Traveling with a pet is already a hassle, not to mention the stress of going through airports, going through security checkpoints, and getting your pet on the plane. While brave souls have continued this song and dance for years; There are always significant additional costs.
American Airlines hasn't changed the fees it charges for pets, but it has changed its policy on what luggage you can bring when traveling with a pet. As first pointed out in View From the Wing; If you travel with your pet, you can now bring a full-sized carry-on bag.
I'll explain what's going on.
American Airlines changes pet policy
As it stands, people who want to travel with their pets have to abide by a variety of policies, including kennel size, pet weight, and of course the actual cost of bringing a pet with them. This is true for all three major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.
historicallybringing a pet means, I wasn't allowed to bring a full-sized carry-on bag. In the same way. The pet carrier had to fit (and stay) under the seat in front of me, but the dog kennel counted as carry-on baggage. However, you may bring your own personal items such as backpacks and handbags.
now, American Airlines has updated its policy to allow people traveling with pets to carry carry-on baggage.. Why is this such a big deal?
That's because people without status or airline credit cards will have to pay for checked baggage. Considering the fact that Americans recently increased their checked baggage fees. up to $40 In the US ($35 if paid online), it's a pain. Combined with this, Pet-friendly travel fee is $150; You can quickly see how costs add up on top of airfare.
Delta and United still insist that pets count as carry-on baggage, so travelers on those airlines are out of luck.
Of course, the jury is still out on how uncomfortable it is to carry around a pet carrier and a moving suitcase at the same time, but those are the sacrifices we make for our loved ones.
Tips:
final thoughts
American Airlines has updated its policies to make traveling with pets easier. This allows passengers to bring a full-sized carry-on bag on board without having to check in additional luggage.
