United Airlines Pet Policy (2026): Fees, Carrier Sizes and Rules
United lets small cats and dogs fly in the cabin with you for $150 each way. Your pet travels in a carrier under the seat in front of you. United no longer flies pets as cargo, apart from an exemption for some military and State Department families.
Last checked against United’s own pages on 1 October 2026: Traveling with pets and Service animals. Airlines change their rules, so confirm with United before you book.
United pet policy at a glance
| Rule | What United says |
|---|---|
| Fee | $150 each way, per pet |
| Which animals | Cats and dogs only (no birds or rabbits) |
| Where they travel | In the cabin, in a carrier under the seat in front of you, if there is space on the flight |
| Weight or breed limits | None, but your pet has to fit in the carrier |
| Hard-sided carrier, maximum | 17.5 x 12 x 9 inches (44 x 30 x 22 cm) |
| Soft-sided carrier, maximum | 18 x 11 x 11 inches (45 x 27 x 27 cm); no more than 10 inches tall on a Boeing 737 MAX |
| Minimum age, US flights | 2 months |
| Minimum age, international | Dogs 6 months, kittens 4 months |
| Pets per person | Up to 2 on most flights, if you buy 2 seats; 1 on some aircraft |
| Cargo | Not available (military and State Department exemption only) |
Can my dog fly in the cabin on United?
Yes, if your dog is small enough to travel in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. United has no weight or breed limits for pets, but the carrier has to be ventilated and fit under the seat, or you can’t fly with your pet. Only cats and dogs can travel as pets, and only service animals can travel without a carrier.
Therapy and emotional support animals fly as pets on United, not as service animals, so the same fee and carrier rules apply to them.
Can birds fly in the cabin on United?
No. United’s pet policy says a pet flying with you must be a cat or dog. Household birds, rabbits and other animals can’t travel in the cabin as pets, on domestic or international flights, and United no longer checks pets as cargo through PetSafe.
How much does it cost, and how do I book?
A pet ticket costs $150 each way. To book, choose “Travel with a pet” as a traveler when you book on united.com, or add a pet to an existing trip under My Trips. You can’t add a pet in the United app.
Pets fly only if there is space available, and each flight takes a limited number (see below), so add your pet as early as you can.
Some older guides mention an extra fee for long layovers. United’s pet page doesn’t list one as of October 2026. If your trip has a long layover, ask United when you book.
Carrier size rules
- Hard-sided carrier: up to 17.5 inches long, 12 inches wide and 9 inches high (44 x 30 x 22 cm).
- Soft-sided carrier: up to 18 inches long, 11 inches wide and 11 inches high (45 x 27 x 27 cm).
- Boeing 737 MAX: the carrier can be no more than 10 inches tall.
The carrier must be ventilated. Your pet stays inside it, with the door closed and under the seat, for the whole flight.
How many pets can fly?
Per person: on most flights you can bring up to 2 pets, but you must buy 2 seats, and the second seat has to be next to yours. On these aircraft the space under the middle seat is limited, so United allows one pet per person: A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800 and 737-8 (MAX 8), 737-900 and 737-9 (MAX 9).
Per flight: each plane takes a limited number of pets.
| Cabin | Pets allowed | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Premium cabins | Up to 2 | Airbus 319 and 320, Boeing 737, 737-800 and 737-8 (MAX 8), 737-900 and 737-9 (MAX 9), 757-300ER, Bombardier CRJ, ERJ 175, EMB 145 |
| Economy | Up to 4 | Airbus 319, 320 and 321neo, Boeing 737, 757-200, 757-300ER, Bombardier CRJ, EMB 145 |
| Economy | Up to 3 | ERJ 175 |
| Economy | Up to 6 | Boeing 767, 777 and 787 |
These numbers are for United flights. For United Express flights, United asks you to contact them.
Where can I sit with my pet?
- Not in an emergency exit row, a United Premium Plus seat, or the front row of any cabin.
- In Economy on a Boeing 757-200, you need a window seat for the carrier to fit.
