Let’s have an idea about the United Airline pet policy. Before that let’s talk a bit about the details of United Airlines’ pet policy. United Airlines, which is based at Chicago’s Willis Tower, and a major American airline providing the best services among other airlines. In the 1920s, United Airlines was introduced to the world with the best service. It has both domestic and international roads.
All of 6 continents fly to it. It is known as the world’s 3rd largest airline as a concern as the size of the fleet and the number of routes. With 28 members, Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance, and United airline is its founder. It has 8 hubs, and in terms of the number of departures and passengers transported, it is the largest in Chicago.
Guidelines for Traveling with Pets in United Airlines
United Airlines needs to alert travelers that there are many dangers associated with pets traveling by air. Like humans, pets react to stress and anxiety differently, so it is important to be mindful of ways to reduce the stress of your pet while traveling. If your pet responds to stress negatively or is not adapted to spending a long period of time confined to its crate, they suggest that you postpone their travel.
On most of their flights, United Airlines allows only 2 dogs in the cabin, so they encourage you to contact the customer support team as soon as you confirm your travel plans. For passengers traveling with their pets and/or pets traveling unaccompanied, they accept bookings between 30 days in advance (maximum) and 5 days (minimum) before their planned traveling date.
Points to Remember Before Traveling with Pets
- Check and verify that your pet is allowed to travel at the destination or not. Because some countries don’t give permission to enter their borders.
- Make sure you have a strong base container to hold the pets which is suitable and comfortable for pets with the proper ventilation.
- Be sure about the Bottom of the Container is leaked proof so that the aircraft remains clean from the excretion.
- Be sure you have to bear proper documents and vaccination certificates for your pets.
- This is much recommendable that you check-in your flight with the help desk rather than the self-service channel.
- Trained your pet and make it familiar with the container so that your pet feels comfortable during the journey.
- Before check-in, you should check the eligibility of your pet that airlines allow for travel with you in the same flight in-cabin or travel separately with the cargo.
- If you booked your ticket already and make a plan to travel with the pet then you should inform the Airlines booking department or you can contact directly with the helpline number or chat online 24hours prior to the flight departure.
In-Cabin Pets: Rules and Regulation
In-cabin pets should be domesticated cats, dogs, squirrels, etc which should not be much bigger, that should fit underneath the seat in front of you in a travel carrier. You can also upgrade your seat according to your needs as well. Pets will not be permitted in the cabin of flights which are to or from or through Hawaii flights and some other selected international cities, but it will allow in selected United flights they are permitted in-cabin. Pit Dogs are not permitted in the cabin, because of some safety issues.
In addition to your carry-on bag allowance, you can bring your in-cabin pet kennel types of equipment which is required for your pet onboard. For any stopover of more than four hours inside the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside the U.S., there is a $125 service charge each way and an additional $125 service charge.
In-cabin Pet Specifications
- Puppies and kittens are expected to be at least four months of age (16 weeks).
- Pets should not fly with minors who are unaccompanied.
- If you want to carry an additional pet on board, you will need to purchase an extra ticket for that pet and pay an extra $125 each way. Also, your pet must still stay under the seat in the floor space.
- If your pet doesn’t fit in a kennel, then our PetSafe® system will enable them to fly.
- Pets are expected to fly on the same flights as the passenger responsible for them.
- The oxygen service will not be available for pets if there is an emergency.
Documents Required in United airline for Pets
For animals, there are different state and country entry laws, and it’s up to you to know what they are and meet with them.
We require that you carry a health certificate (talk to your veterinarian) and evidence of your pet’s new rabies vaccine if you are traveling within the continental U.S. Within 30 days of your pet’s vaccination against rabies, you should not fly. Please see the “Hawaii and international travel” section if you were planning to travel to Hawaii or abroad.
