When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand what they will require to fly your pet. Policies for pets vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to note that the policies of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policies of the airline that owns the route. Here are United Airline pet policies.
Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines
- In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
carrier stowed under the seat. - Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
- Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Yes (Certain Flights)
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? No (Military on PSC Orders Only)
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? No
Where is United Airlines based?
United Airlines is based out of Houston–Intercontinental Airport but also has hubs in Chicago–O’Hare, Denver, Guam, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington–Dulles.
What countries does United Airlines fly to?
United Airlines flies to more than 210 destinations in the U.S. and more than 120 destinations internationally including locations worldwide in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean, North and South America including the United States, Canada and Mexico. There are simply too many to list here. See Route restrictions below.
United Airlines Pet Policies – In Cabin
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in United Airline’s pet policy to travel in-cabin, it will need an airline-compliant pet carrier unless you are flying with a service dog who is trained to assist you in a task required for a physical or medical disability.
Pets allowed on United Airlines in the cabin
United and United Express permits small, domesticated cats and dogs to travel in the cabin on flights within the continental United States. Two pets per person are allowed. An additional seat must be purchased for the second pet.
Reservations
You must notify United Airlines that you are traveling with a pet. Reservations can be made online or by calling customer service. 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.
Age requirements
All pet dogs and cats flying with United Airlines must be at least 2 months old to fly domestically (within the United States). Pets must be at least 4 months of age to fly internationally. Rabies vaccinations must be administered no sooner than 3 months of age and a 28-day minimum wait time must occur. This wait time will vary depending on the destination country.
Pet carrier requirements
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 9 inches high (44 cm x 30 cm x 22 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). (Ten inches when flying on a Boeing 737 MAX 9.)
Related: Selecting a pet carrier that is airline compliant
Forms required
Health certificates are encouraged on domestic flights within the United States and required on international flights. All documentation required by destination countries must be available at check in.
Related: Instructions and forms to import a pet to over 220 countries worldwide.
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 permitted on flights from Guam to Tokyo-Narita. You cannot bring your pet on the flight back to Guam.
Aircraft restrictions
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.
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 and will receive a special tag.
Related: How to clear airport security with a pet
Cost
The cost for flying a pet in the cabin with United Airlines is $150 USD each way which can be paid at the reservations counter at the time of check in. (An additional charge of $150 on flights with layovers more than 4 hours in the United States or more than 24 hours outside of the United States.)
Service dog pet policies
Trained service animals are permitted to travel in the cabin with qualified individuals with physical, sensory, psychiatric, cognitive or other disabilities that require assistance. Only dogs will be accepted as service animals. Therapy and emotional support dogs are not recognized as service dogs. Puppies under 4 months of age will not be accepted on United Airline’s flights as service dogs.
No sooner than 48 hours before departure, United Airlines will require US Department of Transportation forms to notify them of your service dog. These forms can be completed online in some cases; however, forms must be available in paper form when checking in.
Disabled passengers can fly with up to 2 service dogs or 1 service dog and 1 pet. In this case, an extra seat must be purchased by the passenger for the extra pet. There must be adequate room at the feet of the passenger for the service dog.
All service dogs flying internationally (Hawaii or Guam) must have all required documentation to enter these countries.
Related: United Airline policies on service and emotional support animals
United Airlines Pet Policies – Checked Baggage
If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, or it is a pet other than a cat or dog, it will be transported as checked baggage on United Airlines if it is flying with an adult passenger. However, United Airlines is currently only allowing the transport of pets for active U.S. Military or U.S. State Department Foreign Service Offices (FSO) traveling with active permanent change of station orders to fly as checked baggage under their Military Pet Program. Military and State Department personnel should contact United Airlines customer service to make a booking.
Military Pets allowed
Cats and dogs. One pet per PSC order and the owner must fly with the pet. On flights from Guam to Honolulu, up to 4 pets are permitted per flight. On flights from Honolulu, up to and including 2 pets per flight are permitted.
Reservations
Email militarypetsafe@united.com 5-10 days before your trip.
Pet crate requirements
The combined weight of each pet and their crate must be less than 99.9 pounds (45.31 kg). Maximum height of the crate must be less than or equal to 34 inches (86.4 cm) tall. Two pets of the same species can fly in the same crate if they are of the same size and under 20 pounds (9 kg).
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Temperature Restrictions
When temperatures rise above or drop under certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.
United Airlines will not permit the transport of live animals when temperatures at any point of the itinerary exceed the following temperatures anywhere on the route including origin, layover and destination airports:
- 80°F (27°C) Maximum for live animal shipments
- 20°F (-7°C) Minimum for live animal shipments (acclimation certificate required)
Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets. Consider an airline acclimation certificate for dogs and cats that are accustomed to cooler temperatures.
Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold
Forms Required
The following forms will be required for pets of military or State Department members: you and your pet’s itinerary, active PSC orders, health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, and an acknowledgement form.
Check in
Military or State Department pet owners should check their pet at the ticket counter in the terminal.
United Airlines Pet Policies – Air Cargo
All live animals flying as air cargo travel under an airline manifest or air waybill and are tracked throughout the entire flight. The airlines are responsible for caring for your pet during layovers as well. Unlike checked baggage, pets are generally checked in and claimed at the airline’s cargo facility. This facility is located on airport grounds; however, not the terminal.
United Airlines is no longer supporting its PetSafe Program for live animals flying in the cargo hold.
Pet Crate Requirements
All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood.
The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware must be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. Only one door is permitted per crate. The top of the crate must be strong and have no doors. Ventilation on 3 sides is required per IATA regulations.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Breeds Banned by United Airlines
A list of breeds banned to fly in the cargo hold as checked baggage can be found here.
Private Jet Charter
Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.
Other Information
United Airlines has provided no information regarding the reestablishment of their PetSafe service.
Further Reading
How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
Flying with a snub-nosed breed
More information on airline pet travel
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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 at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following United Airlines pet policies.