On June 18, 2018, United implemented several new policies and customer requirements for pet air transportation to improve the safety of the travel experience following a comprehensive review of our PetSafe® program in partnership with American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization.
Throughout the remainder of the year, United and American Humane will continue to make enhancements as needed to further improve the safety and care of animal transportation. Please watch this video for important pre-flight tips from American Humane to prepare your pet to travel safely and comfortably.
PetSafe® is United’s specially designed program for transporting cats and dogs that are not eligible to travel in the aircraft cabin. United PetSafe offers airport-to-airport travel for cats and dogs traveling to approximately 300 destinations, and members of our PetSafe team are trained professionals who love animals and are dedicated to ensuring that all pets receive the best care throughout their entire journey.
Industry-leading comfort and safety features
We prioritize the safety and well-being of cats and dogs through every step of their journey with United PetSafe.
Operate over 80 custom-designed, climate-controlled vehicles to safely transport pets in all weather conditions
Pets are placed onto the aircraft last and removed first to minimize stress
In the air, pets remain secure and comfortable in climate-controlled, pressurized compartments
Onsite kennels and offsite facilities accommodate pets during long connection times and before international travel
Dedicated, specially trained PetSafe Customer Service Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Plus, earn 500 MileagePlus® award miles for each PetSafe shipment within the U.S. and 1,000 miles for all other shipments*
*This offer is subject to change. See the complete rules of the MileagePlus program.
Book travel with PetSafe
Request a booking by submitting our form or contacting your local pet shipper.
Required documents
Review and complete these documents prior to traveling to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience.
This section details the certificates, forms and photos you must present when you drop your pet off for travel to ensure they are prepared for a safe and healthy journey.
PetSafe provides a 100% refund of the shipping charges when pets do not travel as booked, if they are dropped off by the required time and meet all acceptance criteria. To request a refund according to the Performance Guarantee, please submit a claim request form.
*No refund will be paid if the delay was caused by weather conditions, mechanical delay of aircraft, or for any other reason beyond United's control. Performance Guarantee claims requests must be submitted within seven days of the promised time of availability.
Contact PetSafe
If you can't find the answers to your questions on the website, submit your question online.
Effective June 18, 2018, improved PetSafe standards went into effect. Standards will be updated continually and include the following:
New PetSafe Embargoes
Effective June 18, 2018, United PetSafe will*:
Animals Accepted for PetSafe
Accept cats and dogs ONLY. NO other household pets or animals will be accepted as PetSafe
Reservation and Travel Resume
Allow reservations beginning July 16, 2018 for pets traveling alone or on the same flight as their pet parent or guardian for travel beginning July 30, 2018.
Breeds
Not accept reservations for the following brachycephalic (or short- or snub-nosed) dogs and cats and strong-jawed dog breeds*, out of concern for higher adverse health risks:
Dog Breeds
Affenpinscher
American Bully
American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
American Staffordshire Terrier/"Amstaff"
Belgian Malinois
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brussels Griffon
Bulldog
American Bulldog
English Bulldog
French Bulldog
Old English Bulldogges
Shorty Bulldogs
Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chow Chow
English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel
Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel
Lhasa Apso
Mastiff
American Mastiff
Boerboel/South African Mastiff
Bullmastiff
Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff
Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff
Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff
Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff
English Mastiff
Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila
Indian Mastiff/Alangu
Kangal/Turkish Kangal
Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano
Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta
Pyrenean Mastiff
Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff
Monitor weather and assess each location's capability of handling pets during extreme temperature or other operating conditions. United may decline pet acceptance or alter the routing if temperatures are outside of a safe range.
No longer accept reservations to and from the following airports annually between May 1 and Sept. 30, due to high temperature restrictions
Las Vegas (LAS)
Palm Springs (PSP)
Phoenix (PHX)
Tucson (TUS)
Reservation Timeframe
Accept reservations between 30 days in advance (maximum) and five (5) days (minimum) prior to travel
Require additional conditions for acceptance (see below) prior to reservation confirmation.
Additional conditions to approve pet for travel
Require the customer to provide PetSafe with several pieces of information (e.g. documents, photos, etc.) to avoid cancellation of the pet's reservation. PetSafe Customer Service Center will be able to provide additional details of this requirement at the time of booking
Locations Served
Not accept any reservations to and from India and Australia at this time. To confirm service in other locations, please contact the PetSafe Customer Service Center.
Flight Segments (Connections)
Place limitations on the number of connecting cities in the routing. Please consult the PetSafe Customer Service Center for available routings.
International Routings
Require international routing to be arranged through an International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) pet shipper only. A list of IPATA members near you can be found at https://www.ipata.org
Crates
Not accept crates taller than 30", including the 700 series crates.
No longer sell or provide crates at airport facilities. All cats and dogs traveling with a PetSafe reservation must have a compliant crate, which may be purchased via united.com/petmate in advance for acclimation and travel.
*Last updated July 18, 2018; please note embargoes and information will be updated as detailed requirements are rolled out and is subject to change at any time.
