American Airlines has recently made adjustments to its pet policy, allowing pet owners to bring their furry companions along with a full-size carry-on bag into the cabin. Previously, passengers who opted to bring their pets into the cabin were restricted to one small item that could fit under the seat, in addition to their pet, for which they had to pay a $150 fee. Larger items such as carry-on bags with wheels had to be checked for a $35 fee or placed in the cargo hold.
Under the new policy, passengers can now bring a pet into the cabin along with either a regular carry-on bag or a personal item, but not both bags simultaneously. This change comes in response to feedback from pet owners who found the previous policy unfair, considering they were already paying a pet fee.
Travel blogger Gary Leff shared his past experience of traveling with a Yorkshire terrier, expressing frustration over the fact that the dog counted as the carry-on item despite the additional pet fee sometimes exceeding the cost of his own ticket. He believes that American's updated policy will help deter passengers from falsely claiming their pets as service animals to avoid fees.
An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed that the revised rules went into effect on Thursday, emphasizing that the change was implemented to enhance the convenience and comfort of customers traveling with pets on American Airlines flights.
