United Airlines is one of America’s leading airlines, offering travelers a lengthy list of destinations, both domestically and internationally. With hubs in Houston, Denver, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington DC, United flies nearly 70 million passengers each year.
If air travel is in your plans for your family and your pet, this guide will help plan your next trip. Each airline maintains different pet policies and these pet policies are always subject to change. This article includes United Airlines’ pet policies as of December 2022.
(1) SELECT A DESTINATION: Not every destination is suitable for traveling with your family pet. Domestically, Hawaii maintains significant restrictions and laws on the entry of pets. Internationally, countries may have extensive rules or even prohibitions governing the entry of animals. As such, select a destination that permits entry of your pet and is attractive to you, whether it be to visit family, see new sights, or check something off of your bucket list.
(2) SHOP FOR AIRFARE (AND HOTEL, CAR RENTAL): With United Airlines servicing so many destinations, it is often preferred for flight availability, service, and comfort (these planes are not sardine cans like certain airlines adorned with animals or painted like taxi cabs). You have a number of options when shopping for air travel. Some of our favorites are:
- Trip.com – Trip.com offers an easy and convenient way to book airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and trains. Best of all, they have a rewards program that is free to join that allows you to accrue rewards towards future travel bookings.
- WayAway – If you are wanting to do some comparison shopping for airfare, WayAway is a new dynamic flight aggregator platform. What makes WayAway unique is the ability to earn cash back on each airline ticket purchased. With WayAway+, you earn cashback for each airline booking, hotel reservation, and other available travel services. Booking one trip through WayAway+ could result in over $100 in cashback.
(3) PLAN FOR TRAVEL: The time invested in preparing for traveling with a pet can be extensive. Consider the following:
- United Airlines only permits in-cabin travel for pets. If your pet is too large to fit in a suitable carrier, United Airlines will not allow your pet to travel. United does not permit dogs to be checked as luggage or as cargo.
- When booking your seat, know the restrictions that may impact your travel plans and seat selection. Flights on Boeing 737 aircraft limit the height of carriers to 10 inches. Economy flights on Boeing 757-200 aircraft require those traveling with an in-cabin pet to book a window seat. Pets are not permitted in emergency exit rows, the first row in a section, or in premium plus seats.
- Purchase a “ticket” for your pet. You can do this when booking your flight directly with United OR you can simply pay the pet ticket fee within the United Airlines “My Trips” application. United Airlines charges $125 each way and an additional $125 if your flight includes a layover of 4 hours or more. Understand that the number of in-cabin pets permitted is limited by aircraft type. Smaller aircraft allow as few as 2 total pets per flight. Larger aircraft allow either 4 or 6 total pets per flight. When traveling with a pet, it is important to book early to secure a spot on each flight of your itinerary.
- United Airlines requires pets traveling in the cabin to be secured in a hard-sided or soft-sided carrier that fits underneath the airline seat. Hard-sided carriers cannot measure more than 7.5 inches (height) X 17.5 inches (length) X 12 inches (width). Soft-sided carriers cannot measure more than 11 inches (height) X 18 inches (length) X 11 inches (width). Each carrier can hold just one dog or cat. As noted above, 737 aircraft limit the height of the carrier to 10 inches.
- Understand the local laws and ordinances regarding the arrival of pets and animals. Schedule veterinary appointments at least 2 months in advance to ensure health and vaccination requirements have been fulfilled. Some locales may require a health certificate from your veterinarian.
- Familiarize yourself with the location of the pet relief areas in each airport you will visit during your trip. Knowing this information in advance will save you the stress of trying to figure it out while traveling. The United Airlines app offers airport maps conveniently on your phone or mobile device.
- Train your pet or get your pet accustomed to being in the travel carrier. Your pet will be in the carrier for the entire length of your flight. Understand, in advance, your pet’s comfort level inside the carrier and how you can keep your pet comfortable while inside the travel carrier. You may consider speaking with your veterinarian about safe pharmaceuticals or you may want to explore natural products such as CBD. An increasing number of pet owners are recognizing the value of CBD in reducing anxiety (thunderstorms and fireworks). Sol CBD offers a high-quality dog and cat-specific salmon-flavored CBD product that is known for its Liposomal technology, increasing both bioavailability and absorption (i.e. increased effects of CBD).
(4) TIME TO GO: On your day(s) of travel, prepare your pet by:
- Gathering and organizing all of your traveling documents including your tickets/boarding passes, identifications, your pet’s health certificate, and medical/vaccination records.
- Planning your pet’s meals. Consider your pet’s comfort while flying (i.e. you probably don’t want to feed them immediately before departure), their meal routines, and bathroom habits. Remember, once you are onboard, there are no options available for your pet to go for walk to relieve himself/herself.
- Make your pet comfortable by bringing along a blanket, pillow, or toy that is familiar to them.
- Bring along essential pet travel items: collapsible water bowl, leash, snacks, and waste bags.
- Check-in at the United Airlines ticket counter. You will need to have your ticket and the ticket for your pet’s travel. The United Airlines agent will tag your pet carrier.
- At the TSA security checkpoint, be prepared to remove your pet from the travel carrier, leash your pet, and then carry your pet through the metal detector/scanner, without the leash.
(5) FOLLOW THE RULES AND BE COURTEOUS TO OTHER TRAVELERS: Once you board the airplane, you will be required to stow your pet inside the pet carrier under the seat in front of you. United Airlines requires your pet to stay in the carrier for the duration of the flight. At no time is the pet allowed out of the carrier or for the carrier to be opened.
While moving about the airport, be courteous to the other travelers. If you remove your pet from the travel carrier, plan to keep him/her on a short leash. Know how your pet will react to large crowds, the various noises of a bustling airport, and everyday “human tasks” like riding an escalator, elevator, shuttle bus, or tram. Just like home, owners are responsible for the acts of their pets.
(6) ENJOY YOUR TRAVELS WITH YOUR FAMILY PET: For those of us who love our pets, there is undeniable stress involved in traveling without them. Is the petsitter going to be OK? Will the boarding provider give your pet all the attention they need? Will they feel lonely? While traveling with a pet requires some preparation and patience, it can be done. The enjoyment you will have far outweighs the effort that goes into the travel planning process.