United Airlines
✈ Star Alliance📍 United States · ORD✓ Verified 11 Jul 2026
★ Moderate 2.7/5
54/100 · MyDogCanFly score
Small cats & dogs in the cabin only ($150 each way) — checked baggage ended, cargo limited to military.
⚖️ Where does your dog travel?
Cabinunder-seat
Holdended
Cargomilitary
Weight includes the carrier or kennel.
🐾 CabinAllowed
Cats & dogs only, in a ventilated carrier under the seat; up to 2 (buy 2 seats). No weight limit but must fit the carrier.
$150 / way
🧳 HoldEnded
United no longer checks pets as baggage.
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✈️ PetSafe cargoMilitary only
General PetSafe cargo is discontinued — cargo only for US military & State Dept on transfer.
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💶 Fares
| Cabin (small pet) | $150 each way |
| Checked baggage | Not offered |
| PetSafe cargo | Military only |
| Service dog | Free |
USD, each way. The in-cabin pet is in addition to your carry-on. ✓ Official source
⚠️ Key restrictions
🚫 Excluded destinations
Many countries barred
Pets are prohibited to/from/through Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, the UAE and more.
🐾 Emotional-support animals
Treated as pets
Therapy and emotional-support cats & dogs must fly as pets (in a carrier), not as service animals.
🌡️ Temperature & hold
Cabin-only program
United carries pets in the cabin only, so no hold-temperature policy applies. Checked-baggage and general cargo carriage have been discontinued for the public.
📦 Check your crate size for this airline →🦮 Assistance dog
✓ In the cabin
Up to two task-trained service dogs fly free in the cabin (min 4 months domestic, 6 international).
📄 Documents
DOT training + behaviour attestation form; 8 h+ flights need the relief form. Submit in My Trips or call the accessibility desk.
ℹ️ Good to know
✈️ Aircraft limitsSome aircraft allow only one pet per person (A319/320/321neo, 737-800/8, 737-900/9); wide-bodies up to 6.
🐾 Cabin-onlyPets travel in the cabin only — checked baggage ended and general cargo is suspended.
📄 US entryDogs entering the US must meet updated CDC rabies rules (new import form).
🗺️ Where United Airlines flies with dogs
🧭
Where to next?
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🛡️ Official source3 United sources · last verified 11 July 2026