United Airlines Pet Policy

United Airlines pet policy allows the transportation of certain pets: 

• In the cabin on select flights
• In the checked baggage section
  (currently suspended except for military personnel on PCS orders)
• As cargo baggage 

The number of in-cabin pets allowed varies by aircraft, so call United Airlines as soon as you confirm your travel plans. Trained service dogs are allowed to travel for free in the cabin with passengers who have a disability.

United Airlines In-Cabin Pet Policy

What is United Airlines’ carry-on pet policy? 

United Airlines in-cabin pet policy applies only to flights operated by United Airlines and United Express. If you’re travelling on multiple flights, you must check with each airline individually.

• Pets Allowed. United accepts small domesticated dogs, cats, small household birds (except cockatoos), and rabbits on continental U.S. flights (except Hawaii).
• Forms Required. Your pet must have the following documentation:
  • Rabies certificate administered at least 30 days before the flight.
  • Health certificate.
• Pet Age
  • Domestic flights (incl. Puerto Rico). Puppies and kittens must be at least 2 months old.
  • International flights. Puppies and kittens must be at least 4 months old and fully weaned. 
• Pet Carrier Requirements
  • Hard-sided carriers/kennels must not be more than 44cm long, 30cm wide, 19cm high (15.5in x 12in x 7.5in).
  • Soft-sided carriers/kennels must not be more than 46cm long, 28cm wide, and 28cm high (18in x 11in x 11in).
  • The maximum height of the pet carrier on Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft must not exceed 25cm/10in.
  • Must be an approved airline pet carrier. 
  • Must have a waterproof bottom. 
  • Must be adequately ventilated and securely fastened. 
  • Must have enough space for the pet to be comfortable in.
• Pet Reservations. 
  • Can be made by phone (1-866-399-0587) and online (when booking) or later via My trips (Pets in cabin). 
  • Must reserve in advance because a limited number of pets are accepted on each flight (only 4 in-cabin pets per flight are allowed in the Economy Class cabin). 
• Check-in Requirements. You must check in at the passenger counter and your pet carrier will count as a piece of carry-on baggage. 
• Pet Cost—In-Cabin Pets
  • The pet fee charged by United Airlines is USD 125.
  • The pet fee is payable at the reservations counter at the time of check-in.
  • An additional fee of USD 125 will be charged on flights with layovers exceeding 4 hours in the United States and more than 24 hours on flights outside of the United States. 
• Restrictions 
  • Route Restrictions. Pets are not accepted in the cabin on flights to/from/via the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Tahiti, South Africa, Panama, India, Cuba, Guam, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia.
  • Aircraft Restrictions. United does not accept pets in the First or Business Class on the following aircraft due to under-seat space restrictions: Boeing 787, 757-200, 767, and 777.
  • Seating Restrictions. Passengers travelling with pets are not allowed to occupy bulkhead or exit row seats, as well as Premium Plus seats due to under-seat space limitations. Passengers travelling on Boeing 757-200 aircraft must occupy a window seat due to limited space under middle and aisle seats.
  • Number of Pets Allowed
    • Up to 4 pets per flight on Economy Class narrow-body aircraft (incl. Boeing 737 and 757 and Airbus 319/320).
    • Up to 6 pets per flight on wide-body aircraft (incl. Boeing 767, 777, and 787).
  • Only 1 pet per carrier is permitted, but 2 household birds are allowed inside a single pet carrier.
• Service Dogs. Can travel free with passengers who have a qualifying disability. 
• Other Restrictions 
  • Must travel with an adult responsible for the pet.
  • Must always remain inside the pet carrier/kennel at the airport, in the boarding area, and on the plane.
  • Must stay at your feet, under the seat in front of you.
  • Must travel under the PetSafe program if it doesn’t fit in a carrier/kennel.

United Airlines Pet Policy for Cargo Pets

What is United Airlines’ pet shipping policy?

Note. The transport of pets as cargo under the PetSafe Program is temporarily unavailable due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If your dog or cat is too large to travel in the cabin or is travelling unaccompanied, you can book your pet under the PetSafe Program, where pets can travel in the cargo hold section of the aircraft to about 300 destinations. The temperature and pressure conditions in this section are the same as those in the aircraft cabin.

