We have a home in Cancun Mexico for 25 yrs and travel from Phoenix multi times a year with a small dog. Today, we were told we could not bring a carryon with our 9 lbs dog but we could bring a personal item….but no carryon. After paying $125 each way we should be allowed a carryon or a personal item with our dog. If our pet carrier was empty we could use that as our personal item and would be allowed a carryon. I don't follow the logic of this rule and neither did the American Airline employee trying to enforce it. Thanks and we have been a happy customer for 45 years.