United Airlines pet policy

Pets in the cabin

Allowed

“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).”

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Under-seat carrier, maximum

Not published

United publishes separate hard-sided and soft-sided limits and no single overall limit; neither box fits inside the other. Use softCarrierMaxIn / hardCarrierMaxIn.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Soft-sided carrier, maximum

18 × 11 × 11 in (46 × 28 × 28 cm)

“The maximum size of a soft-sided pet carrier can be 11 in x 18 in x 11 in (27 cm x 45 cm x 27 cm).”

United does not label the dimensions; mapped to 18 L x 11 W x 11 H. Its cm figures (27 x 45 x 27) are slightly smaller than the inch figures.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Hard-sided carrier, maximum

17.5 × 12 × 9 in (44 × 30 × 23 cm)

“The maximum size of a hard-sided pet carrier can be 9 in x 17.5 in x 12 in (22 cm x 44 cm x 30 cm).”

United does not label the dimensions; listed as 9 x 17.5 x 12 in, read as H x L x W. Its cm figures (22 x 44 x 30) are slightly smaller than the inch figures.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Carrier size by aircraft

Not published

“Some of our planes have limited space under the middle seat. We only allow one pet per person on these aircraft:”

No per-aircraft dimensions. One pet per person on A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800, 737-8 (MAX 8), 737-900, 737-9 (MAX 9).

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Weight limit, pet and carrier

Not published

“While there are no weight or breed limitations for pets, they must travel in either a hard-sided or soft-sided carrier.”

United states there is no weight limit.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Fee each way

$150 each way

“Tickets cost $150 each way.”

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Pets per passenger

2

“On most flights, you can bring up to 2 pets per person.”

A second pet needs a second, adjacent seat. Only 1 pet per person on A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800/8 and 737-900/9.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Animals allowed in the cabin

Dog, cat

“If you plan to fly with your pet, they must be a cat or dog”

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Minimum age

9 weeks

“On domestic flights, puppies and kittens must be at least 2 months old.”

United states '2 months' (about 8.7 weeks), rounded up to 9. Dogs on international flights must be 6 months.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Pet must stand and turn around

Not published

Not stated.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Breed restrictions

None (United states there are no breed limitations).

“While there are no weight or breed limitations for pets”

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

Checked or cargo pets

Limited

“Pets can only fly in cargo when traveling with certain active-duty military or State Department employees.”

PetSafe checked-pet program discontinued.

From United Airlines’s website, checked 21 Oct 2026

The airline decides at the gate. Check your booking.

Informational only. We copy United Airlines’s published words and link to them; we don’t speak for the airline.