- In Economy on a Boeing 737-800, 737-8 (MAX 8), 737-900 or 737-9 (MAX 9), you need an aisle or window seat.
How old does my pet need to be?
- Flights within the US: puppies and kittens must be at least 2 months old.
- International flights: dogs must be at least 6 months old, to meet CDC requirements. Kittens must be 4 months old, to meet vaccination requirements.
What paperwork do I need?
Flying within the US
United encourages you to get a certificate of health from your vet, because some destinations may ask for one on arrival. It should include your name, phone number and address; your pet’s breed, sex, age, color and markings; and a list of recent vaccines with their names, dates issued and expiry dates.
Flying internationally
- United requires a health certificate and a vaccination certificate for dogs and cats on all international flights, including to Canada and Mexico.
- Rabies vaccinations must be completed at least 28 days before travel, for both dogs and cats.
- Some countries don’t allow pets at all, and others have strict rabies rules. Check the entry and exit requirements for your destination. United recommends checking the CDC’s country requirements at least two months before your trip.
Bringing a dog into the US
The CDC’s rabies requirements include a form for dogs entering the US. The USDA may also require a certificate if your dog is coming from a country or region where screwworm is known to exist, which includes many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Check the CDC and USDA websites for the current rules.
Flying to Mexico with a dog
You need a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection certificate, for pets in the cabin and for service dogs. For it, your dog must show no signs of infectious or contagious disease, be free of internal and external parasites (confirmed by a health certificate), have no wounds, and have a certificate signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian no more than 5 days before travel. Dogs originally from Mexico need a health certificate and vaccination record issued in Mexico instead.
At the airport and on the plane
- Check in at a kiosk for domestic flights, with your confirmation number. It prints a tag for your pet’s carrier.
- Pet relief areas: many airports have them. The airport maps in the United app show where.
- Pet strollers must be checked in the lobby and count towards your checked bag allowance.
- On board, your pet stays in the carrier, door closed, under the seat at all times.
United suggests packing a collapsible water bowl, a leash, treats and plastic bags, plus a favorite toy or blanket that smells familiar.
Can a large dog fly as cargo on United?
No. United no longer checks pets through its PetSafe program. Pets can only fly in cargo with certain active-duty military or State Department travelers: United has pet exemptions for members of the US military on a permanent change of station and their spouses, and for State Department foreign service officers and their spouses. If that’s you, contact United for the details.
If your dog is too big for a cabin carrier and you’re not covered by that exemption, United can’t fly them.
Service dogs on United
- You can fly with up to two service dogs for free.
- Only dogs trained to perform tasks for someone with a disability count. United doesn’t accept dogs in training, and all other animals, including emotional support and therapy animals, fly as pets.
- Service dogs must be over 4 months old for domestic flights and 6 months old for international flights.
- Forms: the Service Animal Training and Behavior Attestation Form for every flight, plus the Service Animal Relief Attestation Form for flights of 8 hours or more.
- Booking a domestic flight: select “I’m bringing a task-trained service dog on my trip”, then complete the paperwork under Trip details.
- International flights, Hawaii and Guam: call United’s accessibility desk on 1-800-228-2744 to add your service dog, because destination rules vary.
- Seating: your dog sits in the floor space in front of your seat, not in the aisle or a neighbor’s space. A small service dog can sit on your lap. You can’t sit in an exit row.
Quick answers
Does United allow dogs in the cabin?
Yes. Small dogs and cats can fly in the cabin in a carrier under the seat, for $150 each way.
Does United allow birds in the cabin?
No. Only cats and dogs can fly as pets in the cabin on United, on domestic and international flights.
Does United have a weight limit for pets?
No. There is no weight or breed limit, but your pet must fit in a carrier that fits under the seat.
Can I buy a seat for my dog on United?
Buying a second seat lets you bring a second pet on most flights, but pets still travel in their carriers under the seat, not on it.
Can my emotional support dog fly free on United?
No. Emotional support and therapy animals fly as pets, with the pet fee and carrier rules. Only trained service dogs fly free.