $30, and the second was $40,” according to Business Insider.. “Now, the first checked bag for domestic flights is $35, and the second is $45. The airline also changed how customers earn frequent flyer miles and loyalty points.”

The old policy struck some pet owners as unfair, since they were already paying a pet fee. Gary Leff, a travel blogger who first wrote about the change, recalled traveling years ago with a Yorkshire terrier 

 “It was always frustrating that the dog counted as the carry-on even though I was paying the extra (pet) fee that was sometimes more than the ticket for me,” Leff told the AP. 

NerdWallet released a list of the most pet-friendly airlines earlier this year. Topping the list was Alaska Airlines, followed by Frontier Airlines. 

“American Airlines was sixth on the list,” notes Scripps News. “However, this report came out before the airline made its recent pet-policy changes.”

It remains to be seen whether other airlines will also relax their policies. Each airline has different policies when it comes to flying with pets, and travelers should check and plan accordingly. 

“Southwest Airlines requires that pets be kept in a carrier (which fits specific dimensions) on board, and travelers will be required to pay a pet fare,” according Parade Pets. “On Delta Airlines, there are a lot of different (and very specific) rules and regulations that pet parents must follow while traveling, from the size of the kennel to the flights and even the types of planes that pets are allowed to travel on. Those traveling with a pet on Delta will also be subject to a $95 pet fee.”