If you’re planning to fly your pet on United, here’s the single most important thing to know upfront: the United Airlines pet policy today only has one public option. United’s old cargo program, PetSafe, is confirmed closed to the general public — in-cabin carry-on is the only way most travelers can bring a cat or dog on a United flight.
Current as of 2026: Airline policies can change without notice. Confirm directly with United before booking — this guide reflects United’s own current pages, not older news coverage of policies that have since changed.
PetSafe Cargo Is Closed to the Public
This corrects a claim that gets repeated a lot without being re-checked: United’s own current page states directly, “We no longer let you check your pets through the PetSafe program.” The only way a pet can still fly in United’s cargo hold is through a narrow exemption for active-duty military on permanent change of station orders and State Department foreign service officers — and this exemption explicitly extends to their spouses too.
No fee, booking process, temperature policy, or breed policy is published for this restricted exemption anywhere on United’s site. If you qualify, you’ll need to work directly with United rather than relying on a general booking flow.
Carry-On (Cabin) Pets
Since in-cabin is now the real option for most travelers, it’s worth understanding exactly what’s allowed.
- Cats and dogs only.
- Hard-sided carrier maximum: 9in × 17.5in × 12in.
- Soft-sided carrier maximum: 11in × 18in × 11in.
- The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, door closed, for the entire flight.
- No weight or breed limitations are published for in-cabin pets — this directly contradicts a commonly repeated “20 lb limit” claim you may see elsewhere, which doesn’t appear on United’s own page.
- Minimum age: 2 months for domestic flights; for international flights, dogs must be 6 months old and kittens 4 months old.
- Up to 2 pets per person is allowed with 2 adjacent seats purchased, reduced to 1 pet per person on certain narrow-body aircraft (A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800/MAX 8, 737-900/MAX 9).
- No pets are allowed in emergency exit rows, United Premium Plus, or the front row of each cabin.
Service dogs are exempt from the carrier and fee requirements. Emotional support and therapy animals must fly as regular pets — they don’t qualify for the service-animal exemption.
Which Destinations Don’t Allow Pet Travel
Before you book, check whether your route is on United’s restricted list. Pets are currently prohibited to, from, or through: Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Greenland, Guam, Guyana, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), Palau, the Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
Some of these restrictions may apply only to specific routes rather than the entire country — always confirm the exact wording for your itinerary directly with United before booking.
Fees
United charges a flat $150 each way, per pet, for in-cabin travel — this is the entire public fee structure, since in-cabin is the only public option. No fee information is published for the restricted military/State Department cargo exemption.
Temperature Restrictions
United does not publish a temperature or heat/cold embargo policy on its current pet-travel pages — a real gap compared to airlines like Delta and American, which both publish specific thresholds. Since PetSafe cargo (where a temperature policy would historically have applied) is no longer public, it’s possible United no longer maintains one at all. Don’t assume a specific number applies; if you’re moving a heat-sensitive breed, this is worth asking United about directly.
CDC Requirements for Dogs Entering the U.S.
United’s page points travelers to CDC’s dog-import rules directly, recommending you check them at least two months before your trip. It also flags that USDA may require a certificate if your dog is coming from a country or region where screwworm is present, and that rabies and health certificates are required for dogs and cats traveling internationally, with rabies vaccination completed at least 28 days before travel. See Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel for the full federal picture — United’s own page doesn’t replace it.
Related Guides
Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel
Choosing Cabin vs. Cargo for International Pet Travel
American Airlines Pet Policy
Delta Air Lines Pet Policy
Pet Travel Glossary
