Our primary concern when transporting dangerous goods is always the safety of people and freight as well as the well-being of the environment. For further information about the transport of hazardous materials and TSA security requirements, please contact United Cargo. Hazardous material shipments cannot be booked online.

Service Description

• Airport-to-airport air freight service
• Booked on selected flights
• High priority/special handling
• Acceptable IATA approved shipments containing or consisting of dangerous goods can be accepted as United Airlines Cargo EXP, GEN or SPD service.
• For dangerous goods drop and recovery times, refer to Station Operations. All dangerous goods drop and recovery times will override EXP, GEN or SPD drop and recovery times.

In addition to all other applicable transportation charges, a surcharge of $30.00 shall apply to each different dangerous good contained in a shipment. The surcharge also applies to United's portion of joint transportation other than those carriers whose rates appear in United's section of the Official Local Cargo Rates Tariff.

For shipments containing over 5 pounds of dry ice, a surcharge of $15.00 shall apply to each shipment. Shipments containing 5 pounds or less of dry ice shall be exempt from the surcharge.

Up to 50 pounds of dry ice is now acceptable per each shipment tendered at the SPD Centers in ORD, LAX and SFO. Acceptance is subject to the following conditions:

• This exception is applicable only in the SPD Centers in ORD, LAX and SFO.
• Up to 50 pounds of dry ice used as a refrigerant is acceptable per each SPD shipment.
• The product being refrigerated must be a non-hazardous medical shipment and not classified as dangerous goods.

Shipper's Responsibility
The Shipper must ensure that the articles or substances are not prohibited for transport by air, and that the articles or substances are properly identified, classified, packed, marked, labeled and documented in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, as well as all government regulations in the country of origin, transit and destination. Before packing dangerous goods for transport by air, the Shipper must:

• Identify, correctly and fully, all dangerous articles and dangerous substances within the consignment;
• Classify each item of dangerous goods by determining under which of the nine classes it falls and, where relevant, determining any subsidiary hazards
• Where relevant, assign each item of dangerous goods to one of the three packing groups within its class.
• Ensure that the documentation which accompanies the shipment is complete and in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. For further assistance, we recommend that you contact a Dangerous Goods Handler (i.e. Freight Forwarder) in your area.
• Advanced arrangements are required.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) categorizes dangerous goods into nine classes:

Class 1 - Explosives
Class 2 - Gas
Class 3 - Flammable liquids
Class 4 - Flammable solids
Class 5 - Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
Class 6 - Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances
Class 7 - Radioactive materials
Class 8 - Corrosives
Class 9 - Miscellaneous articles and substances: asbestos; dry ice; environmentally hazardous substances; life-saving devices; machines incorporating internal combustion engines; magnetized material; polymeric beads; self-propelled vehicles; zinc dithionite; any liquid or solid which has anesthetic, noxious or other similar properties which could cause extreme annoyance or discomfort to passengers and/or flight crew members

Exception: EXP guarantee is applicable for the following Dangerous Goods: Dry Ice, magnetized materials, Radioactive - Class 7, (with no transport index (T.I.), White label only, with Research Diagnostic Treatment). No other Dangerous Goods will be guaranteed.

Packing Group Criteria
Dangerous goods are assigned to the relevant packing group according to the degree of hazard they represent:

Packing Group I - Great danger
Packing Group II - Medium danger
Packing Group III - Minor danger

Please see your IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or contact a Dangerous Goods Handler concerning packing group criteria for specific classes of dangerous goods. United Airlines reserves the right to inspect and/or refuse any consignment that is presented for shipment.