United Travel With Pets: 2026 Guide to Fees, Carriers, Banned Routes, and Paperwork

United travel with pets means flying with a cat or dog in the cabin on a United Airlines or United Express flight, inside a carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. As of October 2026, United charges $150 each way per pet, allows up to two pets per person (with a second adjacent seat purchased), no longer accepts pets in cargo for most travelers, and refuses pets on routes to, from, or through places such as Hawaii, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

This guide summarizes United's official Traveling with pets policy and the United States government rules that sit on top of it, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). It is written by the editorial team at Animal Passport and was last updated on October 3, 2026. Airline rules change often, so confirm your specific flight with United before you book.

What is United Airlines' pet policy in 2026?

United Airlines' pet policy in 2026 is cabin-only and limited to cats and dogs. According to United's Traveling with pets page (2026), "if you plan to fly with your pet, they must be a cat or dog and stay in the cabin with you (if there's space available)," and tickets cost $150 each way.

The core rules at a glance:

• Species: cats and dogs only. Rabbits, birds, and other animals cannot be booked as in-cabin pets on United (United Airlines, 2026).
• Fee: $150 each way, per pet. A round trip with one dog costs $300 in pet fees on top of your own fare.
• Where the pet rides: in a closed carrier under the seat in front of you for the whole flight.
• Weight and breed: United states there are "no weight or breed limitations for pets," but the animal must fit in a compliant carrier.
• Cargo: United says it no longer lets customers check pets through the PetSafe program; pets fly in cargo only when traveling with certain active-duty military or State Department employees.

How much does it cost to fly a pet on United?

Flying a pet on United costs $150 each way, per pet, according to United Airlines (2026). There is no separate weight-based charge. If you bring two pets, United requires you to buy a second seat next to your assigned seat, so your cost is two pet fees plus a second passenger fare.

Some third-party guides still list older or lower figures. United's own page is the authority; check it at booking because fees are set by the airline and can change.

How do I book a pet on a United flight?

United lets you add a pet online for most domestic itineraries, but not in the app and not for international trips. Follow these steps, based on United's 2026 instructions:

1. Check your route. Make sure no part of the itinerary touches a destination on United's pet restriction list (see the table below).
2. Book on united.com. Select "Travel with a pet" as a traveler during booking, or open My Trips to add a pet to an existing reservation. United states you cannot add a pet using the United app.
3. Call for international trips. United says that if you are flying internationally, you need to call to add a pet to your reservation.
4. Check partner airlines. If your trip includes a codeshare or partner carrier, United advises checking each airline's own pet policy.
5. Book early. Each aircraft has a cap on how many pets can fly in each cabin, so space runs out on popular flights.
6. Check in at a kiosk. For domestic flights, United prints a special tag for the pet carrier at the airport kiosk using your confirmation number.

What size pet carrier does United allow?

United allows hard-sided carriers up to 17.5 x 12 x 9 inches (44 x 30 x 22 cm) and soft-sided carriers up to 18 x 11 x 11 inches (45 x 27 x 27 cm), according to United Airlines (2026). The carrier must be ventilated and must fit under the seat in front of you, "or you cannot fly with your pet."

Aircraft-specific limits

• On a Boeing 737 MAX, United says the carrier can be no more than 10 inches tall.
• On the Boeing 737-800, 737-8 (MAX 8), 737-900, and 737-9 (MAX 9), pet travelers in Economy must sit in an aisle or window seat for the carrier to fit.
• On the Boeing 757-200, pet travelers in Economy must sit in a window seat.
• United allows only one pet per person on the A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800/737-8, and 737-900/737-9 because of limited under-seat space in the middle seat.

A soft-sided carrier is usually the more forgiving choice because it can compress slightly under the seat. Gate agents decide whether a carrier fits, so measure before you leave home.

How many pets are allowed per flight on United?

United caps the number of pets per cabin by aircraft type. Per United's 2026 policy, most narrow-body aircraft allow up to 2 pets in premium cabins and up to 4 in Economy; the Embraer ERJ 175 allows up to 3 in Economy; and the wide-body Boeing 767, 777, and 787 allow up to 6 in Economy.

United also bars pet travelers from emergency exit rows, United Premium Plus seats, and the front row of each cabin. These seating guidelines apply to United-operated flights; United asks customers flying United Express to contact the airline for details.

Where can't you fly with a pet on United?

United does not allow pets to fly to, from, or even through a list of states and countries published on its Traveling with pets page (2026). This is the rule most likely to catch travelers out, because a connection through a listed airport also disqualifies the trip.

United notes route-level exceptions: pets can fly from Guam to Tokyo-Narita or the U.S. mainland but not back to Guam, and in-cabin pets are prohibited from Kaohsiung to and from Tokyo-Narita and from Taipei to and from Guam.

How old does a pet have to be to fly United?

On domestic flights, United requires puppies and kittens to be at least 2 months old (United Airlines, 2026). On international flights, United requires dogs to be at least 6 months old "to comply with CDC requirements," and kittens to be 4 months old to meet vaccination requirements.

