PetFlightCheck

United Airlines Pet Policy (2026): Fees, Carrier Size & Rules

Yes. United allows dogs and cats in the cabin on domestic and international flights for $150 each way, per pet. The carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, up to 17.5 × 12 × 9 in (hard-sided) or 18 × 11 × 11 in (soft-sided). Pets can't fly in cargo, with rare exceptions.

Last verified against United's official pages

How to add your dog to a booking

  1. When booking on united.com, select "Travel with a pet" as a traveler. For an existing trip, add the pet in My Trips. Pets can't be added in the United app.
  2. For an international flight, call United to add your pet to the reservation.
  3. For a domestic flight, check in at an airport kiosk with your confirmation number. The kiosk prints a special tag for your pet's carrier.
  4. On the plane, keep your pet in the carrier with the door closed and under your seat at all times.

Source: Traveling with pets

Pet fee

$150

All flights

each way, per pet

  • Bringing 2 pets requires buying 2 seats; the second seat must be next to yours.

Source: Traveling with pets

Carrier size and weight

United doesn't publish a weight limit for pets in the cabin. What matters is the carrier: your pet has to fit inside it, and it has to fit under the seat in front of you.

Hard-sided carrier (maximum)

17.5 × 12 × 9 in

≈ 44 × 30 × 23 cm (L × W × H)

Soft-sided carrier (maximum)

18 × 11 × 11 in

≈ 46 × 28 × 28 cm (L × W × H)

  • Pets must be at least 2 months old on domestic flights, and dogs at least 6 months old on international flights.
  • The number of pets allowed on each flight depends on the aircraft.

Where you can sit

  • Not in an emergency exit row
  • Not in a United Premium Plus seat
  • Not in the front row of any cabin
  • Economy on a Boeing 757-200: window seat only, so the carrier fits under the seat
  • Economy on a Boeing 737-800 / 737-8 (MAX 8) or 737-900 / 737-9 (MAX 9): aisle or window seat only
  • These seat rules are for flights operated by United. Ask United about United Express flights.

Source: Traveling with pets

Routes, breeds and other restrictions

Where pets can't fly

United doesn't allow pets to fly to, from or even through these places.

  • Australia
  • Barbados
  • Brazil
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • French Polynesia (Tahiti)
  • Greenland
  • Guam: pets can fly from Guam to Tokyo-Narita or the U.S. mainland, but not on the flight back to Guam
  • Guyana
  • Hawaii
  • Hong Kong
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Marshall Islands
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • Morocco
  • New Zealand
  • Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)
  • Palau
  • Philippines
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • South Africa
  • Spain: in-cabin pets are prohibited to/from Bilbao only
  • Sweden
  • Taiwan: in-cabin pets are prohibited from Kaohsiung to/from Tokyo-Narita and from Taipei to/from Guam
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
  • United Kingdom
  • Vietnam

Breeds

No breed ban for short-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs. United states there are no breed limitations for pets.

Also good to know

  • Pet limits depend on the aircraft: up to 2 pets in premium cabins, and 3 to 6 pets in Economy depending on the plane.
  • On a Boeing 737 MAX, your pet carrier can be no more than 10 inches tall.
  • For international flights, dogs and cats need rabies and health certificates, and the rabies vaccination must be done at least 28 days before travel.
  • Dogs flying into Mexico need a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection certificate issued no more than 5 days before travel (exceptions apply for dogs from Mexico and dogs transiting the U.S.).
  • Pet strollers must be checked in the lobby and count towards the checked bag allowance.

Source: Traveling with pets

Cargo and checked pets

United doesn't carry pets in the cargo hold, so a dog that doesn't fit in an under-seat carrier can't fly with United. Exception: United has pet exemptions for U.S. military members on permanent change of station (and their spouses) and State Department foreign service officers (and their spouses).

Source: Traveling with pets

Service dogs and emotional support animals

  • Only trained service dogs are accepted as service animals.
  • Emotional support animals fly as regular pets, under the pet rules and fee on this page.
  • Required paperwork: Service Animal Training and Behavior Attestation Form (plus the Service Animal Relief Attestation Form for flights of 8 hours or more).

Source: Service animals

Other details

  • Service dogs: up to two fly free; minimum age 4 months on domestic flights and 6 months on international flights.
  • You can fly with 1 service dog and 1 pet, but you must buy an extra seat next to you.
  • United's pages disagree on pets per person: the main pet page says up to 2 (with a second seat), while the seating FAQ says you can only bring one. Confirm with United before booking two pets.
  • United's cargo pet program (PetSafe) has ended.

Before you fly

United can change its pet policy at any time. We last checked these official pages on September 26, 2026. Confirm the rules with United before you book and again before you travel.

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