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Service Animals

American Airlines and American Eagle welcome service animals used by persons with disabilities. An animal may accompany a customer with a disability in the aircraft cabin, provided the animal can be accommodated without obstructing an aisle. Service animals may not block an aisle or other area used for emergency evacuations.

There is no charge for service animals used by customers with disabilities. A harness, tag or vest indicating status as a service animal will be helpful in distinguishing them to airport personnel. However, credible verbal assurance that the animal is providing a service to assist with a disability will suffice should an inquiry be made.

Quarantine restrictions may apply. Your reservations agent or travel agent will be happy to check destination regulations for you.

View a list of animal relief areas at select airports. If your airport is not listed, please ask for directions or assistance at our ticket counter.

Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support service animals are service animals that provide emotional support to an individual with a mental health-related disability. In accordance with the Department of Transportation, we require appropriate documentation 48 hours before departure to permit emotional support animals to travel in the passenger cabin.

To make arrangements for the transportation of an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, please call Reservations at 1-800-433-7300 at least 48 hours before your flight.

We require current documentation (no later than one (1) year from the date of the passenger’s scheduled initial flight). The documentation must meet the following criteria:

On letterhead of a licensed mental health professional including a medical doctor specifically treating the passenger’s mental or emotional disability (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker) stating the following:

that passenger has a mental health related disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM IV)
that having the animal accompany the passenger is necessary to the passenger’s mental health or treatment
the individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional and the passenger is under his or her professional care
the date and type of the mental health professional’s license and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued

Plan to check in one hour before the check-in time for the general public for document verification.

All of the above specific criteria must be provided to accept your emotional support or psychiatric service animal for travel in the passenger cabin. If all requirements are not met, the animal will travel as a pet in the cabin or cargo.

Service Animals Traveling To The United Kingdom
Effective January 24, 2008, American Airlines is approved to carry service animal cats or dogs to the U.K. A disabled passenger must obtain and present a pre-approval letter issued from the animal reception center in the passenger's destination city. The passenger must also possess the original health documentation used to obtain the pre-approval letter. For pre-approval requirements go to: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine*

Passengers may also call the following Animal Reception Center:
London Heathrow (LHR)		(011) 44 208 745 7894
Manchester (MAN)		(011) 44 161 489 8220

If service animals are disruptive or too large to fit under the seat or at the passenger's feet without encroaching on another passenger's space or protruding into the aisle, it will need to travel in a kennel (provided by the passenger) in the cargo hold. The kennel must meet IATA kennel and size requirements for the animal. Temperature restrictions apply to ensure the safety of the animal.

For information regarding working dogs, please see our Traveling With Pets page.

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