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What Is United Airlines Pet Policy?

Oct 3, 2022

Flying is the quickest way to travel long distances, and many people take their pets with them while traveling. If you are traveling via United Airlines with your pet, you need to know the pet policy. You can learn more about United Airlines policies by contacting customer support here, and the pet policy is explained below.

Pet Policy Explained

  1. The only pets United Airlines will allow in-cabin are cats and dogs, but the number of in-cabin pets is strictly limited. Therefore, even if you've added your pet at booking, without a reservation, you will have to either reschedule your flight for one that allows your fur baby in the cabin.
  2. United Airlines also charges a fee of $125 for each one-way itinerary. So, if you book a round-trip ticket, the pet fee will be $125 for each way of your flight. Additionally, if you have a layover of more than 4 hours for any flight or an international flight with a stopover of more than 24 hours, you will be charged an additional $125, so it's important to budget your flight costs accordingly.
  3. United Airlines wants your pets to be safe and comfortable during the flight, and there are certain requirements regarding the pet carrier. The pet must be able to stand and move around with little difficulty in its carrier. Additionally, while the carrier can be either a soft-sided or hard-sided carrier, it must be able to fit under your seat for take-off and landing. The carrier cannot be larger than 17.5 by 12 by 7.5 inches (44.45 by 30.48 by 19.05 centimeters) for hard-sided and 18 by 11 by 11 inches (45.72 by 27.94 by 27.94 centimeters) for soft-sided carriers.
  4. Only one pet is allowed per carrier.
  5. United Airlines no longer allows pets to travel in the cargo hold and has suspended its PetSafe transport program; therefore, if you are traveling with your pets, they must be in-cabin.

Service Animals

The pet policy does not apply to service animals such as those working with individuals with limited mobility, seizure disorders or blindness. United also limits a person to two service animals. Individuals with a disability can have a service animal in the cabin at no added expense; however, United Airlines defines a service animal as follows:

  1. A dog, regardless of breed.
  2. Four months of age or older.
  3. Must be able to sit on the floor in front of your seat without taking up additional floor space.
  4. Must be specifically trained to perform tasks beneficial to the person with the disability, such as physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, or mental illness-related assistance.
  5. You must complete the necessary Department of Transportation forms to travel with your service animals.

Traveling with a pet through United Airlines can be challenging, especially since there are so many restrictions; however, it is not impossible. For more information or assistance with your pet travel plans, contact United Airlines customer service here.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.

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