Travelers expect their journey to be comfortable. It can be a little stressful when you are traveling with pets. To avoid the hassles you should check the policies and rules of flying with pets. Every airline has a different pet policy. Here in this article, you will come to know how to bring along your pet on a flight without going through any hassle. Airlines permit passengers to bring pets but they have to follow certain rules. Here we are going to cover the most important details you need to know about United Airlines Pet Policy.
United Airlines allows the transportation of certain pets and most cats and dogs only. They charge $125 for each one-way itinerary for a cabin. Also, you will be charged another $125 for a flight within the U.S. with more than a four-hour stopover or a one-way international itinerary of more than a 24-hour stopover.
United Airline Pet Policy
Transportation of pets is available:
- In the cabin on selected flights
- In the checked baggage section
- As cargo baggage
Rules may change as per the aircraft and route you are flying. So, make sure to confirm it from United Airlines as soon as you finalize your travel plans. If you are traveling with Trained service dogs then they can travel for free in the cabin with disabled passengers.
Basic Things to know while flying with pets:
- You have to make a reservation for your pet.
- The number of animals allowed in-cabin is limited on certain flights.
- Check the availability of your pet when you book your flight.
- In case you haven’t reserved a seat for your pet then check the United airline flight change policy before making any changes to your plan.
Pet Carrier Requirement:
- As per United Airlines’ pet policy, you can bring both hard-sided and soft-sided carriers. The maximum dimensions for hard-sided carriers are 17.5 inches long by 12 inches wide by 7.5 inches high.
- For soft-sided carriers, the maximum dimensions are 18 inches long by 11 inches wide by 11 inches high.
- One main requirement for soft-sided pet carriers is that they must fit under the seat in front of you.
- Only a single pet is allowed in each pet carrier.
- The carrier must be an approved airline pet carrier.
- The bottom of the carrier should be waterproof.
United Airlines Cabin Pet Policy:
This policy is only applicable to United Airlines and United Express.
- United accepts small domesticated dogs, cats, small household birds, and rabbits on continental U.S. flights.
- To bring your pet you must carry certain documents i.e. Rabies certificate administered at least 30 days before the flight and their Health certificate.
- In domestic flights, you can carry puppies and kittens older than 2 months. On international flights, the pet must be at least 4 months old.
- Check-in your pet at the passenger counter to bring them as a piece of carry-on baggage.
Pet Reservation Process:
The reservation of a pet seat can be made over the phone/ online while booking/from the website in the “my trips” tab. Make sure you reserve in advance because there are a limited number of pets allowed. For economy class, only 4 in-cabin pets per flight are allowed in the Economy Class cabin.
Basic Restrictions:
United Airline Pet Policy holds some restrictions for travelers with pets. These are:
- On routes such as to/from/via the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Tahiti, South Africa, Panama, India, Cuba, Guam, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia pets are not allowed as carry-on. On Boeing 787, 757-200, 767, and 777 First or Business Class do not carry pets.
- Bulkhead/exit row seats, as well as Premium Plus seats, have limited seat space so passengers with pets are not allowed to fly on those seats.
United Airlines Pet Policy for Cargo Pets:
For large sized pets who cannot travel in the cabin can travel in the cargo hold section of the aircraft.
- Only cats and dogs are allowed as cargo.
- Certain documents you must carry are: proof of rabies certificate administered no less than 30 days before travel, Health certificate, issued within 10 days of departure, Customer Acknowledgement Form signed by the pet owner, Photograph of the pet crate, and a close-up photograph of the pet’s face.
- Pet must be at least 8 weeks old if traveling within the United States. If your pup or kitten is under 2lb, it must be at least 10 weeks old to travel.
- Pet must be at least 16 weeks old to travel into the U.S.
- Reservation should be made 5 to 30 days before travel.
- The fee for a pet depends on the route you are traveling.
Crate Requirement:
- You can bring 2 pups or kittens in the same carrier if they are of the same species, under 6 months, and weigh not more than 20lb/9kg each. Make sure they have enough space to be comfortable while traveling.
- Series 700 kennels are not allowed by United Airlines so avoid it.
- The top and bottom half of the crate must be fastened by metal hardware.
- A crate made of metal, wood, or plastic is allowed.
- The maximum height of the crate allowed is 34 inches.
- The weight limit for the crate is 2 lb/1 kg to 770lb/350kg.
Basic Restrictions:
- United’s Boeing 787s do not accept pets in the cargo hold without further notice.
- Flights to Nigeria, Lagos, Australia, India, or Dubai and flights from Chengdu, Beijing, and Seoul do not accept pets as cargo baggage.
Online Process:
To book a pet on your flight:
- First, find the link to book a trip to your pet.
- Then add a pet to your existing trip by searching for your flights.
- From the drop-down menu labeled “Special accommodations” look for “Add pet.”
United is one of many airlines that has restrictions for traveling with pets. You must follow the rules and regulations to avoid unnecessary struggles. Check out the list of restricted breeds and if your pet comes under the list then ask an airline representative before booking the flight.
