United will require the following DOT forms for each service animal traveling with a customer beginning February 1, 2021. Please download the competed forms and carry them with you:
U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form (Relief Form) (for flights scheduled to take 8 hours or more)
In-cabin pets are domesticated cats and dogs that can fit in a travel carrier underneath the seat in front of you.
Pets can’t be in-cabin on flights to, from or through Hawaii and these international cities, but they are allowed in-cabin on select United flights. Pit Bull breed dogs aren’t allowed in cabin.
You can bring aboard your in-cabin pet’s kennel in addition to your carry-on bag allowance.
Keep in mind: The rules for service animals are different than those for in-cabin pets. Service animals, including emotional support and psychiatric service animals, are allowed to accompany qualified customers with disabilities in the cabin. You’ll find more details on the Service Animals page.
Pets traveling in cabin on United Airlines must follow the rules below:
Requirements for in-cabin pets
Booking an in-cabin pet
If you want to bring your pet into the cabin, you’ll need to indicate you are traveling with your pet ahead of time. You can do this when booking your trip on united.com and indicating the number of travelers in your reservation. Follow the prompts under “Pets in cabin.” You can also add your pet to your existing reservation through Manage Reservations on united.com
Please note: United's in-cabin pet policy applies to flights operated by United and United Express® only. For codeshare flights, please check the operating carrier’s in-cabin pet policy. If you are traveling on multiple airlines, please check with each carrier individually to make sure your pet can travel and for each airline’s restrictions. United can only accept your pet for flights operated by United and United Express.
At the airport with an in-cabin pet
When you arrive at the airport with your in-cabin pet, please check in with a United customer service representative who will give you a bright yellow bag tag to attach to your pet’s kennel.
On board with an in-cabin pet
Your pet must stay in their kennel with the door closed at all times while in the airport, at the boarding area and while on board the plane. Your pet’s kennel must stay at your feet, underneath the seat in front of you.
As of July 7, 2020 United Airlines has suspended PetSafe travel.
As travel demand and government restrictions continue to impact our schedule, we've suspended all PetSafe and military pet transportation until further notice. We'll continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates on our PetSafe page.
As of July 7, 2020 United Airlines has suspended PetSafe travel.
As travel demand and government restrictions continue to impact our schedule, we've suspended all PetSafe and military pet transportation until further notice. We'll continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates on our PetSafe page.
A pet traveling in cabin must be carried in an approved hard-sided or soft-sided kennel.
The kennel must fit completely under the seat in front of you and remain there at all times. The maximum dimensions for hard-sided kennels are 17.5 inches long x 12 inches wide x 7.5 inches high (44 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm).
The recommended maximum dimensions for soft-sided kennels are 18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high (46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm).
Soft-sided pet carriers can exceed these dimensions slightly because they are collapsible and able to fit underneath a seat without blocking the aisle.
Only one pet is allowed in a kennel, and the animal must be able to stand up and turn around comfortably.
For questions, please contact the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331).
There are various state and country entry rules for animals, and it’s up to you to know what they are and to comply with them.
If you’re traveling within the continental U.S., we require you to bring a health certificate (talk to your veterinarian) and proof of your pet’s latest rabies vaccine. You cannot travel within 30 days of your pet’s rabies vaccination. If you’re traveling to Hawaii or internationally, please see the “Hawaii and international travel” section below. And if you’re traveling to the U.S. from another country, please see the “Health declarations and vaccination requirements for dogs and cats entering the U.S.” section below.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has exemptions for dogs arriving from certain rabies-free countries, we require each animal entering the U.S. to have a valid certificate of rabies vaccination, signed by a licensed veterinarian. Vaccinations must be completed at least 30 days before arrival in the U.S. Since puppies cannot be vaccinated against rabies before three months of age, puppies under four months old won’t be accepted for travel.
The certificate should include the following information:
Name, phone number and address of the owner Identifying information for the animal, including breed, sex, age, color and markings Date of vaccination and the name of the vaccine used Date when the vaccination expires. If no expiration date is given, the vaccination must have been completed within 12 months before arrival in the U.S.
United doesn’t allow in-cabin pets on flights to, from or through:
There’s a $125 service charge each way and an additional $125 service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside of the U.S.
Map of all airports that have reported an air travel, pet related incident.
The inspiration for PetFlight.