United Airlines Pet Policy: Domestic Travel
Flying to another state with your doggo is a lot easier than flying to another country. However, domestic flights aren’t exactly a walk in the dog park. Below, we’ve covered United’s crate and health requirements, booking procedures, and pet fees for both in-cabin travel and United’s PetSafe® program.
Crate Requirements
Small dogs who fit in a TSA-approved kennel or carrier will be allowed to travel in-cabin under the seat in front of you. Your kennel or carrier can be soft or hard-sided.
Hard-sided kennels cannot be any larger than 17.5 inches long x 12 inches wide x 7.5 inches high. There is more leeway for soft-sided carriers as they can fit easier under a seat. The max dimensions for soft-sided pet carriers are 18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high.
United Airlines doesnt specify size requirements for dogs. Your dog should be able to stand up and turn around comfortably in their kennel. If youre unsure whether your kennel meets TSA standards, contact United Airlines.
Dogs cannot fly with an unaccompanied minor or on a separate flight to their pet parent. Each ticket is valid for one pet only. Your dog must stay under the seat in front of you and inside their carrier at all times.
Health Requirements and Documentation
To fly in-cabin on United Airlines, your pup will need to be at least 4 months old. If your dog is too big to fly in-cabin, they will have to fly through United Airlines PetSafe® program (see below).
United Airlines’ dog travel policy requires all dogs to have a health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination from their vet. Ensure your dog is vaccinated against rabies well in advance, as they wont be able to travel for 30 days after their last rabies shot. If youre unsure about your dogs vaccinations or health certification, contact your vet for advice.
Booking Procedures and Pet Fees
You can book your dog’s flight at the same time you reserve your own seat. When booking a flight online, youll come to a page that asks for the number of passengers and pets in the cabin.
Its also possible to add a dog to your flight under your bookings “Manage reservation” tab. If you have questions about reservations, call Uniteds customer contact center.
The price of traveling with a dog in-cabin is $125 per animal one way. Bear in mind if you have a layover of more than 4 hours, youll be charged an additional $125 fee. The same goes if your layover is more than 24 hours internationally.
Exemptions and Other Considerations
You cannot fly with a dog in-cabin to Hawaii. Check United’s website for information if you’re connecting through a different country to a final destination in the US. Pit Bull breeds are prohibited from flying in-cabin.
Service dogs are exempt from crate size restrictions and pet fees. Therapy dogs and emotional support dogs are also exempt from crate size restrictions, but are still subject to a $125 service charge.
Youll also need a certificate from a licensed health professional and your veterinarian confirming your dog is a therapy or emotional support animal. These documents must be less than a year old. Youll have to submit 3 forms, including documentation, within 48 hours of your flight online.
If youre traveling internationally or your dog is too big to fit in a small kennel, theyll likely have to fly under United Airlines PetSafe® travel scheme. This option is vastly different from in-cabin travel.
Your dog will travel in a pressurized, temperature-controlled compartment and not in the cabin with you. This experience can be stressful for dogs, so United recommends getting your dog used to long periods in a kennel through crate training. You should also consider your dogs age, health, breed, and temperament before booking.
Breeds restricted from the United Airlines PetSafe® program include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, Belgian Malinois, and more. Energic breeds and dogs with separation anxiety may also become distressed during transit.
Crate Requirements
As with in-cabin travel, your dog must be able to stand up and turn comfortably inside their kennel. The maximum height for a kennel or crate is 34 inches. All kennels used for transport must meet United Airlines, USDA, and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. Only one dog can travel in each crate. You can find out more information about crate requirements on United Airlines’ website.
Health Requirements and Documentation
Here’s what you’ll need to do to travel with a dog on United Airlines’ PetSafe® program:
*You shouldnt feed your dog within two hours of flying, as this can cause health problems like bloating and vomiting.
**If you’re flying internationally, this timeframe may change in line with the specific countrys laws. EU pet passports are also considered a valid health certificate as long as they contain the necessary information.
United Airlines prohibits sedating your dog before flying. Sedation can cause serious health issues during flying and could prove fatal. As a result, any dog that appears to be sedated will not be allowed to fly.
Booking Procedures and Pet Fees
As with in-cabin travel, you can add your pet to your flight by going to the reservations section of your online booking. Due to how complicated PetSafe® booking procedures can be, youre probably better off calling United Customer Service to book and confirm your reservation. If you’re unsure of anything and need clarification, contact Uniteds PetSafe® Desk on 1-800-575-3335 or 1-832-235-1541.
The cost of booking with PetSafe® isnt transparent and depends on the combined weight of your dog and their crate. You may also incur additional charges for handling, kenneling, and booking. All transport costs must be prepaid.
If youre traveling internationally, you can contact the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) for rates and shipping options.
Exemptions and Other Considerations
When youre traveling with a dog on United Airlines, youre allowed to provide food, water, and a few added extras. You can attach up to 16 ounces of food and a drip-style water bowl to your dogs crate. Your dog wont be able to travel with toys, bones, or medication, but blankets less than 3 inches thick are permitted. Youll find a full list of whats allowed on the United Airlines website.
Similar rules regarding service, therapy, and emotional support animals apply to international travel. However, certain countries need different documentation, so you should contact the relevant embassy before booking. Some exceptions also apply to state department and military personnel on assignment. United offers special handling for government workers so they dont have to book via an IPATA third-party shipping agency. They can also avail of QuickPak® service to speed up check-in times.
United Airlines is a major US-Based airline headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. United operates out of 10 airline hubs in the continental United States, Guam, and Japan. The least expensive ticket on United Airlines is its “Basic Economy” rate, which severely limits the amount of free baggage, including carry-on baggage, that is permitted. You are only permitted to bring a tiny “Personal Item” aboard the aircraft with a United Airlines Basic Economy ticket; you are not permitted to bring a standard carry-on bag. Note: Be sure to note that all Lithium Batteries must be detached from “Smart Bags”. If you have a bag with non-removable Lithium batteries, your bag will not be allowed to fly.
Pet travel restrictions vary by season, destination and other factors. Be sure to get the most up-to-date information. If your pet will be traveling as carry-on or in a kennel as checked baggage, please call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to make the necessary arrangements.Pets traveling unaccompanied Pets flying without their owners must travel via United Cargo.Size and weight restrictions Kennels larger than 115 linear inches (292 linear cm) and pets weighing more than 150 pounds (68 kg) including their kennels must travel via United Cargo.TRAVELING WITH PETS United may accept your dog, cat, rabbit or household bird as carry-on or checked baggage. Some other pets, including dogs of the pit bull breed, hamsters and guinea pigs, may travel as checked baggage only. All options require advance reservations and are subject to a charge. Please call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to make arrangements for pets traveling as checked or carry-on baggage. For all other animals, please contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO or visit unitedcargo.com.Please note Advance arrangements are not guarantees that your animal will travel on a specific flight. To be as humane as possible, airlines reserve the right to refuse to transport an animal for reasons such as illness, poor kenneling or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer or destination airports. Airlines have the right to refuse carriage of any animal that demonstrates aggressive and/or violent behavior.Summer embargo – breed restriction For the safety of your animal, United Airlines does not accept the following short-nosed dog breeds, or mixed-breed dogs exhibiting the short-nosed characteristics of these breeds, as either checked baggage or cargo from June 1st through September 30th of each year. This restriction does not apply to animals traveling with you in the cabin. American Bulldog Boston Terrier Boxer English or French Bulldog King Charles Spaniel Lhasa Apso Pug Shar-Pei Shih TzuAll-breed summer embargo for travel to/from Kuwait and Bahrain Due to extreme heat, United Airlines will not accept any pets as checked baggage for travel to/from Kuwait (KWI) and Bahrain (BAH) from May 1 through September 30. Pets can be carried only in the economy cabin on flights to and from Kuwait. If the pet is carried in the cabin, the embargo time frame does not apply.Travel to/from Australia Pets are not permitted to travel in the cabin or as checked baggage on flights to/from Australia (exceptions may be made for service dogs such as seeing-eye or guide dogs). Pets may only travel to/from Australia as manifested cargo. Passengers should visit http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs and www.unitedcargo.com to learn more.Health documentation Passengers are required to make sure all health and pet travel documents are current and compliant with local, state, federal and international entry requirements and regulations. The passenger will assume full responsibility for penalties assessed by agencies for non-compliance of pet health and entry requirements.Carry-on United will allow the following pets to travel with you in the cabin if they are small enough to fit and stay comfortably in a carrier under the seat in front of you: Fully weaned dog or cat (minimum 6 months old, 1 per carrier); Domesticated rabbit (1 per carrier) Fully weaned puppies or kittens (minimum 8 weeks old, maximum 2 per carrier) Domesticated household birds (maximum 2 per carrier) Your pet carrier will take the place of one carry-on item, and a fee will apply. Please see the Fees for Traveling with Pets further below on this page for more information. Please note: United will not transport an animal as carry-on baggage if the animal is traveling with an unaccompanied child. Your pet carrier may be either hard- or soft-sided and must prevent escape of your pet into the cabin. No part of the animal should protrude from the carrier, and the floor must be absorbent enough to retain liquids and solids. Ventilation must be adequate. Pet and customer well-being require restrictions on many aircraft. United Airlines may not be able to accommodate pets on some aircraft or routes, or in many United First® and United Business® cabins. To be brought on board, kennels may not exceed any of the following dimensions:
No pets are allowed in the cabin on flights to Hawaii, with the exception of certified guide dogs. For more information on pets and travel to Hawaii, visit the Travel to Hawaii section below.Checked baggage Your dog or cat can ride in the pressurized and heated cargo compartment of the aircraft you are ticketed on. Pets traveling as checked baggage will be accepted at the airport check-in counter and delivered to the baggage claim area at your final destination. Please see our Kennels details on this page below for information about restrictions and requirements for pets traveling as checked baggage. Fees will apply. Please see the Fees for Traveling with Pets further below on this page for more information.Unaccompanied pets Animals traveling via our cargo system are accepted at the cargo facility and travel in the pressurized cargo compartments of our aircraft. Fees vary based on weight, size and destination. Extreme weather guidelines will apply, preventing cargo shipment of any live animal when the temperature is forecast to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any point in the animals journey.Travel arrangements If your pet will be traveling as carry-on or checked baggage, call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to arrange for their travel. If your pet will be unaccompanied, contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO or visit unitedcargo.com. If you wish to ship your pet as cargo in conjunction with your own United air travel, please contact United Cargo prior to making your air reservation.RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR YOUR PET Questions to consider when your pet travels The safety and welfare of your animal is important to us. The following rules and guidelines have been established to ensure safe travel for your pet.Is your pet old enough? USDA requires that your pet must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned before traveling.Is your pet acclimated to his kennel? Animals travel under less stress when they become accustomed to their shipping container before they travel.Is your pet healthy? Check with a veterinarian to be sure that your pet is fit to travel. You will need a health certificate in order to comply with state and federal laws, and your veterinarian will be able to supply this. To be valid for your trip, it should be issued no more than 30 days before departure if your pet is traveling with you. If your pet is traveling via cargo, the certificate should be issued no more than 10 days before departure. Have you selected your flight to make the trip as easy as possible? Whenever possible, book a direct, nonstop flight and avoid holiday or weekend travel. Consider schedules that minimize temperature extremes— for example, try to avoid travel during excessively hot or cold periods. Morning or evening flights are preferable during the summer. Normally cargo is not shipped on specific flights. If you wish to ship your pet as cargo in conjunction with your own United air travel, please contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO prior to making your air reservation.Making travel arrangements for your petNew summer embargo – breed restriction For the safety of your animal, United Airlines does not accept the following short-nosed dog breeds as either checked baggage or cargo from June 1 – September 30. This restriction does not apply to animals traveling with you in the cabin. American Bulldog Boston Terrier Boxer English or French Bulldog King Charles Spaniel Lhasa Apso Pug Shar-Pei Shih TzuExtreme weather conditions Extreme weather guidelines will apply for animals traveling as checked baggage. Cargo shipment of any live animal may not be permitted when the temperature is forecast to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any point in the animals journey.Make advance arrangements When booking a flight on which you will bring your pet, please advise us. Be sure to reconfirm 24 to 48 hours before departure that you will be bringing your pet. Please note that advance arrangements are not guarantees that your animal will travel on a specific flight. To be as humane as possible, airlines reserve the right to refuse to transport an animal for reasons like illness, poor kenneling, or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer, or destination airports. Airlines have the right to refuse carriage of any animal that demonstrates aggressive and/or violent behavior.If your trip is outside the continental United States If you are flying abroad to a foreign country or Hawaii, find out whether there are quarantine or other health requirements at the destination. A full-service travel agency or pet travel service should be able to assist you with this information. You should contact the appropriate embassy or consulate well in advance of your travel date.Travel to the European Union (EU) All dogs and cats importing into and transiting the EU will be subject to regulations. Besides an anti-rabies vaccinations certificate, all dogs and cats must have an implanted microchip or clearly readable tattoo. Pets not meeting these requirements will not be permitted entry. Pets are not accepted in the cabin or as checked baggage to the United Kingdom.Travel to Hawaii The State of Hawaii has severe restrictions for all pets entering the state as either checked baggage or cargo. (United Airlines does not allow pets in the cabin to Hawaii except certified guide dogs.) A 120-day quarantine period for dogs and cats will be imposed in Honolulu unless prior clearance arrangements have been made though the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture. If pre-clearance has been arranged, the quarantine time frame may be reduced. Animals are permitted to travel directly to Honolulu or to the outer islands of Hawaii (Kona), Kauai (Lihue) and Maui (Kahului), if they are in possession of an approved “Neighbor Island Inspection Permit”. Pre-clearance involves rabies shot documentation, micro-chipping, OIE-FAVN Rabies Blood test, a service fee paid to the Hawaii government and other notarized paperwork sent to the Hawaiian government at least 10 days prior to travel. To arrange pet entry into Hawaii, it is the responsibility of the customer to contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (808-483-7151) for all specific details. Customers will be responsible for all expenses incurred for failure to follow proper entry requirements. These expenses could include, but are not limited to: freight charges to Honolulu, transportation charges back to the mainland, and other service charges imposed by the air carrier. For international flights, there are additional airline requirements. More kennel ventilation is required for international flights than is required by the USDA for domestic flights. Labeling and a shippers certificate are also international conventions. It is important to contact United in advance if your pet is making an international trip.Food and water The USDA requires that your pet be offered food and water within four hours before you check in with us. You must certify with a signature the time that your pet was last offered food and water.Tranquilizers The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and United do not advise sedation, because the effects of tranquilizers on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable. Your veterinarian should decide if a tranquilizer should be prescribed for your pet. The AVMA also advises that brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds should not travel during adverse weather conditions which include high heat and humidity as the stress of travel might exacerbate the condition. As United Airlines is concerned about the safety of your animal, we are unable to accept short-nosed breeds as either checked baggage or cargo from June 1 – September 30.Arrival and check-in Arrive at the airport early. Be sure to check for the acceptance cutoff time for your flight. You cannot check in your pet more than four hours before the flight (six hours by special arrangement).Acceptance of animalsAirline responsibility Important considerations for acceptance of animals include their health and disposition, since an airline cannot transport an animal that is violent or dangerously ill. A health certificate will help to minimize questions. We must also determine whether all kennel marking and sizing is in order. This is especially important because the USDA assigns airlines final responsibility for the safety and compliance of the kennels they accept. Finally, we must assure that facilities are able to handle animals at transfer airports or the final destination. The USDA has clear guidelines on allowable temperature limits for animal-holding areas, which airlines must obey.Passenger responsibility Passengers are required to make sure all health and pet travel documents are current and compliant with local, state, federal and international entry requirements and regulations. The passenger will assume full responsibility for penalties assessed by agencies for non-compliance of pet health and entry requirements.Travel tips Carry a leash with you so you can walk your pet before you check in and after you arrive at your destination. Do not put the leash with the animal, either inside or attached to the outside of the kennel. Do not take your pet out of its kennel inside the airport. Let your pet out only after you leave the terminal building. Mark the kennel with your pets name. Mark the kennel with the telephone number of a person at the destination who can be contacted about your pet. This is especially important if you are sending your animal unaccompanied through the cargo system, because you will not be at the airport to claim your pet upon arrival. It may be helpful to contact a pet travel service to handle unaccompanied shipments since these services manage pickup and delivery, and can advise you about quarantine requirements for international travel. If your pet is traveling unaccompanied, remember that after the arrival at the destination there is a processing period for cargo which may vary by airline and airport. If you would like your pet to have water during travel, you may want to freeze the water in the pets dish before you leave.KENNELS Airlines and their passengers must follow USDA regulations on the size of pet kennels used to transport animals by aircraft. Any kennel used must be sturdy, properly ventilated, and large enough for your pet to stand, lie down and turn around freely. The kennel must close securely with a mechanism that requires no special tools to operate. Prescribed kennels are available from most airlines for a fee. If you have any doubts about the appropriateness of your kennel, check with a United representative, as the USDA assigns full responsibility to the airline for accepting only proper kennels.Kennel requirements Each checked kennel may: Contain up to: 1 dog or cat; 2 puppies or kittens (minimum 8 weeks old/maximum 6 months old); 2 household birds; or 2 rabbits, hamsters or guinea pigs Display “LIVE ANIMAL” labels, with letters at least one inch high, on top and on at least one side. (Labels are available at airport check-in counters.) Have a note certifying with a signature the last time (within four hours before bringing your pet to the airport) that your pet was offered food and/or water. Indicate your name, address, phone number and pets name. Have arrows or a “This End Up” designator to show which panel is the top. (Labels are available at airport check-in counters.) Include food and water dishes (both empty), secured inside the kennel and accessible from outside. Pet owners may freeze water in dish before departure. Contain absorbent material or bedding, such as newspaper. If needed, water and feeding schedule checklist, including the weight of the animal.Kennel checklist Kennel construction meets USDA regulation requirements (no wheels; no wire kennels; no collapsible kennels); must have leakproof bottom and absorbent material One-inch spacer bar around the kennel Hardware (bolts/screws) complete and assembled Door lockable and secure Kennel size is sturdy and sufficient to allow your pet freedom of movement, so it is able to stand, lie down and turn around freely Ventilation standards: three sides for U.S./Canada flights, four sides for international flights (includes door) Health certificate (in most cases health certificates dated within 30 days of scheduled travel will be required) Correct labeling (“LIVE ANIMAL” and “This End Up”) Water/food dishes (two dishes or divided dish) Completed feeding and watering certification and scheduleKennel types On all flights, United will only accept kennels secured with nuts and bolts. Kennels secured via other methods, such as twist locks or snap locks, are not acceptable.
