United Airlines Pet Policy

United Airlines pet policy allows pets to travel in cabin as well as in cargo but it requires the passengers to follow some rules and guidelines. Whether you’re planning domestic or international travel, understanding the rules is crucial to ensuring a smooth and stress-free journey for both you and your pet.

In this article, we dive into the intricacies of United Airlines pet travel guidelines.

What is United Airlines pet in cabin policy?

As per United Airlines pet in cabin policy, only cats and dogs are allowed in cabin if there is available space. There are no weight or breed restrictions but your pet carrier must fit under the seat in front of you otherwise you cannot carry your pet on board.

How to book United Airlines pet travel?

To include your pet in your travel plans, simply choose the option “United Airlines travel with pets” when booking through United Airlines official website. 

Alternatively, you can visit the “My Trips” section to add a pet to an existing reservation. Follow these steps – 

• Enter the Booking reference and the passenger’s last name.
• Look for the specific option related to pet travel such as “Add Pet”.
• You will be guided through the process of providing the necessary details about your pet and their travel requirements.
• Follow the prompts and enter the required information.
• Review the information you have entered and make any necessary adjustments or corrections.
• Proceed to the next steps to complete the booking process for pet travel.
• Make sure to review any additional fees associated with pet travel and provide payment information as required.

Finally, confirm the booking and save the changes to your existing United Airlines reservation.

Please Note: Adding a pet to your trip cannot be done through the United app.

United Airlines pet fee

United Airlines Pet travel cost is $125 per trip. There is a pet travel fee for each layover exceeding 4 hours within the U.S. For international flights, the airline charges a fee of $125 for a 24 hour layover.

United pet travel documents required

For your pet to travel, certain documentation is required –

• Rabies certificate should show that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to the flight.
• A health certificate is necessary to confirm that your pet is in good health and fit for travel.

Restrictions for United Airlines pet in cabin

The United Airlines pet in cabin restrictions include – 

• Route Restrictions – Pets are not permitted 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 – Pets are not allowed 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 traveling with pets cannot occupy bulkhead or exit row seats, as well as Premium Plus seats due to limited under-seat space.

What are United Airlines pet carrier requirements?

The United Airlines pet carrier restrictions include –

• The size of hard-sided United Airlines in-cabin United pet carrier size must not exceed 44cm x 30cm x 19cm (15.5in x 12in x 7.5in), while soft-sided carriers/kennels should not exceed 46cm x 28cm x 28cm (18in x 11in x 11in).

• On Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, the maximum height of the pet carrier must not go beyond 25cm/10in. 
• Additionally, the carrier must be approved by the airline, and have a waterproof bottom, proper ventilation, and secure fastening.
• Must provide sufficient space for the pet’s comfort.

Does United Airlines allow pet travel as checked luggage?

As per United Airlines baggage policy, the airline does not permit pets in the checked baggage hold.

What is United Airlines pet cargo policy?

As per United Airlines pet policy, if your dog or cat is too big to travel in the cabin or is traveling without an accompanying passenger, you have the option to book your pet through the PetSafe Program.

But Airlines have halted the PetSafe program except for Military and State department purposes. 

The guidelines under United Airlines pet policy include –

Which breeds are restricted on United Airlines flight?

The prohibited breeds for United Airlines pet travel include –

• Lhasa Apso
• American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
• Brussels Griffon
• English Bulldog
• Mastiff
• Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel
• American Bully
• French Bulldog
• Boxer
• Tosa
• Tosa Ken
• Tosa Inu
• Japanese Mastiff
• Japanese Tosa
• English Toy Spaniel
• Prince Charles Spaniel
• Affenpinscher
• Boston Terrier
• Old English Bulldogges
• Tibetan Mastiff
• Chow Chow
• Bulldog
• Belgian Malinois
• Shorty Bulldogs
• Spanish Mastiff/Mastin Espanol
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• American Bulldog
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Amstaff
• Spanish Alano
• Spanish Bulldog
• Alano Espanol
• Pyrenean Mastiff
• Presa Canario
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Dogo Canario
• Canary Mastiff
• Pakistani 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

Required documentation for pet travel

Here are the essential documents that you need for United Airlines pet travel as cargo – 

• Proof of Rabies Certificate.
• Health Certificate.
• Customer Acknowledgement Form.
• Photograph of IATA-Compliant Pet Crate.
• Close-Up Photograph for Breed Verification.

