United Pet Policy 2026: In-Cabin Fees, Carrier Sizes and What Changed

Travel · PetzDay Editorial · 2026-11-13

United charges $150 each way for a cabin pet, allows 18 × 11 × 11 inches soft-sided and only 17.5 × 12 × 7.5 hard-sided, bans cabin pets to Hawaii, and no longer sells PetSafe to ordinary passengers.

United charges $150 each way for a cabin pet and publishes two different carrier limits — 18 × 11 × 11 inches for a soft-sided bag, and only 17.5 × 12 × 7.5 inches for a hard-sided kennel, the tightest hard-sided limit of the five largest U.S. airlines.

Two things have changed for 2026 and they matter more than the fee: United no longer sells PetSafe to the general public, and cabin pets are not allowed to or from Hawaii.

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A United 737-800. Cabin pets ride under the seat in front of you, and seat type determines whether there is room at all. Photo: Acroterion / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

United pet fee in 2026

• $150 each way, per carrier, for a cabin pet on a domestic flight.
• A round trip is two fees, and a connection on a separate ticket can add a third.
• The fee covers the pet, not a seat: the carrier replaces your carry-on or personal item.
• One pet per reservation for an adult passenger.

United carrier sizes: soft 18 × 11 × 11, hard 17.5 × 12 × 7.5

United is the only one of the five that publishes a hard-sided limit meaningfully smaller than its soft-sided one, and the difference is 3.5 inches of height.

• The dog must stand, turn and lie down inside the closed carrier without touching the sides.
• The carrier goes under the seat in front of you and stays there for the flight.
• No leaving the carrier in flight, including for feeding.

United's hard-sided allowance is only 7.5 inches of height — the tightest of the five airlines. Photo: Chachacha369 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

A soft-sided bag compresses into uneven under-seat space, which is why the 18 × 11 × 11 recommendation exists at all. If you fly more than one airline, the airline pet carrier size chart compares all five published limits.

Top-Side Expandable Pet Carrier, Treat Window,18x11x11 Airline Approved

18 × 11 × 11 in matches United's soft-sided limit exactly — measure height first

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Adding a pet to a United reservation

1. Book the passenger ticket first. United requires an existing reservation before a pet can be added.
2. Add the pet before travel, using the airline's reservation tools or the contact centre, and confirm it in writing.
3. Check in at the counter so an agent can inspect the carrier and collect the fee.
4. Security means the dog comes out of the bag. The carrier goes through the X-ray; the dog walks through with you on a leash.
5. Find the pet relief area after security before you settle at the gate.

A pet relief area after security is the one stop worth planning before the gate. Photo: The Eloquent Peasant / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Where United does not allow cabin pets

• Hawaii: no cabin pets to or from Hawaii, in either direction.
• Exit rows, bulkhead rows and seats without under-seat stowage.
• International routes: the destination country's import rules apply, and some restrict cabin pets outright.

What changed: PetSafe is closed to the general public

This is the biggest 2026 change for anyone with a medium or large dog.

• United no longer sells PetSafe — its live-animal cargo program — to ordinary passengers.
• Cargo transport is limited to active-duty military and State Department personnel travelling on official orders.
• For everyone else, United is a cabin-only airline for pets: if the dog does not fit under the seat, it does not fly United.

The alternatives are Alaska (which still sells hold space to ordinary passengers at $200 each way, 150 lb combined limit) and dedicated cargo services. The airline pet fee comparison covers all five carriers, and the Delta pet policy shows how one competitor handles the same gap.

United domestic paperwork: less than you expect

United states explicitly that domestic cabin pets do not require a rabies vaccination record. That surprises people, and it is worth reading carefully:

• The destination state can still require documentation — a health certificate, proof of rabies vaccination, or both. USDA APHIS lists the state-by-state rules.
• International travel always needs paperwork, including an APHIS-endorsed export certificate.
• Returning to the U.S. needs the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a scannable microchip and a dog at least 6 months old.

The health certificate and vaccine guide walks through the document chain.

FAQ

How much does United charge for a pet in the cabin?

$150 each way per carrier on domestic flights. A round trip is $300 for one dog, before the carrier, the vet visit or any paperwork.

What size carrier does United allow?

18 × 11 × 11 inches if soft-sided, and 17.5 × 12 × 7.5 inches if hard-sided. The hard-sided height limit of 7.5 inches is the tightest of the five largest U.S. airlines.

Can I fly my dog to Hawaii in the cabin on United?

No. United does not allow cabin pets to or from Hawaii. A larger dog cannot fall back on United's cargo program either, since PetSafe is limited to military and State Department orders.

Does United still ship pets as cargo?

Not for the general public. PetSafe is now limited to active-duty military and State Department personnel travelling on official orders. Everyone else is limited to pets that fit in the cabin.

Do I need a rabies certificate for a domestic United flight?

United says no for domestic cabin pets. The destination state may still require documentation, and any international segment adds its own requirements.

Is United pet-friendly compared with other airlines?

United is mid-pack on price ($150, same as Delta and American) and stricter on carrier height than most. The Hawaii exclusion and the closed PetSafe program make it a poor fit for larger dogs.

References

• United Airlines — Traveling with pets
• Alaska Airlines — Pets in the baggage compartment
• USDA APHIS — Take a pet from one U.S. state to another
• CDC — Dog import form and instructions
• U.S. DOT — Flying with a pet

All web sources accessed November 13, 2026. United's carrier limits and cargo policy change with aircraft and program updates; confirm before booking.

Last reviewed: November 13, 2026.