Travel With Pets on United: 2026 Rules, Fees, and Required Documents

To travel with pets on United Airlines, a cat or dog under about 20 lb must ride in an approved carrier under the seat in front of you for a $150 each-way fee, while larger checked pet shipping is closed to the general public. United's PetSafe cargo program has been limited mainly to active-duty military and U.S. State Department relocations since 2018, so most travelers flying with a pet on United today are doing so in the cabin only.

This guide covers United's current in-cabin fees, carrier sizing, breed and route limits, and the federal paperwork required for international pet travel. It also separates two things people often conflate when they search "travel with pets united": an airline's cabin pet policy and a country's official pet identification scheme, such as the EU pet passport. Animal Passport is a separate biometric ID product for livestock, not an airline travel document, and that distinction matters for anyone trying to figure out which paperwork actually gets a pet on a plane.

United Airlines In-Cabin Pet Policy: Fees and Carrier Rules

United allows one small dog or cat per carrier in the cabin on most domestic and many international routes, for a fee of $150 each way, according to Chewy's 2026 airline pet policy guide, which cross-checked fees across major U.S. carriers. The pet must stay in a closed, ventilated carrier that fits fully under the seat in front of the traveler for the entire flight — no laps, and no exceptions once the aircraft door closes.

Carrier size limits

• Soft-sided carrier: approximately 18 x 11 x 11 inches
• Hard-sided carrier: approximately 17.5 x 12 x 9 inches
• Carrier must have ventilation on at least three sides and a leak-proof bottom
• One pet per passenger in most cases; a second pet may require purchasing an extra seat

Because carrier limits and fees are adjusted periodically, confirm exact current figures on United's own pet travel page before booking, and call the airline's reservations line to add the pet to your reservation — cabin pet space is limited per flight and is not guaranteed at check-in.

Cargo and Checked Pet Shipping: Why PetSafe Is Restricted

United suspended general public access to its PetSafe checked-pet cargo program in 2018 after a string of high-profile incidents, including a French bulldog puppy's death and pets sent to the wrong airports, according to the American Kennel Club's (AKC) coverage of the policy change. Checked pet transport today is limited largely to active-duty U.S. military personnel and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel with relocation orders, plus a Guam–Honolulu military pet route.

When United later revised its cargo rules for eligible shippers, it added breed-specific restrictions rather than reopening the program to all customers: brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Shih Tzus, along with several strong-jawed breeds, are barred from cargo transport due to elevated respiratory and safety risk, per the AKC. There are no equivalent breed restrictions for pets that qualify to fly in the cabin.

Seasonal and Route Restrictions

United also blocks in-cabin pet travel on flights to, from, or through a list of destinations where pets are not permitted onboard, including Australia, Hawaii, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and several other markets with strict animal import rules — a list that changes, so verify it against United's live pet travel page for your specific route. Separately, cargo pet shipments for eligible military and government shippers are paused seasonally (typically May through September) to hot-weather cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Tucson because of heat risk to animals on the tarmac.

United vs. Other Major U.S. Carriers

Fees and cargo availability change often across the industry, so treat this table as a starting comparison and confirm current terms directly with each airline before booking a multi-leg or connecting itinerary.

Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals on United

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Carrier Access Act rule that took effect in January 2021, a "service animal" for air travel purposes is limited to a dog individually trained to perform a specific task for a person with a disability. Emotional support animals no longer qualify for free, unrestricted cabin travel and are treated as standard pets, subject to the airline's normal pet fee and carrier rules. United requires supporting documentation (such as a DOT service animal form) in advance for trained service dogs; travelers should submit it well before departure since space and verification take time.

International Pet Travel: USDA APHIS Health Certificates

The United States does not issue a "pet passport." Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) issues an international health certificate confirming a pet meets the specific import requirements of the destination country, according to USDA APHIS's own pet travel FAQ. There is no single standard certificate — each country sets its own rules based on species, origin, and disease risk.

Basic USDA APHIS process

1. Research your destination country's specific pet import requirements as early as possible.
2. Find a USDA-accredited veterinarian, trained through the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP), to examine the pet and complete required vaccinations or tests.
3. Have the veterinarian issue the international health certificate within the destination country's required window before travel.
4. Submit the certificate for USDA endorsement, when required, via the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) or overnight mail — USDA APHIS notes a limited window (commonly around 30 days) between signing and endorsement.
5. Travel with the original, physical endorsed certificate; USDA APHIS specifies electronic copies are not accepted as the traveling document.

USDA APHIS advises starting the process as soon as a trip is planned, since the full cycle can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the destination country's requirements. Rabies vaccination timing rules also vary significantly by country, so confirm them with the destination's official requirements rather than assuming a universal rule applies.

