American Airlines announced it has overhauled its pet policy
to now allow passengers to bring their pet and either a carry-on bag or a
personal item to their seat.
According to The
Associated Press, American revealed that while travelers bringing their pet
into the cabin will still pay the $150 fee, they will now be able to bring full-size
carry-on luggage into the cabin as well.
Previously, passengers with an animal were only permitted
one small item that fit under the seat.
American
received backlash for the original policy, as pet owners who were paying the
fee—a cost that sometimes exceeds the price of a ticket—were upset the animal
counted as their carry-on bag.
“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,” travel blogger Gary Leff told The AP.
The airline hopes the new policy will help stop people from
lying about their pet being a service animal. A spokesperson for American also revealed
that the rule change took effect Thursday.
“We made the change to provide a more convenient and
comfortable experience to customers whose pets fly American,” the carrier told
The AP.
Last month, American revamped its in-flight
entertainment experience with enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity, content and the
option to redeem miles for Internet access.
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