If you are traveling from another country to the U.S, please see the section for “Health declarations and vaccination criteria for dogs and cats entering the U.S. For the details regarding cancellation refer to United Airlines Cancellation & Refund Policy
United States Restrictions for Transportation of Pets
Passengers can bring their pets but it depends on where you import your pets in the US because the United States restricts some countries from importing the pets, especially dogs.
CDC experts collect the information and research on rabies to determine the rabies risk across the world which is the least and most affected area of the world. Dog’s rabies are totally eliminated from the US in 2007 so to stop from spreading the rabies disease in the US again they restrict some high-risk countries on the basis of CDC research and analysis.
Dogs from other countries imported into the United State is totally restricted except in countries where rabies are under the control. Here is the list of some high-risk countries from Africa where Egypt Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Libya Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, etc. are restricted.
Some Asian Countries are also restricted which include Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.
For more information about the Pets restriction and which types of pets are allowed then you have to click on this link. Click Here.
Cargo Service in United Airlines for Pets
The pet policy of United Airlines has collaborated with American Humane to advance its pet shipping service, which is PetSafe. If your pet is too large (not qualified to fly in the cabin), they can instead be shipped with the PetSafe service, providing airport-to-airport travel to nearly 300 destinations for dogs, cats, etc. Pets can be shipped safely with PetSafe with more care as you give to your pet which has weightage from 2 lbs which is 1kg all the way up to 770 lbs is 350kg.
Depending on the size of your pet and the country you are expected to travel to, the cost will vary. Shipping a pet under 11 lbs from America to different destinations domestically and internationally would incur an expense between $200-400, whereas shipping the largest pets between 200-700 lbs (130-350 kg) would incur a charge between $900-2400. You should contact the Customer Care and Help Desk for PetSafe.
Kennels and Carriers Specifications for Your Pet
A pet traveling in a cabin must be carried in a soft-sided or hard-sided kennel or carrier that should be licensed. The kennel must fit in front of you fully under the seat and stay there at all times. The overall size should not exceed 17.5 inches long, x 7.5 inches high, x 12 inches wide for hard-sided kennels (44 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm).
The maximum size recommended for soft-sided kennels is 18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high (46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm). Soft shielded pet carriers will slightly extend these dimensions because, without blocking the aisle, they are collapsible and able to fit under a seat. In a kennel, only one pet is allowed, and the animal must be able to stand up and easily turn around.
How to Make a Booking of In-Cabin Pet Space
You would need to say that you are traveling with your pet ahead of time if you want to carry your pet into the cabin otherwise it will affect the whole trip due to some delay issues. When United Airlines manage booking your trip on united.com and specifies the number of passengers in your reservation, you can do this. You people who were planning to travel with their pets then check-in the prompts under Pets in the cabin.
By referring to Manage Reservations through the official website of united.com, you can also add your pet to your current booking. United’s in-cabin pet policy rules and regulations only apply to the United and United Express-operated flights only, other flights are not allowed for this.
If you are searching for flights with codeshare, please go through the in-cabin pet policy details of the operating airline, from there you will definitely get the corresponding details. If you are traveling on several airlines, please check separately with each carrier to ensure that your pet is able to fly and limit the restrictions of each airline. United will only approve your pet for United and United Express-operated flights.
Assurance for the Saftey of Pets
Pets are a vital part of your family, and to get your dog or cat where they need to be safe and happy, PetSafe is here. If your pet is unable to fly with you in the cabin, you can move them to nearly 300 destinations using PetSafe. As much as you do, the airline team loves animals and will care about your pet during their entire journey.
The welfare of your pet is the airline’s top priority, so they will load your pet onboard the aircraft just before takeoff once you drop them off, and they’ll spend their journey in a climate-controlled, pressurized cabin. They will first unload your pet after landing to reduce their discomfort, and if they have a long trip or connecting time, they will keep them in a safe spot. Your pet will remain at our airport, an on-site kennel, or off-site facility until the next phase in their journey, depending on their itinerary.
