United Airlines
Pet travel policy for United Airlines (UA) — based at Chicago O'Hare (ORD), United States.
Policy summary
United Airlines accepts cats and dogs in the main cabin on flights operated by United and United Express, with the booking made by phone within 24 hours of buying the ticket. The under-seat carrier dimensions are 17.5 by 12 by 7.5 inches for a hard-sided kennel and 18 by 11 by 11 inches for a soft-sided kennel; your pet must be able to stand up and turn around without touching the top of the carrier. The one-way fee is 125 USD per kennel, with a 125 USD additional fee for any layover longer than four hours within the United States or longer than 24 hours internationally. United relaunched the PetSafe cargo program in 2022 after a multi-year suspension, but cargo shipments are now restricted to a published list of routes and excluded breeds, so check the current PetSafe page before booking. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dog breeds and cats — including bulldogs, pugs, and Persians — are banned from PetSafe cargo year-round, and an additional summer/winter embargo applies to certain temperature-sensitive routes. International itineraries require a USDA-endorsed health certificate dated within 10 days of travel, and the destination country may impose additional quarantine, microchip, or rabies-titer requirements.
Quick reference
| Cabin pets | Yes — cats & small dogs in approved under-seat carrier |
|---|---|
| Cargo / checked program | Yes — IATA-rated kennel via dedicated cargo division |
| Cabin fee (one-way) | $125 USD (typical, route-dependent) |
| Carrier max dimensions | 17.5 x 12 x 7.5 (hard) / 18 x 11 x 11 (soft) in |
| Weight limit | pet + carrier under-seat |
| Breed restrictions | PetSafe program restored 2022 with route limits; no brachycephalic breeds in cargo. |
| Reservations | 1-800-864-8331 |
| Hub airport | Chicago O'Hare (ORD) |
| Country | United States |
How to book a pet on United Airlines
Almost every airline requires you to add a pet to your reservation by phone — there is no online self-service for in-cabin or cargo pets at the major carriers, because the airline must confirm there is space on the specific aircraft type and route. Call 1-800-864-8331 within 24 hours of buying your ticket and ask the agent to add the pet to your booking. You will be quoted the fee at the time of booking and pay it at airport check-in. Bring printed proof of vaccinations and a recent veterinary health certificate, especially for international itineraries.
At the airport, plan to arrive 90 minutes before a domestic departure or three hours before an international departure. The airline gate agent will inspect your carrier, attach an in-cabin pet tag, and confirm that your pet meets the under-seat dimension and weight limits. If your animal is travelling in cargo, you will drop them off at the carrier's dedicated cargo-acceptance facility (separate from the passenger terminal) at least four hours before departure for kennel inspection and loading.