• Pets Allowed. Cats and dogs. 
• Forms Required. Your pet must have all the documentation required by the destination country if you’re travelling internationally. 
  • Proof of rabies certificate administered no less than 30 days before travel.
  • Health certificate, issued within 10 days of departure.
  • Customer Acknowledgement Form signed by the pet owner.
  • Photograph of pet crate (front side) showing that it is IATA-compliant.
  • A close-up photograph of the pet’s face for breed verification. 
• Pet Age 
  • Must be at least 8 weeks old (and 2lb/1kg heavy) for travel within the United States and Puerto Rico. If your pup or kitten is under 2lb, it must be at least 10 weeks old.
  • Must be at least 16 weeks old to travel into the United States.
• Pet Crate Requirements  
  • United Airlines allows 2 pups or kittens in the same carrier if they are: 
    • Of the same species.
    • Under 6 months old.
    • Not more than 20lb/9kg each.
    • Small enough to be comfortable inside the carrier.
  • United Airlines no longer allows Series 700 kennels. 
  • The top and bottom halves must be fastened by metal hardware. 
  • Must be ventilated on 3 sides on domestic flights and 4 sides on international flights. 
  • Can be made of metal, wood, or plastic.
  • The height of the crate must not be more than 34in.  
  • The permissible weight limit is 2lb/1kg to 770lb/350kg. 
  • Must be large enough for your pet to be comfortable in all positions—standing upright, sitting erect, lying down, turning around. 
  • Must have food and water dishes securely attached inside so that they can be filled from outside. 
• Restrictions 
  • Aircraft Restrictions. United will not accept pets in the cargo hold on Boeing 787s until further notice.
  • Route Restrictions. Pets are not accepted as cargo baggage: 
    • On flights to Nigeria, Lagos, Australia, India, or Dubai.
    • On flights from Chengdu, Beijing, and Seoul.

Tip. Do not fly your pet to Mexico City during weekends when customs offices are closed.

• Breed Restrictions
  • Brachycephalic dog breeds are not accepted for health reasons. They include: 
    • Brussels Griffon
    • Boxer
    • Boston Terrier
    • Belgian Malinois
    • American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff”
    • American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
    • American Bully
    • Affenpinscher
    • Bulldog
      • American Bulldog
      • English Bulldog
      • French Bulldog
      • Old English Bulldogges
      • Shorty Bulldogs
      • Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol
    • Lhasa Apso
    • Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel
    • English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel
    • Chow Chow
    • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
    • Mastiff
      • Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa
      • Tibetan Mastiff
      • Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol
      • Pyrenean Mastiff
      • Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff
      • Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta
      • Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano
      • Kangal/Turkish Kangal
      • Indian Mastiff/Alangu
      • Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila
      • English Mastiff
      • Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff
      • Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff
      • Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff
      • Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff
      • Bullmastiff
      • Boerboel/South African Mastiff
      • American Mastiff
    • Pekingese
    • Pug
      • Japanese Pug
      • Dutch Pug
    • Tibetan Spaniel
    • Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys”
    • Shih-Tzu
    • Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei
  • The following cat breeds are also not accepted: Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair, and Burmese.
• Temperature Restrictions
  • United will not accept bookings between: 
    • May 1 and September 30 to Tuscon, Phoenix, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas. 
    • June 15 and September 15 to Shanghai or Chengdu (China).

• Pet Reservations 
  • Must be made 5 – 30 days before travel. 
  • International bookings must be made through an IATA agent (IPATA.org).  
• Pick-up and Drop-off 
  • Ask United Airlines for the location.
• Pet Cost
  • The pet fee is route-dependent. Check this link for United pet cargo charges by route.
  • The pet fee is payable when you pick up your pet. 
• Comfort Stops
  • If your pet’s flight exceeds 12 hours, comfort stops are required—and you must pay the applicable fee.  
  • Dogs and cats will not be accepted on itineraries involving more than 2 layovers.

For information or assistance, call Pet Safe at 1-800-575-3335 or 1-832-235-1541.

Service Animals (Dogs)

United Airlines accepts trained service dogs (only) to travel in the cabin free of charge with qualified passengers (who have a disability).

• The service animal must be a dog and at least 4 months old. 
• The service dog must be trained to assist people with physical, mental, intellectual, psychiatric, or sensory disabilities.
• Dog trainers are allowed to bring 1 under-training service dog free of charge. 
• Each qualified passenger can travel with up to 2 service dogs free of cost.
• The service dog must be properly harnessed/leashed. 
• The service dog must be seated on the floor in front of your seat.
• The service dog should not stretch into the aisles.
• The service dog must follow the owner’s directions and behave properly.
• Your service dog’s health and other documentation must be up-to-date and on hand and must comply with the local regulations of your destination city/country.
• You cannot travel within 30 days of your service animal’s rabies shot.
• Therapy animals are not counted as service animals and must travel per United’s standard pet policy. 
• United Airlines no longer transports emotional support animals.
• Forms. For each service dog, the following U.S. DOT forms are required at the airport:
  • U.S. DOT Service Animal Training and Behavior Attestation Form
  • U.S. DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form on flights exceeding 8 hours
• If you have any questions or special needs, call United’s Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744. 

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Frequently Asked Questions on United Airlines Pet Policy