Traveling with pets
Your dog, cat or household bird (canary, finch, parakeet) may be accepted as carry on or checked baggage. Rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs may be accepted as checked baggage only. All options require advance reservations and are subject to a charge. For all other animals, including, but not limited to, parrots, cockatiels and ferrets, please contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO or visit unitedcargo.com.

Please note
Advance arrangements are not guarantees that your animal will travel on a specific flight. To be as humane as possible, airlines reserve the right to refuse to transport an animal for reasons like illness, poor kenneling, or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer, or destination airports. Airlines have the right to refuse carriage of any animal that demonstrates aggressive and/or violent behavior.

New summer embargo - Breed restriction
For the safety of your animal, United Airlines does not accept the following short-nosed dog breeds as either checked baggage or cargo from June 1 - September 30. This restriction does not apply to animals traveling with you in the cabin.

  • Boston Terrier
  • Boxer
  • English/French Bulldog
  • King Charles Spaniel
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Pug
  • Shar-Pei
  • Shih Tzu

Health documentation
Passengers are required to make sure all health and pet travel documents are current and compliant with local, state, federal and international entry requirements and regulations. The passenger will assume full responsibility for penalties assessed by agencies for non-compliance of pet health and entry requirements.

Carry-on

Fully weaned dogs or cats at least eight weeks old and domesticated household birds (canaries, finches, parakeets) can travel with you in the cabin if they are small enough to fit and stay comfortably in a kennel under the seat. Tropical birds such as parrots are not allowed. No pets in cabin allowed to Hawaii. (Exception: certified guide dogs)

Checked baggage
Your dog or cat can ride in the pressurized and heated cargo compartment of the aircraft you are ticketed on. Pets traveling as checked baggage will be accepted at the airport check-in counter and delivered to the baggage claim area at your final destination.

Fees
For travel within the U.S. and between the U.S., Canada and U.S. territories, the fee for pets that travel with you in the cabin is USD $100.00. International rates vary by destination.

The charge for shipping is $100.00 for small/medium size kennels and $200.00 for intermediate to extra large for domestic one way travel; international rates vary by destination.


Unaccompanied pets

Animals traveling via our cargo system are accepted at the cargo facility and travel in the pressurized cargo compartments of our aircraft. Fees vary based on weight, size and destination.  Extreme weather guidelines will apply, preventing cargo shipment of any live animal when the temperature is forecast to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any point in the animal's journey.

To make arrangements

If your pet will be traveling as carry-on baggage or checked baggage, call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331). If your pet will be unaccompanied, contact United Cargo at 1-800-UA-CARGO or visit unitedcargo.com. If you wish to ship your pet as cargo in conjunction with your own United air travel, please contact United Cargo prior to making your air reservation.


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