Can You Fly with Pets on United Airlines?
Yes. United Airlines allows dogs and cats to travel in the cabin with you, in checked baggage, and in cargo. However, there are specific rules about breed restrictions, carrier requirements, health documentation, and advance booking that you must follow to avoid being denied boarding at the airport.
This guide covers everything you need to know based on United's official pet travel policy.
Key Numbers at a Glance
- Cabin pet fee: $150 USD per pet, one-way
- Maximum pets per passenger: 2 pets in cabin
- Cabin carrier dimensions: 27cm (L) × 45cm (W) × 27cm (H)
- Cabin carrier weight limit: 8 kg (pet + carrier combined)
- Health certificate validity: 10 days before departure
- Minimum pet age: 8 weeks (cabin), 10 weeks (checked/cargo)
- Heat embargo threshold: 29.4°C (85°F)
- Cold embargo threshold: -6.7°C (20°F)
Cabin Travel: Flying with Your Pet in the Cabin
This is the most common option for small dogs and cats. Your pet stays with you during the flight.
Breed Restrictions
United bans certain brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds from cabin travel due to respiratory risks during flight. These breeds include:
Dogs: Affenpinscher, American Bully, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog (all types), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, French Bulldog, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff (all types including Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Tosa), Pekingese, Pug, Shar-Pei, Shih-Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Tibetan Spaniel.
Cats: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian.
If your breed is on this list, you cannot fly in the cabin. Check the brachycephalic breed guide for alternatives.
Carrier Requirements
Your carrier must meet these exact dimensions:
- Length: 27 cm (10.6 inches)
- Width: 45 cm (17.7 inches)
- Height: 27 cm (10.6 inches)
- Combined weight (pet + carrier): Maximum 8 kg (17.6 lbs)
Both hard-sided and soft-sided carriers are allowed. The carrier must have adequate ventilation and include an absorbent liner or mat to manage accidents during flight.
Age and Health Requirements
Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned. A health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian is required and must be dated within 10 days of your departure date. Pregnant animals are not accepted for cabin travel.
Booking and Fees
You must book your pet in advance online — you cannot show up at the airport with a pet without prior arrangement. The fee is $150 USD per pet, one-way. You can bring up to 2 pets per passenger in the cabin.
What NOT to Do
Do not sedate your pet. IATA Live Animals Regulations prohibit sedation during air travel. A sedated animal cannot maintain equilibrium or respond to emergencies. This applies to all commercial airlines worldwide.
Checked Baggage Travel: Larger Pets
If your pet is too large for the cabin or is a restricted breed, checked baggage travel may be an option — though it's less common and more stressful for your pet.
Restrictions and Requirements
Checked baggage travel has stricter rules than cabin travel:
- Minimum age: 10 weeks (older than cabin requirement)
- Brachycephalic breeds are restricted
- Pregnant animals are not accepted
- Hard-sided or soft-sided carriers allowed
- Carrier must have ventilation, absorbent liner, and an attached water bowl
- Health certificate required (10 days validity)
- Advance booking required
Temperature Embargoes
United will not accept pets in checked baggage if temperatures at the origin or destination exceed 29.4°C (85°F) or fall below -6.7°C (20°F). This is a safety measure to prevent heat stress or cold injury. Plan your travel dates accordingly, especially during summer and winter months.
Cargo Travel: Large Dogs and Special Circumstances
For larger dogs or special situations, United offers cargo transport. This requires an IATA-compliant hard-sided crate and is more expensive than cabin or checked baggage options.
Cargo Carrier Requirements
- Hard-sided crate only (soft-sided not accepted)
- Must be IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) compliant
- Ventilation openings on at least three sides
- Attached water bowl or trough (fillable from outside)
- "Live Animals" labels with orientation arrows required
- Absorbent liner inside
Restrictions
- Minimum age: 10 weeks
- Brachycephalic breeds banned
- Pregnant animals not accepted
- Health certificate required (10 days validity)
- Advance booking required
- Temperature embargoes apply: 29.4°C (85°F) maximum, -6.7°C (20°F) minimum
For specific cargo pricing and availability, contact United Airlines directly.
Special Programs: Military and Diplomatic Travel
United offers a dedicated military pet program for US military personnel on permanent change of station and their spouses, as well as State Department foreign service officers and spouses. This program has specific crate requirements: hard plastic, wood, or metal construction with metal bolts, ventilation on three sides, solid roof, and metal door. A health certificate dated within 10 days is required.
Assistance Animals
Service animals and emotional support animals have separate policies from pet animals. Documentation is required. Contact United directly for specific requirements, as these policies differ from standard pet travel rules.
What You Need to Do: Pre-Flight Checklist
- Check your breed: Verify your dog or cat is not on the brachycephalic ban list. If it is, cargo travel may not be an option either.
- Schedule a vet visit: Get a health certificate issued within 10 days of departure. Don't get it earlier — airlines want current documentation.
- Get the right carrier: Measure your carrier against United's dimensions (27×45×27 cm for cabin). Ensure it has ventilation and an absorbent liner.
- Book online in advance: Don't wait until the airport. Book your pet through United's website at least several days before travel.
- Check temperature forecasts: If traveling in summer or winter, verify that temperatures at both origin and destination won't trigger embargoes (under 29.4°C / 85°F and above -6.7°C / 20°F).
- Prepare your pet: Get your pet acclimated to the carrier before flight day. Practice short trips in the car.
- Bring documentation: Have your health certificate, booking confirmation, and ID ready at check-in.
- Never sedate: Do not give your pet sedatives unless explicitly instructed by both your vet and United Airlines.
Common Questions
Can I bring two pets?
Yes, up to 2 pets per passenger are allowed in the cabin. Each pet incurs the $150 fee.
What if my pet is pregnant?
United does not accept visibly pregnant animals for travel due to health risks. If your pet is pregnant, contact United directly to discuss your options.
What if my destination is very hot or cold?
If temperatures exceed 29.4°C (85°F) or drop below -6.7°C (20°F), United will refuse to transport your pet in checked baggage or cargo. Plan travel during moderate seasons, or contact United to discuss alternatives.
Do I need an import permit for international travel?
We're still verifying this — contact United Airlines directly. International pet travel often requires import permits, microchipping, and rabies vaccination records depending on your destination country. Check with your destination country's requirements well in advance.
Can I use a soft-sided carrier for cargo?
No. Cargo transport requires a hard-sided, IATA-compliant crate only.
Next Steps
Start by confirming your pet's breed is not restricted, then schedule a vet appointment for a health certificate. Once you have that, book your pet online through United's website. For detailed information on documents needed, see our pet travel documents checklist.
For a full breakdown of costs, check our pet travel cost guide.
Get your free personalized travel plan from Pawgo — we'll help you navigate all the requirements for your specific route and pet.
Important Note
This guide is based on United Airlines' official pet travel policy as of April 2026. Policies can change, and specific rules may vary by route or destination. Always verify current requirements directly with United Airlines at united.com/traveling-with-pets before booking. If you're traveling internationally, check your destination country's import requirements separately — they often exceed airline requirements.
Auto-generated from verified data · Last updated: April 10, 2026