United Airlines pet carrier restrictions

As per United Airlines pet policy, the airline accepts a variety of crate types for pet travel on most of its aircraft.

If your dog is slightly larger and cannot fit in a 40L x 27W x 30H crate (500 sizes), United allows crates with a maximum height of 34″ (including 600/PP90 size) or 500-sized crates with a 3-inch extension kit on mainline aircraft.

• United Airlines allows two pups or kittens of the same species to travel together in the same carrier.
• They must be under 6 months old and not exceed 20 lb/9 kg each in weight.
• United Airlines no longer allows Series 700 kennels for pet travel.
• The top and bottom halves of the kennel must be fastened securely using metal hardware.
• The kennel must be properly ventilated on three sides for domestic flights and four sides for international flights.
• Materials such as metal, wood, or plastic are acceptable for the construction of the kennel.
• The height of the kennel must not exceed 34 inches.

The kennel should be spacious enough for your pet to stand upright, sit erect, lie down, and turn around comfortably.

What is United Airlines military pet policy?

Here are the key details –

• Active duty U.S. military personnel on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, including retirement/separation orders, and State Department Foreign Service Personnel (FSP) on current reassignment.
• The said policy would not be applicable to military personnel on leave or traveling for leisure.
• This policy is applicable only to travel segments and flights operated by United Airlines, excluding United Express flights, and codeshare flights.
• Booking must be made via email at [email protected], and the passenger itinerary must be provided at the time of pet reservation.

Conditions for United Airlines military pet travel

Conditions for United Airlines military pet travel

You must meet the following requirements under United Airlines pet policy for Military travel – 

• Health Certificate must be dated within 10 days of travel, with the owner’s name on the certificate matching the name on PCS orders.
• Active PCS Orders must be presented, and the name on the orders must match the health certificate.
• Signed Acknowledgement Form that must match the name on PCS orders and the health certificate.

What are United Airlines pets as service animals requirements?

This comes under the United Airlines dog policy where the airline allows trained service animals to travel in the cabin free of charge with passengers who have a disability.

Here is the overview of the type of service animals and their function – 

How to book United Airlines service dogs?

As per the United Airlines pet policy, if you plan for United Airlines travel with pets or a service dog, it’s important to inform United Airlines in advance. The process may vary depending on whether you are traveling domestically or internationally.

For United Airlines pet travel domestically –

When traveling within the United States, you have two convenient options to inform United Airlines about your service dog

• During the Booking Process – While booking your ticket, make sure to check the service animal option when entering your traveler information.
• After Booking – Once you have completed your ticket reservation, you can still add your service animal to your trip. Simply access your trip details and select the option to add a service animal.

For United Airlines pet travel internationally –

As per the United Airlines pet policy international flights include destinations like Hawaii and Guam, specific rules and regulations may apply. Therefore, it is necessary to contact United Airlines’ accessibility desk at 1-800-228-2744 to add your service dog to your trip. 

Conditions for service dogs on United Airlines

Code of Conduct for Service Animals

Here are the key points to remember –

• The service dog should be seated on the floor in front of the owner’s seat.
• The service dog must not extend into the aisles.
• The service dog must obey the owner’s instructions and display appropriate behavior.
• Ensure your service dog has updated health and documentation that complies with local regulations.
• Travel is prohibited within 30 days of the service animal receiving a rabies shot.

Please Note: Therapy animals are subject to general United Airlines pet policy and are not considered service animals.

Restrictions for United Airlines service dogs

As per United Airlines pet policy, the airline no longer permits the transportation of emotional support animals.

Documents required for United Airlines pet travel

To ensure compliance and smooth travel for service dogs on United Airlines, you must submit – 

• U.S. DOT Service Animal Training and Behavior Attestation Form
• U.S. DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form

The United Airlines pet policy has implemented stringent safety measures to ensure the well-being of pets during air travel. This includes temperature-controlled cargo holds and trained staff who prioritize the care and handling of animals.

Furthermore, United Airlines requires proper documentation and health certificates to ensure the health and safety of all passengers, both human and animal.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs