United Airlines Pet Policy
Pet travel reference. Check the conditions and official policy links for your itinerary.
Dates, limits and yes/no values may omit route-specific conditions. Confirm the current requirements with the authority or operating airline before booking.
Detailed reference notes are available in English.
Hold and cargo descriptions may refer to different transport services. Confirm the actual service with the operating airline.
- Cabin carriage reported
- Yes, as recorded; unconfirmed
- Cabin carrier dimensions
- Soft-sided: 46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm (18 inches x 11 inches x 11 inches). Hard-sided: 44 cm x 30 cm x 28 cm (17.5 inches x 12 inches x 11 inches). Must fit under the seat in front of you.
- Cabin fee
- $125 USD each way
- Pets in cabin
- Dogs and cats only
- Cabin carrier type
- Soft-sided or hard-sided, approved by United, must fit under the seat.
- Pets per passenger in cabin
- 1
- Accompanied hold carriage reported
- No, as recorded; unconfirmed
- Cargo / hold carriage reported
- Yes, as recorded; unconfirmed
- Cargo / hold requirements
- United accepts pets for shipment via United Cargo for approved animal shippers. This service is primarily for commercial shippers, breeders, and zoos.
- Cargo / hold fee
- Varies significantly by size, weight, destination, and service level. Contact United Cargo for a quote.
- Crate requirements
- Must be IATA-compliant (CR82) and provide adequate ventilation, space for the animal to stand, turn around, and lie down naturally.
- Vaccination requirements
- Pets must be up-to-date on all required vaccinations. Rabies vaccination is typically required and must be administered at least 21 days prior to travel.
- Health certificate reported as required
- Yes, as recorded; unconfirmed
- Microchip reported as required
- Yes, as recorded; unconfirmed
- Age restrictions
- Pets must be at least 4 months (16 weeks) old for international travel, and at least 2 months (8 weeks) old for domestic travel within the U.S.
- Advance notice
- Reservations for in-cabin pets should be made as early as possible as space is limited (maximum of 4 pets per flight).
- Species notes
- Dogs and cats (in cabin). United Cargo may transport other species for approved shippers.
- Short-nosed breed restrictions
- Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds are generally not accepted in cargo due to respiratory risks. This applies to both dogs and cats.
- Seasonal restrictions
- United has a seasonal embargo for pets traveling in cargo during extreme temperatures. Check with United Cargo for specific dates and regions.
- Minimum age (weeks)
- 8
- Route restrictions
- Pets are not accepted in cabin or cargo on flights to/from Hawaii, Australia, India, and certain other international destinations due to import regulations. Always check destination-specific rules.
Policy references
Open the policy page to check current route, service and booking conditions.
www.united.com