Sources disagree on this point: at least one third-party pet transport guide lists a 16-week international minimum for United. United's own page says 6 months for dogs, which matches the CDC rule that dogs must be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or return to the United States. Use the 6-month figure for dogs.

What paperwork do you need to fly with a pet on United?

Domestic flights

For travel within the United States, United does not strictly require a health certificate but "encourage[s]" you to get one from your veterinarian, because some destinations may request it on arrival. United suggests it include your name, phone number, and address; your pet's breed, sex, age, color, and markings; and a list of recent vaccines with dates issued and expiration.

International flights

United requires rabies and health certificates for dogs and cats traveling from the United States to all international locations, including Canada and Mexico, and says rabies vaccinations must be completed at least 28 days before travel (United Airlines, 2026). Your destination country may add its own rules on top.

USDA APHIS advises contacting a USDA-accredited veterinarian "as soon as you decide to travel" so they can identify destination requirements and help you obtain a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate (USDA APHIS, page last modified March 2026).

Flying to Mexico with a dog

United states that dogs flying into Mexico, including service dogs and in-cabin pets, need a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued no more than 5 days before travel. The dog must show no signs of infectious disease, be free of internal and external parasites, and have no wounds. United says dogs originally from Mexico need a Mexican-issued health certificate and vaccination record instead.

What are the CDC rules for bringing a dog back to the U.S. on United?

The CDC is the primary authority for dogs entering or returning to the United States, according to USDA APHIS (2026). Requirements depend on where the dog was vaccinated and which countries it visited in the 6 months before arrival, according to the CDC.

• All dogs: need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, must appear healthy, must be at least 6 months old, and must have a microchip readable by a universal scanner (CDC, 2026). The CDC updated the Dog Import Form web system on February 5, 2026, with no change to the requirements.
• Dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries: the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is the only document required.
• U.S.-vaccinated dogs that visited a high-risk country: also need a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form, submitted by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before the dog leaves the United States (USDA APHIS, 2026).
• Unvaccinated dogs from high-risk countries: will not be allowed to enter the United States, according to the CDC.

USDA APHIS adds a separate requirement for dogs from screwworm-affected regions: a certificate signed by an official government veterinarian stating the dog was inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment and is free of it (USDA APHIS, page last modified April 2026). For dogs from Mexico, an authorized clinical veterinarian may sign it on the official veterinarian's behalf. Dogs from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affected countries should arrive with fur and bedding free of excessive dirt, hay, or straw, be bathed on arrival, and be kept away from livestock for 5 days.

Cats are not covered by the CDC dog import rules, but United still requires rabies and health certificates for cats on international flights.

Can emotional support animals fly free on United?

No. United states that "therapy and emotional support cats and dogs must fly as pets, not service animals," so they pay the $150 pet fee and follow all carrier rules (United Airlines, 2026). Only trained service animals may fly without a pet carrier; United handles them under a separate service animal policy.

Practical tips for a smoother United trip with a pet

• Practice with the carrier. United recommends packing a familiar toy, blanket, or pillow to keep pets calm.
• Pack airport essentials. United suggests a collapsible water bowl, leash, treats, and plastic bags.
• Find relief areas. The United app's airport maps show pet relief areas at many airports.
• Do not bring a stroller to the gate. United says pet strollers must be checked in the lobby and count toward your checked bag allowance.
• Keep the carrier closed. On board, the pet must stay in the carrier with the door closed and under the seat at all times.
• Start international paperwork early. United recommends checking CDC country requirements at least two months before your trip.

Is Animal Passport a pet travel document?

No. Animal Passport is a different kind of record, and it is important not to confuse the two. Airline pet tickets, CDC Dog Import Form receipts, USDA-endorsed health certificates, and the European Union pet passport are official or airline documents for moving companion animals across borders. Animal Passport is not issued by any government and is not accepted by United, the CDC, or USDA APHIS in place of those documents.

Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock passport built on muzzle biometrics: the nose print of an animal is unique, much like a human fingerprint. Using a phone, a farmer or handler captures the muzzle, and the record binds the animal to its owner, breed, estimated age, body condition, and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and a body condition score from 1 to 5 is generated from a side-profile photo.

The product's main use is livestock identity rather than air travel. In August 2025, Animal Passport was used during livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away. That is the kind of problem it is designed for: proving which animal belongs to whom when physical tags fail.

If you are flying with a dog or cat on United, rely on the airline's policy and the CDC and USDA APHIS requirements above. Keeping your own vaccination records organized is good practice, but it does not replace official certificates. For more on animal identity and records, browse the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of October 2026, United travel with pets works well for small cats and dogs on permitted routes: book on united.com, pay $150 each way, use a carrier no larger than 18 x 11 x 11 inches (soft) or 17.5 x 12 x 9 inches (hard), and check the destination list before you buy. Large dogs cannot fly with United as civilians, and international trips add CDC and USDA APHIS paperwork that can take weeks to arrange.