United Airlines service animal policy: service dogs, ESAs and the DOT form

Service dogs on United: what United requires

• Number and cost: "You can fly with up to two service dogs for free."
• Forms: United labels them "Service Animal Training and Behavior Attestation Form" and "Service Animal Relief Attestation Form" (flights of 8 hours or more), but both links open the current DOT forms, revision 9.20.24.
• Age: "For domestic flights, dogs must be over 4 months old. For all international flights they must be 6 months old."
• Control: the contract of carriage (revised May 11, 2026) says "Service Animals must be properly harnessed or leashed and remain under the direct control of the Passenger."
• Behavior: "if your dog does not behave appropriately in public places, we do not consider them a trained service dog", and by filling out the forms "you guarantee that your dog will not relieve themselves at the gate or on the plane."

United names no breed limits for service dogs. Its contract goes further than most on consequences: a dog that is too large or heavy for the space in front of you, cannot be controlled, or behaves in a threatening way means the dog and its owner "will be denied boarding, removed from the flight by UA, and in UA's sole discretion, permanently banned".

How to add a service dog to a United booking

1. When you book, select "I'm bringing a task-trained service dog on my trip."
2. "After booking, go to "Trip details" to complete the paperwork."
3. If you have a MileagePlus account, you can complete the form in your profile "and save it there for future use", then attach it to each trip.

International, Hawaii and Guam trips work differently: United says you need to call its accessibility desk to add a service dog, and "The forms can't be completed electronically but must be printed and carried with you during your trip." The desk's contact details are on United's service animal page, linked in our sources.

Submitting the DOT form to United

United's web page gives no deadline, but its contract does: the form must be "completed on or after the date the Passenger purchased the Ticket and at least 48 hours prior to scheduled departure. If the Ticket has been purchased less than 48 hours prior to departure, the Service Animal Transportation Form must be submitted to United prior to departure."

If you have seen people search for a "United service dog verification form", this is it: the DOT form is the only document United asks for. See how to fill out the DOT service animal form for every field. Carry a copy on the day even if yours is saved online.

Is there a United service dog loophole?

No. The DOT form carries a federal false-statement warning (18 U.S.C. 1001), United treats a dog that misbehaves in public as untrained, and its contract allows a permanent ban. United's contract does still carry older wording that "Evidence that an animal is a Service Animal include identification cards, other written documentation, the type of harness or markings on the harness, tags, or other credible assurances". That line dates from before the 2021 rule. It does not replace the form: United's current process still runs on the DOT form, and no ID card or registry, ours included, stands in for it.

Psychiatric service dogs on United

United names psychiatric disabilities as qualifying, and the DOT rule treats psychiatric service dogs the same as any other service dog. Same form, same timing, no mental health letter. What matters is that the dog is trained to perform a task for your disability; comfort by presence alone is emotional support. See psychiatric service dogs.

Emotional support animals on United: flying as a pet

United: "All other cats and dogs, including therapy and emotional support dogs and cats, fly as pets." For an ESA that means:

• Fee: "Tickets cost $150 each way", cats and dogs only, booked online ("Travel with a pet") or in My Trips, not in the app.
• Carrier: hard-sided up to 9 x 17.5 x 12 inches, soft-sided up to 11 x 18 x 11 inches, fitting under the seat in front.
• Two pets: possible on most aircraft if you buy the seat next to you, but only one per person on the A319, A320, A321neo, 737-800/8 and 737-900/9.
• Routes: no pets "to, from or even through" Hawaii, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and a list of other places, and only partly Guam.
• Too big for a carrier: "We no longer let you check your pets through the PetSafe program." The hold is only for certain active-duty military and State Department moves.

United's contract also says it "will not accept dogs of certain breeds ... as in-cabin baggage" without naming them, while its pet page says there are no breed limits. If your ESA is a bully breed, ask United in writing. United does let a handler fly with one service dog and one pet if you buy an extra seat. Compare all airlines in can emotional support animals fly?

Service dogs in training on United

United's two documents disagree. The web page says, twice, "We won't accept dogs in training." The contract of carriage (revised May 11, 2026) says: "Trainers are permitted to bring one Service Animal onboard free of charge that is training to assist disabled passengers. This service animal must not occupy a seat, and must meet all other conditions specified in this Rule." The contract is the binding document, but get United's answer in writing before you rely on either. More in service dogs in training.

International and Hawaii flights on United

United: "Trained and certified service dogs can travel anywhere as long as they meet the requirements of the countries involved," and "Some international destinations require your service dog to be trained by a recognized accredited organization." Every international flight, "including flights to Canada and Mexico", needs a health and vaccination certificate, with rabies at least 28 days before travel. For Mexico, from August 3, 2026, a New World Screwworm inspection certificate issued no more than 5 days before travel "applies to service dogs and those traveling as in-cabin pets". The UK government lists United as registered to carry assistance dogs into Glasgow and Heathrow.

Hawaii and Guam need the phone-and-paper process above, and Hawaii's own entry rules apply to every dog (see Hawaii's rules for service dogs). For CDC rules on the way home, see international flights with a service dog.

Seating, size and large dogs on United

"Your dog should sit in the floor space in front of your seat. They can't be in the aisle or the floor space of the travelers next to you, with the exception of small service dogs that can sit on your lap." You may put a service dog in a pet carrier if you prefer. No exit rows. If your dog is large, talk to United before the day: its contract allows refusal for a dog "too large or heavy to be accommodated in the cabin in the space immediately in front of the Passenger". The DOT rule says an airline should first look for another seat in the same class where the dog fits.

Contacting United, and when we last checked

United's service animal page lists its accessibility desk for US and international callers; use the link in our sources. Our server could not reach united.com on 2026-09-25, so we read the service animal page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2026-08-30, the pet page as of 2026-09-11 and the contract of carriage as of 2026-09-21. Note the page's address moved from /accessibility/ to /accessibility-and-assistance/. Compare Delta and American.

Common questions

Sources

1. United, service animals (Internet Archive capture 2026-08-30)
2. United, traveling with pets (Internet Archive capture 2026-09-11)
3. United, Contract of Carriage, Rule 16 (revised 2026-05-11)
4. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form (PDF)
5. 14 CFR 382.75, documentation airlines may require
6. GOV.UK, airlines registered to carry assistance dogs

General information, not legal advice. Policies and laws change; follow the sources. Last checked September 25, 2026.