how is United Airlines Pet Travel

United Airlines Pet Travel

United Airlines In-Cabin Pet Policy

Allowed Pets

United Express allows small domestic cats and dogs to travel with them on domestic flights within the continental United States (not Hawaii).

Formula Requirements

A health certificate and rabies certification must be presented to your pet. These certificates should reflect a current rabies vaccine that was administered at least 30 days before you take off for primary vaccinations.

Age Requirements

Pets must not exceed 4 months of age and must fit under your seat. Carry-on luggage for your pet airline carrier is allowed. Only one pet per carrier is permitted.

If desired, passengers can buy an additional ticket to transport a second pet.

Route Restrictions:

Pets are not permitted to travel in the cabin when flying to or from Australia, New Zealand or Hawaii. Lagos, Nigeria and Dubai are not served.

Due to the lack of space underneath the seat, pets are not allowed in First or Business Class on Boeing 747/757/767 or 777 aircraft.

Carrier Requirements

An approved airline pet carrier is required if your pet meets the requirements of United Airlines' pet policy for in-cabin travel. You can have rigid or flexible carriers. They must have waterproof bottoms, adequate ventilation, and fasteners. Zippers are preferred. Hard-sided kennels have a maximum dimension of 17.5 inches in length x 12 inches wide by 7.5 inches tall (44 cmx30 cmx19 cm). Soft-sided kennels have a maximum dimension of 18 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 11 inches high (46cm x 28cm x 28cm).

Reservations

United Airlines must be notified that your pet is traveling with you. You can make reservations online or by calling 1-800-864-8333. Because there is a limit to the number of pets that can be brought onboard each flight, we recommend you book your airline reservations well in advance. Pet owners are not allowed to take their pets on flights.

Check-In:

As animals cannot be checked in curb side, you will need to check in at the passenger’s counter. At check-in, a fee will be charged. Carry-on luggage for your pet airline carrier is allowed.

Cost:

This service costs $125 USD and can be paid at check-in at the reservations counter. Additional $125 will be charged for flights that have a layover of more than 4 hours or more outside the US.

Service Dogs

Only service animals that are trained and certified can travel with disabled individuals in the cabin. Service animals will only be accepted from dogs.

United Airlines will request the following forms 48 hours prior to departure for passengers traveling with an emotional support dog: veterinary forms and immunization records; signed letters from licensed doctors or mental health professionals; and certified training certification.

United Airlines will no longer accept puppies or kittens younger than 4 months old as emotional support animals. ESAs can only be used for cats or dogs. Other animals will be evaluated individually.

After February 28, 2021, no emotional support animals can be transported. Reservations must be made before January 11, 2021.

More information on United Airline's policies regarding service and emotional support for animals.

Therapy animals are not considered service or comfort animals. They are exempt from the provisions for emotional support and service animals.

United Airlines Cargo Pet Policy - (Pet Safe(r) Program)

United Airlines will transport pets that are too big to be carried in the cabin, or unaccompanied, in the cargo hold under the Pet Safe Program.

Allowed Pets

Only cats and dogs

Route Restrictions

United does not offer service to Dubai or India, Australia, Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria, or Australia. Live animals cannot be shipped out of Seoul, Beijing, Chengdu or Chengdu until the temperatures drop.

Restrictions on Aircraft

United Airlines will not transport live animals in their cargo hold aboard its Boeing 787 aircraft until further notice.

Reservations

Reservations must be made between 5-30 days prior to travel. International travel bookings must be made through an IPATA agent (www.IPATA.org).

Check-In

A single dog or cat can travel in one crate. However, two kittens or puppies may share the same crate, provided they are less than 6 months old, of similar size, and less than 20lbs. (9 kg) each.

Cost

See United's cost list to transport pets.

Age

For domestic travel, puppies and kittens must weigh at least 2 lbs and be 10 weeks old or more. International travel requires proof of rabies vaccination not earlier than three months. After the 30-day period in which the rabies vaccination has been administered, puppies and kittens can no longer travel internationally with United.

Documentation Required

If you are flying internationally, all necessary paperwork will be required to transport your pet.

You must provide proof of current rabies vaccination that was administered at least 30 days prior to travel.

Within 10 days of travel, health certificate issued

The Customer Acknowledgment form must be signed by the pet owner
Photograph of pet crate front to confirm it is IATA compliant
To verify the breed, close-up photo clearly showing pet’s face

Drop off and pick up

See United Cargo Pick Up and Delivery Locations in the United States. It will vary depending on where you are flying to international destinations. You should contact United for more information. Pets cannot be picked up at baggage claim for flights to Mexico City. Instead, they will be transported to United's cargo facility. Here an agent will check your pet with customs officials. These fees will be charged to your account when you collect your pet. Please note that pets shouldn't be flown to Mexico City on weekends when customs is closed.

Breed Restrictions

Please see the restrictions below.

Temperature Restrictions

Due to the high temperatures, no bookings will be accepted at these airports between May 1, 2009 and September 30, 2009. Bookings that include Chengdu, Shanghai, China (between June 15 and September 15) will not be accepted.

Comfort Stops

If a flight has more than 12 hours of layover time, comfort stops may be necessary. Comfort stops are charged to pet owners. Itineraries that have more than two layovers will not allow pets.

Crate Requirements

United will allow two puppies or kittens younger than 6 months old to travel together in the same carrier, provided they are the same species and there is enough space. Otherwise, United will only allow one pet per carrier. United cannot transport Series 700 kennels.

Use metal hardware to attach the top and bottom of your pet's crate together. Clips that secure the bottom and top of the crate are not acceptable. Additional holes must be secured using cable ties.

For domestic flights, the crate should have ventilation on three sides and international flights on four sides.

Hard plastic, metal or wood are all acceptable materials for crates. The pet must be able sit, stand, and turn in the crate. Any crates greater than 34 inches will not be accepted. Custom crates and Series 700 (giant-sized) crates greater than 34 inches in height will not accepted.

Airports Served

United provides services to locations around the world in Africa, Asia and Europe, the Middle East and India, as well as North and South America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

United can also fly to London Heathrow, Edinburgh and Glasgow (accompanied animals only), which are all approved Border Inspection Posts in the United Kingdom.

Kittens and Puppies

United can transport kittens and puppies over 10 weeks old.

Banned Breeds

United Airline's Pet Safe Program does not accept the following breeds or their mixtures for transport:

Dog Breeds: Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier/"Am staff," Belgian Malinois, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Old English Bulldog, Shorty Bulldogs, Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, American Mastiff, Boerboel/South African Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff, Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff, Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff, English Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila, Indian Mastiff/Alangu, Kangal/Turkish Kangal, Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano, Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta, Pyrenean Mastiff, Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa, Pekingese, Pug, Dutch Pug, Japanese Pug, Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei, Shih-Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier/"Staffys," and Tibetan Spaniel.

Cat Breeds: Burmese and Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian.

Other Animals

United Airlines will transport only cats and dogs as air cargo. They will transport rabbits and small household birds in the cabin during domestic flights within the United States.