How This Differs From the EU Pet Passport (PETS Scheme)

Travelers researching "travel with pets" sometimes encounter the European Union's Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which is a different system entirely from U.S. airline pet policy or USDA paperwork. The European Commission describes the EU pet passport as an identification and health-record document for dogs, cats, and ferrets moving within the EU, requiring a microchip and a rabies vaccination administered by an authorized veterinarian, with the vaccination's validity starting no less than 21 days after the primary vaccination protocol is completed. As of the 2026 update under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, new EU pet passports are issued only to owners with official residence in an EU member state — it is not a document a United Airlines passenger flying from the U.S. would use for that flight.

In short: United's cabin/cargo pet rules, USDA APHIS's U.S. export health certificates, and the EU's pet passport are three separate systems, run by three separate authorities, and none of them should be confused with each other when planning a trip.

Where Animal Passport Fits — and Where It Doesn't

Animal Passport is a digital identification system built for livestock and farm animals, not a document for boarding a commercial flight with a cat or dog. It uses phone-based muzzle biometrics — a nose print that is unique to each animal, similar to a human fingerprint — to create a record binding an owner, breed, an estimated age from a dental photograph with a confidence score, a body condition score (1–5) from a side-profile photo, and vaccination history. It has no relationship to United's PetSafe program, USDA APHIS export certificates, or the EU pet passport, and it does not function as a government-issued travel document.

The clearest real-world use case to date has been disaster recovery rather than travel: during livestock flood rescue operations in Pakistan in August 2025, the digital ID helped farmers reclaim animals after paper ear tags were washed away. That is a livestock identity and welfare-tracking use case, distinct from the pet-in-a-carrier scenario a United Airlines passenger deals with at the gate. Readers researching companion-animal air travel should rely on United's own policy page, USDA APHIS, and — for EU travel — the European Commission's official guidance; those researching livestock ID and welfare-record tools can read more on the Animal Passport blog.

Step-by-Step: Booking a Pet on a United Flight

1. Confirm your pet meets United's age, weight, and carrier-size limits for cabin travel.
2. Call United reservations to add the pet to your booking — cabin pet spots are limited per flight and cannot always be added online.
3. Check United's current route and country embargo list for your specific itinerary, since certain destinations bar in-cabin pets entirely.
4. If traveling internationally, contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian early and start the health certificate process well before departure.
5. Pay the pet fee and arrive early enough to complete any airport check-in step United requires for pet travel.
6. Keep the original paper health certificate and any required forms with you — airlines and border officials generally will not accept a digital copy in place of the original.

FAQ: Travel With Pets on United Airlines

How much does it cost to travel with a pet on United Airlines?

United charges $150 each way for one small cat or dog traveling in the cabin, per Chewy's 2026 airline pet policy comparison. Confirm the current fee on United's official pet travel page, since airline fees change periodically.

Can I check my pet as cargo on United?

Generally no. United suspended its public PetSafe cargo program in 2018, and checked pet transport is now largely limited to active-duty military and U.S. State Department personnel with relocation orders, according to the AKC.

What size carrier does United allow in the cabin?

Roughly 18 x 11 x 11 inches for soft-sided carriers or 17.5 x 12 x 9 inches for hard-sided carriers, sized to fit fully under the seat in front of you. Always verify exact dimensions on United's current policy page before flying.

Does my dog need a passport to fly with United domestically?

No. The United States does not issue pet passports for domestic travel; a passport-style document is only relevant for certain international trips, and even then it takes the form of a USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate rather than a passport booklet.

Is a United Airlines pet policy the same as an EU pet passport?

No. United's pet policy governs boarding a specific flight; the EU pet passport is a separate European Commission-regulated health and identification document for dogs, cats, and ferrets moving within the EU, issued by an authorized veterinarian and tied to microchip and rabies-vaccination records.

Can emotional support animals fly free on United?

No. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2021 rule, only individually trained service dogs qualify for service-animal accommodations; emotional support animals are treated as standard pets and are subject to United's regular pet fee and carrier rules.

Is Animal Passport a travel document for flying with a pet?

No. Animal Passport is a biometric digital identification system for livestock and farm animals, used for recordkeeping such as breed, age estimation, body condition scoring, and vaccination history. It is not affiliated with United Airlines, USDA APHIS, or the EU pet passport scheme, and it does not serve as a boarding or customs document.

How far ahead should I start paperwork for international pet travel?

As soon as your trip is planned. USDA APHIS states the full health certificate and endorsement process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the destination country's specific requirements.