According to ABC7, American Airlines is relaxing many of its pet-related regulations to enable pet owners to bring their animals into the cabin with a full-size carry-on bag.
Up until last week, travelers who purchased a $150 ticket to allow a pet into the cabin could only bring one more tiny item that fit under the seat.
Bigger things, like a wheeled carry-on bag, needed to be checked, and that cost $35. The pet could perhaps be placed in the cargo hold.
Pets are now allowed in the cabin on American Airlines, but only one carry-on bag or personal item per passenger.
Given that they were already paying for a pet, some pet owners criticized the previous regulation for being unjust.
Travel blogger Gary Leff, who first reported about the move, remembered taking trips with a Yorkshire terrier in the past.
“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,” he stated.
Leff stated he believed that the United States’ move will lessen the temptation for tourists to pretend their pet is a service animal that can fly for free.
The regulations modification went into force on Thursday, according to an American spokesman.
“We made the change to provide a more convenient and comfortable experience to customers whose pets fly American,” she stated.
