United Airlines Bans Certain Dog Breeds From Flying

United Airlines is overhauling its policies on flying with pets. The company announced that it is teaming up with the American Humane Society "to improve the well-being of all pets that travel on United."

The company's new policy states that starting on June 18th "short or snub-nosed dogs and cats and strong-jawed dog breeds" will not be allowed to fly and the airline will no longer transport pets to Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Tucson between May 1 and Sept. 30 because of high temperatures, which can be unsafe for animals in the cargo hold.

The ban includes breeds such as terriers, boxers, pit bulls, bulldogs, and pugs. Passengers will be able to fly with the banned breeds in the cabin if the dog can fit into a carrier underneath their seat. 

United spokesman Charles Hobart told People that the airline is "doing this to further minimize risk and ensure the comfort of pets we fly." He also added that the only animals United will fly are dogs and cats - a break from their previous policy of allowing a variety of creatures to be transported in the cargo hold.

Prior to today, we flew all sorts of animals. Geese, foxes, leopards, you name it, we pretty much flew it. That will change moving forward. We’ll only fly dogs and cats as pets that belong to our customers.

United temporarily stopped transporting pets in March after a French bulldog died after being stuffed into an overhead bin.

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