United Airlines has established a new policy for transporting pets in cargo holds that includes banning dozens of dog breeds and several types of cats.
The new policy takes effect June 18, when the carrier will resume reservations for its PetSafe program. The airline temporarily stopped the program in March after a series of high-profile incidents involving pets that were lost and others that died on United flights.
United said it will be working with American Humane, an animal-welfare group, to improve the well-being of pets that travel on United, both in the cargo hold and in the cabin. Through the rest of the year it will continue to “make enhancements as needed to further improve the safety and care of animal transportation,” United said.
Banned breeds
The types of dogs and cats banned are short- or snub-nosed breeds, along with strong-jawed breeds “out of concern for higher adverse health risks,” the airline said. Banned dogs include pit bulls, Boston terriers, boxers, bulldogs, mastiffs and pugs, among others and including mixes of those breeds. Banned cats are Burmese, exotic shorthair, Himalayan and Persian. Only dogs and cats — not other pets — qualify for the PetSafe program.
» MORE: See NerdWallet’s guides for flying with dogs or cats.
Extreme heat on the ground can also be a problem. United won’t accept reservations to and from four desert airports — Las Vegas; Palm Springs, California; Phoenix; and Tucson, Arizona — from May 1 to Sept. 30. It also won’t accept reservations to and from India and Australia.
United said it will resume reservations June 18 for pets traveling with their owner on flights beginning July 9. It will start taking reservations July 16 for pets traveling alone on flights that depart July 30 and after.
Passengers can still bring dogs and cats into the cabin in a pet carrier if it fits beneath the seat in front of them. The new policy does not address comfort animals or service animals.
The new PetSafe policy is detailed at www.united.com/petsafe.
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