American Airlines Announces Change Louisiana Travelers Will Like

Airports in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Shreveport are all served with daily flights operated by American Airlines or their partners. In the case of Louisiana’s smaller airports the American Airlines flights are usually connected to larger airports, in most cases that is Dallas/Fort Worth because it is a hub for that air carrier.

And chances are if you’ve flown anywhere out of a Louisiana airport you’ve seen people struggling with “carry-on” items that really should be checked. Personally, I think carry-on items are the reason getting on and off a plane is such a pain. People take advantage of the airline rules and yes, people are trying to save a buck or two.

The whole shift to “pack everything in a carry-on” mentality came when the airlines started charging for checked bags. It was not a move that was popular with many flyers but the airlines say they needed the added revenue to stay in business.

We’re now getting word that American Airlines is amending their carry-on policy which should come as good news to those who like to travel with their pets. If you’ve ever attempted to travel with a pet you know it’s quite the conundrum. But now American Airlines is allowing pet owners whose pets can fit in a pet carrier that can fit under the seat in front of them a bit of a break on the cost.

The new policy will allow pets onboard in the main cabin for the cost of the pet carry-on fee. In this case that’s $150 bucks. Travelers will not have the pet carrier count as their large personal carry-on item. So, those wanting to travel with pets may now clog the aisles of the aircraft with their pet carrier, their carry-on bag, and a purse or backpack too. Oh, and they won’t be assessed an additional $100 fee for the “extra carry-on”.

Certain rules still apply. The pet must stay in the carrier for the duration of the flight. The pet and the carrier must fit under the seat in front of the passenger. And the policy is valid for flights within the United States. There are a few international exceptions but usually taking a pet to a foreign country requires additional paperwork anyway.

So, if you just can’t be separated from your pet or you need that pet to be your emotional support friend for the flight, you can now do that for a few dollars less. There is no word as to whether airlines such as Delta or United will amend their pet travel policies, as of now the changes only apply to the policy at American Airlines.