Has anyone traveled internationally with a dog in-cabin on United? How strict are they about carrier fit?

TL;DR:

Moving internationally to Asia and hoping to fly my ~27 lb dog in cabin on United (the only airline that allows it to my destination). He fits in a United-compliant soft carrier but can’t fully stand upright. He’s very comfortable in his travel bag (we’ve done Amtrak trips successfully). Looking for real experiences on how strict United is about carrier fit, especially internationally, because time-sensitive health paperwork makes a last-minute denial a nightmare. Trying to avoid cargo if at all possible.

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Hi everyone — I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has flown internationally with a dog in cabin, especially on United, or who has insight into how strictly carrier fit is enforced.

According to United’s website, there’s no stated weight limit for in-cabin pets and no explicit requirement that the dog must be able to stand up or turn around inside the carrier (unlike many other airlines). United is also the only airline that allows in-cabin pets on international routes to my destination in Asia, which is why I’m strongly considering them.

Context:

I’m moving back to Asia full-time, so this is a one-time move, not frequent travel. My dog weighs ~27 lbs and fits lengthwise perfectly in a United-compliant soft carrier. However, he is slightly taller than the height of the bag, meaning he cannot fully stand upright, though he can lie down comfortably and turn.

He is also very comfortable in his travel bag — we’ve taken Amtrak several times, and he genuinely does well in the carrier, settles quickly, and remains calm for extended periods.

My main goal is to avoid cargo at all costs, especially for a ~15-hour flight. I’m trying to plan ahead because the international move involves a lot of time-sensitive health documents, lab tests, and approvals that take months to coordinate. My biggest fear is completing all of that, showing up at the airport, and having a gate agent deny him due to carrier fit — which would completely derail everything.

I’m trying to find the safest, most realistic option to ensure:

• My dog can travel comfortably • I don’t get surprised at the gate • Cargo remains a last resort 

If anyone has:

• Successfully flown internationally with a dog close to this size in cabin • Experienced how strict United gate agents are about carrier height • Tips for minimizing risk (specific carriers, documentation, check-in strategies, etc.) 

I would really appreciate hearing your experiences. This has been incredibly stressful, and I just want to do right by my dog 😭🐶

Thank you so much in advance!