May 3, 2018
by Carla Hay
After facing numerous complaints about how animals are handled during travel, United Airlines has announced changes to its United United PetSafe policies, which cover travel for animals in United airplane cargo areas. Among the new rules are United will no longer animals other than dogs and cats in the cargo areas. The airline is also banning several dog and cat breeds to travel in the cargo areas. Most of these breeds have flat noses and experience breathing difficulties in confined spaces. United is also no longer allowing dogs and cats in the cargo areas for travel to certain cities that are known for extreme heat during certain times of the year.
According to United, exceptions to these new PetSafe policies can be made for members of the military and their spouses, and State Department Foreign Service personnel and their spouses, who wish to travel with or ship their pets out of Guam.
The following rules apply to animals being transported in United’s cargo areas. (Separate rules apply for dogs and cats traveling with passengers in the cabin area.)
Effective June 18, 2018:
- Only dogs and cats will be allowed in the cargo areas. All other animals will not be allowed in the cargo areas.
- United’s cargo area will no longer allow cats and dogs traveling to and from Australia and India.
- Beginning June 16, 2018, reservations can be taken for dogs and cats traveling without their owners for flights on or after July 30, 2018.
- Beginning June 18, 2018, reservations can be taken for dogs and cats traveling on the same flights as their owners for flights on or after July 9, 2018.
- Crates taller than 30″, including the 700 series crates, will no longer be accepted.
- Crates will no longer be sold or provided at United airport facilities. All cats and dogs traveling with a PetSafe reservation must have a compliant crate, which may be purchased via united.com/petmate in advance for acclimation and travel.
Between May 1 and September 30, dogs and cats will not be allowed in the cargo areas, due to high temperature restrictions, for travel to and from the following cities:
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Palm Springs (PSP)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- Tucson (TUS)
In some cases, dogs and cats will not be allowed in the cargo area for temperature reasons under other circumstances, cities or dates outside of May 1 to September 30. The decision will be made at the discretion of United employees.
The following dog and cat breeds are no longer allowed in United’s cargo areas:
Dog Breeds*
- Affenpinscher
- American Bully
- American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
- American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff”
- Belgian Malinois
- Boston Terrier
- Boxer
- Brussels Griffon
- Bulldog
- American Bulldog
- English Bulldog
- French Bulldog
- Old English Bulldogges
- Shorty Bulldogs
- Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chow Chow
- English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel
- Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel
- Lhasa Apso
- Mastiff
- American Mastiff
- Boerboel/South African Mastiff
- Bullmastiff
- Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff
- Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff
- Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff
- Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff
- English Mastiff
- Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila
- Indian Mastiff/Alangu
- Kangal/Turkish Kangal
- Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano
- Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta
- Pyrenean Mastiff
- Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff
- Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa
- Pekingese
- Pug
- Dutch Pug
- Japanese Pug
- Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei
- Shih-Tzu
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys”
- Tibetan Spaniel
Cat Breeds*
- Burmese
- Exotic Shorthair
- Himalayan
- Persian
* Including mixed breeds