Kennel purchase United offers kennels for purchase at select airports that we serve within the United States. Kennels may not be available for purchase at most United Express®-served airports and airports outside the U.S. Purchases may be made with cash or check and are subject to availability. Kennels are available at the prices listed below and include a water dish.Kennel prices* For pets traveling in a checked kennel 
For pets traveling in the cabin as carry-on baggage
Kennel sizes
*Prices do not include state and local sales tax. Kennel prices are subject to change without notice. **For carry-on use only. These kennel types will not be accepted as checked baggage. †Permitted only on United flights within the U.S. United does not sell XX-large kennels. ††United will not accept kennels with a combined crate and animal weight exceeding 150 lbs. (68 kg).Fees for traveling with pets Below is information relating to fees for pets traveling in a kennel as checked baggage or in the cabin as carry-on baggage. Fees must be paid at the airport check-in counter and may not be paid online. All fees shown below are for one direction of travel only and apply only when checking in with United. When checking in with a United codeshare partner, please contact that carrier regarding its policies for traveling with pets.Please note: Pets are not permitted on certain flights due to specific destination or route rules and regulations. To verify if pets are permitted on your flight, please call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S., or from outside the U.S. call your local reservations office. Prices shown below exclude travel to Brazil. For fee information relating to travel wholly within Asia, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S., or from outside the U.S. call your local reservations office. Conversion rates are subject to change.
1 For tickets purchased on or before April 9, 2010, the price for a small or medium kennel is 200 USD / 1370 CNY / 1550 HKD / 302 SGD / 6714 TWD / 6955 THB / 150 EUR / 231 CHF / 128 GBP. 2 For tickets purchased on or before April 9, 2010, the price for a small kennel is 18700 JPY. 3 For travel from North America to Japan, with tickets purchased on or before April 9, 2010, the price for a small kennel or pet in cabin is 84 USD/CAD, and a medium or large kennel is 168 USD/CAD.Travel to/from Brazil
SERVICE ANIMALS United Airlines and United Express welcome service animals accompanying persons with disabilities. There is no fee for service animals, and they may travel in the aircraft cabin as long as they do not obstruct an aisle or any other area used for emergency evacuations. It may be helpful to outfit your service animal with a harness or vest to make the animals status obvious to airport personnel. If the animals status is questioned, you simply need to provide credible verbal assurance that the animal is assisting a passenger with a disability. Please note that quarantine restrictions may apply. Check with your travel agent or a United reservations agent at least one month prior to departure to find out if there are any regulations specific to your destination.Emotional support animals Emotional support animals are considered to be service animals. However, a customer traveling with an emotional support animal will need to have documentation on letterhead from a licensed mental health professional, dated within the past 12 months, stating that the customer is under professional care for a mental-health-related disability, and that the animals assistance is essential to his or her mental health.Therapy animals Therapy animals, which are pets that have been trained and registered by a therapy organization in order to visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other facilities, are not considered to be service animals. When traveling with a therapy animal, standard pet-related regulations and restrictions will apply.Destination-specific information Hawaii There are restrictions regarding the entry of service animals into Hawaii. Customers planning to travel to Hawaii should contact the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Branch manager directly for quarantine requirements. The 24-hour phone number is 808-837-8092. You may also view animal quarantine information at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture web site.United Kingdom United Airlines is permitted to accept service animals on flights to the United Kingdom. Because UK regulations for accepting service animals are very strict, both United and our customers must carefully follow the appropriate procedures. As part of those procedures, any customer who intends to travel with a service animal must obtain a preapproval letter from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), a UK government agency. Please note that the preapproval process for transporting service animals to the UK can take up to two months. Visit the Defra web site for more information about requirements and procedures for taking animals into the UK, or contact Defra by phone at +44 870 241 1710, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. UK time. (Please note: