United Airlines permits passengers to carry no more than two pets onboard; however, unlike some other major U.S. air carriers, all animals must fly in the cabin. The cargo option, PetSafe, offered by United was discontinued back in 2018 after a string of negative publicity and is not being reintroduced for public passengers. Like all other U.S. air carriers, United adheres to DOT and ACAA guidelines that guarantee free and carrier-free flying of trained service animals; yet these guidelines do not cover pets and ESAs and have their own United policy.
This guide will explain what is permitted and how much it will cost, what carrier requirements are there, where pets can go, and how the rules for service animals differ from the regular pet policy.
What Is United Airlines’ Pet Policy?
United is an airline that permits people to bring along up to two pets each in the cabin of the airplane. Previously, until 2018, United operated a cargo service known as PetSafe whereby pets could fly as cargo, but this program was discontinued following a few unfortunate events, leaving pets to fly exclusively on the plane as long as they are with the passenger.
While United Airlines has no restrictions on the breed and weight of the pet being carried in the cabin, all dogs and cats should be in either a soft or hard-sided carrier that can fit under the seat. The only exception is a trained service dog because under the ACAA, such animals fly free of charge without being caged in a carrier. ESAs no longer enjoy this privilege following the DOT ruling of 2021.
What Types of Pets Does United Airlines Allow?
United allows dogs and cats to fly in the cabin. Service dogs can ride without a carrier; however, ESAs, therapy animals, and service dogs that are in training should be transported according to United’s general pet policy, which requires them to be carried in an appropriate carrier. Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are not allowed on any United flights in any category.
Age varies according to flight type; domestic flights require dogs to be at least two months old, while international flights require dogs to be at least six months old to comply with CDC regulations. Domestic kittens need to be at least two months old, while the minimum age for international flights is four months due to vaccination requirements.
Short-snouted breeds such as bulldogs and Persian cats have been prohibited from the PetSafe cargo program, which is now discontinued and thus does not have any effect since there are no more cargo flights for pets.
How Much Does United Airlines Charge Per Pet?
The pet fees currently, as of April 26, 2024, charged by United Airlines are $150 per pet one way, compared to the earlier $125 per pet fee, and are valid until 2026. Additional fees may be charged for flights with extended layovers, i.e., greater than 4 hours in the case of domestic flights and more than 24 hours in international flights. Thus, there are chances that international flights may cost more than the initial $150 fee due to the pet traveling along.
United Airlines’ earlier PetSafe cargo fees had their own independent fee structure, which is no longer available for passengers.
What Is the In-Cabin Pet Policy for United Airlines?
For pets to travel in-cabin on United, they will be allowed to ride on both domestic and international flights. The animals will be carried in a carrier under the seat in front of the traveler in question. It is important to note that United accepts both hard and soft-side carriers. For two pets, there should be two carriers, one for each animal. Unlike other airlines, sharing one carrier is not allowed.
There is no specific breed and weight restriction, although rules for different destinations could still apply. In addition, all in-cabin pets require a health certificate. There are minimum ages at which pets will be allowed in flight as per above: two months for domestic and four to six months for international flights based on species. Pets have to remain in the carriers for the whole journey.
Travelers flying with pets are not allowed to sit in emergency exit rows, the front rows of each cabin, or United Premium Plus. Pet strollers will not be allowed to go at the gate but will be checked as part of your luggage.
What Is the Recommended Pet Carrier Size for United Airlines?
United’s approved carrier dimensions are:
- Hard-sided carriers: 9″ x 17.5″ x 12″ (22 cm x 44 cm x 30 cm)
- Soft-sided carriers: 11″ x 18″ x 11″ (27 cm x 45 cm x 27 cm)
These limitations are designed to ensure full compliance with the carrier’s requirements to ensure that it can fit under the seat without invading the space of other passengers. For Boeing 737 MAX planes, in particular, the maximum height of the carrier cannot exceed 10 inches, so it’s better to check whether you are flying on one of them. Pets and ESAs have to comply with the carrier dimensions mentioned above – the only exemption is service animals that do not have to be confined in flight.
Is There a Pet Weight Limit for In-Cabin Travel on United Airlines?
No, there are no weight restrictions when it comes to in-cabin pets on United Airlines. The only limitation that has to be considered is the one regarding the carrier’s dimensions described above: as it has to fit under the seat, there is no way a bigger dog would fit into this category regardless of the weight limit set. If your pet does not fit into the carrier dimensions set by United, it will never matter what weight it has.
Does United Airlines Require a Health Certificate for In-Cabin Pet Travel?
Yes, this is usually true. International flights require health and rabies certification, while for domestic flights, a health certificate might not be compulsory, but still highly recommended in case it is needed on arrival.
The health certificate needs to have all relevant information such as the owner’s name, phone number, address, breed, gender, age, and color of the pet, as well as recent vaccination details. The veterinarian should state that the pet has not suffered from any infectious diseases during its last visit, and also that it has not bitten or hurt anyone within the past 30 days.
In regard to international flights, United Airlines requires a rabies certificate stating that the rabies vaccination of the pet has been done at least 28 days before the flight.
Can You Bring More Than One Pet In-Cabin on United Airlines?
Yes – United Airlines does allow a maximum of two pets per passenger. However, United Airlines, however, the limitation is that both pets cannot be kept in one carrier. Hence, when flying with two pets, passengers should buy a second adjacent seat for each of the pets.
Passengers also need to be careful about which aircraft they choose because not all of the United Airlines fleet is equipped to accommodate more than one pet for each passenger. The following types of aircraft only allow one pet per passenger: A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800, 737-8 (MAX 8), 737-900, and 737-9 (MAX 9).
Does United Airlines Restrict Pets to Certain Destinations?
Yes. Your pets are only allowed to be flown on United or United Express routes that go to places where pets are accepted. Your pets are not allowed to be taken to or from destinations like Australia, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Pets are not allowed in the cabin of flights going to and from Bilbao.
There is an interesting aspect about Guam – pets can fly from Guam to the US mainland and Tokyo-Narita but are not allowed to take international flights to Guam, because such flights are considered international flights. If you plan to take your pets on international flights, it would be advisable to call United at 1-800-864-8331.
Does United Airlines Still Fly Pets in Cargo?
No – not even for the general public. The previous United PetSafe cargo program for pets was halted in 2018 after several media cases and has never resumed. Presently, it’s only possible for U.S. military and foreign personnel on official orders – namely for relocation under a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or reassignment order – to ship pets. Even in this limited case, it’s still up to the pet owner to cover the charges, which will vary depending on the flight path, weight, and other considerations.
What Is United Airlines’ Policy for Emotional Support Animals?
United Airlines classifies ESAs in the same way as ordinary pets. Since the DOT changed its policy on ESAs in 2021, there is no special treatment anymore for ESAs – all of them should be compliant with the regular United Airlines pet policies. This decision was made due to a growing number of safety concerns regarding untrained ESAs, fake ESA letters, and regular pets being mislabeled as ESAs or service animals.
United Airlines doesn’t restrict the breeds and weight of ESAs in particular, but as ESAs have to travel in a proper carrier just as any other pet, this limitation works regardless.
But if your ESA letter was acquired with flights in mind, then it might be worthwhile to think about whether your documentation requirements have been met at all. An ESA letter is still 100% valid to use for its original purpose – namely for getting reasonable accommodations for yourself under the Fair Housing Act. However, ESA letters have no special status with any airlines, including United Airlines. ESA Clinic will find you a licensed psychologist who will help you decide which document suits you better.
Are ESA Letters Still Required to Fly With ESAs on United Airlines?
No. As ESAs are no longer considered service animals by the DOT and ACAA, having an ESA letter does not give you any travel advantages with United, as it will not allow you to waive the pet fee or qualify your animal as a service animal. ESAs will simply be treated as pets, which means that they will be subject to the same fee and documentation policies as any other pets. ESA letters used to be necessary for special air transportation arrangements, but now they are no longer required.
Can United Airlines Deny an ESA?
Yes. Following the reclassification of ESAs from service animals to pets in January 2021, United Airlines has the right to deny your ESA admission using the same criteria that apply to all pets. The main grounds for denying an animal travel include obvious illness or aggressive behavior and inappropriate carriers that do not satisfy the kennel requirements.
What Is United Airlines’ Policy for Service Animals?
United Airlines permits service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, to travel in the cabin with the handler free of charge, according to DOT and ACAA regulations. Travelers are allowed to have one or two service animals or training animals. Dogs (and some miniature horses in certain situations as per federal guidelines) are considered service animals by United Airlines alone. There is no set minimum age requirement for service animals as per United’s policy.
The DOT-required forms, i.e., the Service Animal Air Transportation Form and Service Animal Relief Attestation Form, need to be completed by the handler at least 48 hours before the journey. Carriers for service animals are not mandatory; however, leashing/harnessing and good behavior are expected from them throughout the journey. As ESAs can no longer be treated as service animals, only trained psychiatric service dogs qualify for this category.
What Is the Procedure for Flying With a Service Dog on United Airlines?
- Confirm eligibility. United Airlines welcomes fully trained service dogs and service dogs in training provided that they are accompanied by their handler.
Fill out the necessary documents – the Service Animal Air Transportation Form as well as the Service Animal Relief Attestation Form for flights exceeding eight hours. - Check with United Airlines’ accessibility desk for destination-specific policies, especially for international flights.
- Make the booking and include the service animal in your reservation.
- Be thoughtful when selecting your seat because the dog will have to sit on the floor in front of your seat (or in a carrier if it is small enough for you). Handlers of service animals cannot be seated in the exit rows.
- Prepare the necessary supplies for the journey – leash, portable food and water bowls, treats and waste disposal bags, and download the United app in advance for the list of pet relief areas at your departing and arriving airport.
It is the handler’s responsibility to make sure that the dog is well-behaved, leashed or harnessed and under his/her control at all times and to confirm that the dog will not relieve himself/herself on the plane or at the gate. The completed DOT forms should be kept handy during the whole journey.
Do You Need to Notify United Airlines in Advance for a Service Dog?
Yes, and the procedure depends on the type of flight as well. In case of domestic flights, check “I am traveling with an individually trained service animal” in the booking and fill out the necessary forms in the “Trip Details” section. If you have a MileagePlus account, then the form will be stored for all of your future bookings.
For the international flights, which include Hawaii and Guam, you should call the United Airlines Accessibility Desk at 1-800-228-2744.
Do Service Dogs Fly for Free With United Airlines?
Yes. United Airlines permits up to two service dogs for each passenger at no extra charge, if the dogs are at least four months of age, are either completely trained or still being trained, and are traveling together with their handlers. Therapy and ESA dogs do not qualify for this free allowance; both of them are considered just like ordinary pet dogs and are charged as such.
Are There Breed Restrictions for Service Dogs on United Airlines?
No. According to the United Airlines and DOT policies, there are no breed restrictions for service dogs. Under the ACAA guidelines, a service animal is defined as any dog, regardless of its breed or type, that is trained to assist a qualified disabled individual to perform certain tasks. This applies only to service animals but does not apply to ESAs and therapy dogs.
Can You Bring More Than One Service Dog on a United Airlines Flight?
Yes. United permits a maximum of two service dogs per person as per DOT regulations. The service dogs must be able to fit within the passenger’s foot room or lap area. Service dogs that are larger in size usually fail to do this; therefore, the passenger may have to buy an extra seat or even fly on different flights for both animals.
Are There Size Restrictions for Flying With a Service Dog on United Airlines?
Yes, from a practical perspective. Despite ACAA not allowing United to set any weight limits for service dogs, size does matter in reality because the dog needs to fit within the passenger’s foot room, not affect the comfort of other passengers, and also not occupy emergency exit rows.
Can United Airlines Deny a Service Animal?
Yes. Although the ACAA requires carriers to accommodate passengers with service animals on the plane, there are some exclusions. United Airlines may refuse to transport an animal if it represents an immediate danger to other passengers and flight attendants, acts aggressively, and its size impedes access to the emergency exit. In addition, those passengers who do not have proper certification and pets whose transportation could break the local regulations are refused.
Planning Your Trip With a Pet, ESA, or Service Animal
It is clear from United’s policy that, if your pet does not fit the approved carrier restrictions, this airline will not be the option regardless of the species of your pet and its documents. Traveling with pets and ESAs is equally expensive and requires the use of approved carriers, while service animals travel without charge and free from cages.
If the status of your animal determines your choice of airline, then it is recommended to get an answer in advance regarding this issue. For instance, maybe your dog’s training can classify it as a psychiatric service dog but not as an ESA. ESA Clinic assists certified mental health professionals in clarifying the necessary documentation.
