Service animals
Flying with a service animal
Fully-trained service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge if they meet the requirements.
A service animal is defined as a dog that’s individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability, including but not limited to:
- Visual impairments
- Deafness
- Seizures
- Mobility impairments
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Our team members are trained to ask certain questions to determine if your animal is a service animal acceptable for travel.
Please note, service animals in training, emotional support animals, and comfort animals may travel as pets, not as service animals. All requirements and applicable fees will apply.
Forms and advanced notice
If you're traveling with a service animal on flights operated by American, we recommend that you electronically submit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form that verifies your service animal's health, training, and behavior to the Special Assistance Desk at least 48 hours before your flight. We’ll notify you as soon as your document is approved.
You can also present the completed form at the airport on the day of travel. Be sure to arrive early.
DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form (PDF) Opens a PDF form in a new window.
This form is compatible with the latest version of JAWS and NVDA screen readers, and it may be completed and signed on a desktop or mobile device using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If your trip includes a flight on a partner airline you’ll need to contact them and complete all required forms for traveling with a service animal.
Flights to the U.S.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets the requirements for bringing dogs into the United States. These rules apply to all dogs, including service dogs, and returning pets. All customers, regardless of citizenship, must follow the CDC’s requirements.
Only service dogs with a completed CDC Dog Import Form and those meeting CDC U.S. vaccination and microchip requirements are allowed to fly on American.
Before you travel, check the CDC's guidelines for detailed information on bringing dogs into the U.S., including the latest updates.
- Read more about bringing a dog into the U.S. Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.
- CDC Dog Import Form Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.
Flights over 8 hours
If you have a flight over 8 hours in your itinerary, the Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Sanitation Form is also required stating your animal won’t need to relieve itself or can do so in a way that doesn’t create a health or sanitation issue.
DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form (PDF) Opens in a new window
This form is compatible with the latest version of JAWS and NVDA screen readers, and it may be completed and signed on a desktop or mobile device using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Instructions
- Read and complete the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form
- Complete the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form if applicable
- Submit at least 48 hours before your flight, or present the completed form at the airport on the day of travel
- Keep the form with you during your trip
Submit the DOT Service Animal form
Service Animal ID
Once you’ve submitted your form and it’s been approved, we’ll send you an email with your Service Animal ID (SVAN ID). You can add the SVAN ID when booking future travel with this animal and be approved without resubmitting forms. Keep in mind, your SVAN ID will expire after 1 year from the date of signature or when the animal’s vaccination expires, whichever is first.
Travel requirements
- Animal must be harnessed, leashed or tethered at all times
- Animals under 4 months of age may not travel as a service animal
- Animal must be clean and well-behaved
- Animal must be able to fit at your feet, under your seat or in your lap (lap animals must be smaller than a 2-year old child)
- Final approval for travel will not happen until you arrive at the airport and it is determined that the animal will safely fit at your feet.
- If the animal is in a kennel, it must fit under the seat in front of you with the animal in it.
- An individual is limited to 2 service animals
Animals may not:
- Be seated in an exit row
- Protrude into or block aisles
- Occupy a seat
- Eat from tray tables
If your animal is too large or too heavy to be safely accommodated in the cabin, you may need to:
- Rebook on a flight with more open seats
- Buy a ticket for the animal
- Transport the animal as a checked pet.
Animal behavior
Animals must be trained to behave properly in public and they won’t be permitted in the cabin if they display any form of disruptive behavior that can’t be successfully corrected or controlled, including but not limited to:
- Growling
- Biting or attempting to bite
- Jumping on or lunging at people
If this behavior is observed at any point during your journey and isn't corrected or controlled, the animal will be considered a pet. All requirements and applicable fees will apply.
If you don’t complete or meet all the requirements, your animal may be able to fly as a pet. All requirements and applicable fees will apply.
Destinations with restrictions
Trained service dogs can travel in the cabin to / from all Hawaiian islands. All other animals (with the exception of service dogs) must first go through Honolulu for acceptance by Hawaiian quarantine officials.
Your service animals must meet our travel requirements as well as the quarantine restrictions and documentation requirements set by the state of Hawaii. You must provide applicable documentation for both at check-in.
Dogs traveling to LHR need approval from the Heathrow Animal Reception Center (HARC). You should contact them as soon as possible, but at least 7 days before your flight. The HARC charges a fee (£410) for animals that do not meet the criteria for assistance animals.
British Airways doesn’t accept emotional support animals on any of its flights.
To fly to LHR:
- Notify the HARC via email
- If approved, a letter will be sent
- Print the letter and provide it at check-in
Contact the HARC Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines
To fly with service dogs, email Scotland’s animal travel agency at least 48 hours before your flight. You'll need to carry an ID card or valid certificate from the organization that trained or supplied the animal.
Service dogs need pre-approval letters from the Animal Reception Center in your destination city. You’ll need to travel with the letter and any required health documentation.
Service dogs can travel in the cabin to / from Ireland. All dogs must be fully compliant with the rules for entering Ireland. You’ll need to notify the Irish Authorities in advance to arrange a mandatory veterinary compliance check upon arrival.
Service dogs can travel in the cabin to / from India. All dogs must be fully compliant with the rules for entering India. You’ll need to notify the Indian Authorities to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at least 7 days ahead of travel.
Animal Quarantine & Certification Service
Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Government of India
Kapashera, New Delhi- 110097
Tel.: +91-11-25063272, Fax: +91-11-25060647, E-mail: aqcsnr-dadf@nic.in
Visit the Government of India’s Animal Quarantine & Certification Services site for more information.
Service dogs can travel in the cabin. You'll need to contact the Animal Quarantine Service no less than 40 days before your arrival.
Only dogs can be accepted as service animals; emotional support animals of any kind cannot be accepted.
Only dogs can be accepted as service animals; emotional support animals of any kind cannot be accepted. You’ll need to contact the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department at least 10 days before your arrival to complete all requirements.
Service and emotional support animals require an animal import permit from the Guyana Ministry of Agriculture. You must travel with and provide the import permit at check-in.
Only dogs can be accepted as service animals; emotional support animals of any kind cannot be accepted. You’ll need to complete the St Vincent and the Grenadines Animal Import Permit Application and submit it to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. You must travel with and present the import permit and a valid health certificate at check-in for your service dog.
Flying on a partner airline?
Find helpful information if your trip includes 1 or more flights with our partner airlines.