United Airlines In-Cabin Pet Policy

Pets Allowed

United and United Express permits small, domesticated cats and dogs to travel in the cabin on flights within the continental United States (not Hawaii).

Form Requirements

Your pet must have a health certificate and rabies certificate reflecting a current rabies vaccination administered more than 30 days prior to flight for primary vaccinations or vaccinations administered after the previous vaccination had expired.

Age Requirements:

Pets must be at least 4 months old for international flights and 2 months old for flights within the United States. Their carrier must fit comfortably under the seat in front of you. Your pet airline carrier will count as a piece of carry-on luggage. One pet is allowed per carrier.

Passengers can purchase an extra ticket to accommodate a second pet in a carrier if desired.

Route Restrictions:

Pets are not allowed to fly in the cabin on flights to, from or through Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Guam, Guyana, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Federated States of, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), Palau, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and the United Kingdom.

Pets are not permitted in First or Business Class on Boeing 747, 757, 767 or 777 aircraft due to lack of space under the seat.

Carrier Requirements

If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in United Airlines pet policy to travel in-cabin, you will need an approved airline pet carrier. Carriers can be rigid or flexible and must have a waterproof bottom, adequate ventilation and secure fasteners. (Zippers are preferable.) The maximum dimensions for hard-sided kennels are 17.5 inches long x 12 inches wide x 7.5 inches high (44 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm). The maximum dimensions for soft-sided kennels are 18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high (46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm).

Reservations

You must notify United Airlines that you are traveling with a pet. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-800-864-8331. We suggest that you make your airline reservations as far ahead as possible as there are a limited number of pets allowed in the cabin of each flight. Travelers with pets are also not permitted to sit in bulkhead seats or seats in exit rows.

Check-In:

You will check in at the passenger counter as animals are not checked in at curbside. A fee will be collected at the time of check in. Your pet airline carrier will count as a piece of carry-on luggage.

Cost:

$125USD for this service which can be paid at the reservations counter at the time of check in. (An additional charge of $125 on flights with layovers more than 4 hours in the US or more than 24 hours outside of the US.)

Service Dogs

Trained service animals are permitted to travel in the cabin with qualified individuals with disabilities. Only dogs will be accepted as service animals.

No sooner than 48 hours before departure, United Airlines will require US Department of Transportation forms to notify them of your service dog.

Puppies under 4 months of age will not be accepted on United flights as service dogs.

Emotional support animals can fly with their owners if they serve to ease their owner's anxiety or depression.

See more information about United Airline policies on service and emotional support animals.

Therapy dogs are permitted on United Airlines flights with confirmation of training and registration with a therapy organization.

United Airlines Cargo Pet Policy -

United Airlines has suspended its live animal cargo service.

Airports Served

United serves locations worldwide in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean, North and South America including the United States, Canada and Mexico.

United is also approved to fly into London Heathrow, Edinburgh, and Glasgow (accompanied pets only) which are approved Border Inspection Posts for the United Kingdom.

Puppies and Kittens

United will transport puppies, kittens and small dogs and cats over 4 months of age and fully vaccinated in the cabin.

Banned Breeds

United does not ban any snub-nosed breed of dog or cat from flying in the cabin.

The following breeds and their mixes are not accepted for transport in the cargo hold under active military orders:

Dog Breeds: Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier/"Amstaff," Belgian Malinois, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Old English Bulldogges, Shorty Bulldogs, Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, American Mastiff, Boerboel/South African Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff, Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff, Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff, English Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila, Indian Mastiff/Alangu, Kangal/Turkish Kangal, Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano, Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta, Pyrenean Mastiff, Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa, Pekingese, Pug, Dutch Pug, Japanese Pug, Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei, Shih-Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier/"Staffys," and Tibetan Spaniel.

Cat Breeds: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian.

Other Animals

United Airlines will only transport cats and dogs, small household birds and rabbits in the cabin on domestic flights within the United States.

 

Need more information?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the airline your pet is flying.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

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