LifeGuard

LifeGuard

Protect and preserve life-saving medical shipments

Transport human tissues or cell therapy treatments across the global United network with speed, careful handling and complete oversight by our expert team.

All LifeGuard bookings must be made at least two hours before the scheduled departure.

 
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LifeGuard at a glance

Worldwide medical air freight service

When shipping human tissue, cell therapies and other lifesaving medical materials, speed and careful handling are critical. Use LifeGuard to ensure vital cargo reaches its destination in time.

LifeGuard at a glance

Worldwide medical air freight service

When shipping human tissue, cell therapies and other lifesaving medical materials, speed and careful handling are critical. Use LifeGuard to ensure vital cargo reaches its destination in time.

Reach patients faster

Get the fastest-available airport-to-airport service and top boarding priority, with our dedicated support staff providing continuous monitoring.

Shipping solutions that save lives

For more information on shipping medical shipments requiring hazardous or dangerous goods such as dry ice, see our rules and regulations.

Ship with LifeGuard to get vitally important medical materials to the patients who need them, including:

- Human tissues and organs

- Cell and gene therapies

- Clinical trial materials

Features

Boarding priority

Highest

Network availability

United and United Express®

Customer support

24/7 oversight and support from LifeGuard Desk: call 1-800-863-8666 or email lifeguard@united.com

Handling

Hand loading and unloading by specially-trained staff

Transfers

Fastest transfer and recovery times

Tracking

Point-to-point barcode scans; GPS tracking available*

*Read a list of GPS and electronic tracking devices approved for use on United aircraft.

LifeGuard in action

At origin

  • Pre-book your LifeGuard shipment up to two hours before your flight departs, with assistance from our LifeGuard support desk
  • Domestic LifeGuard shipments may be accepted up to 45 minutes before departure*
Origin

LifeGuard in action

At origin

  • Pre-book your LifeGuard shipment up to two hours before your flight departs, with assistance from our LifeGuard support desk
  • Domestic LifeGuard shipments may be accepted up to 45 minutes before departure*

Acceptance Times

Shipment acceptance at origin minimum times (prior to scheduled flight departure). Acceptance times may vary by location. See station information for specific drop-off locations and times. See the rules and regulations page for shipment acceptance definition.

  • 01
    INTRA-U.S. SHIPMENTS
    INTRA-U.S. SHIPMENTS
    • Freight facility drop
      60min.
    • Terminal or counter
      45min.
  • 02
    INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS
    INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS
    • International origins and gateways
      180min.

All shipments must be accepted and processed before the cut-off time listed. Please allow enough time to arrive at the cargo facility, tender your shipment with the agent, and complete the acceptance process. Peak times may result in longer lines and more processing time.

For LifeGuard shipments that include regulated dangerous goods, shipments must be accepted and processed 90 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure.

Recovery Times

Pick up times (after actual flight arrival)

  • 01
    INTRA-U.S. SHIPMENTS
    INTRA-U.S. SHIPMENTS
    • Intra-U.S. shipments*
      45min.
  • 02
    INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS
    INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS
    • Shipments less than 45 kilograms**
      120min.
    • Shipments greater than 45 kilograms**
      180min.

*Varies by station location

**Contingent on customs clearance

LifeGuard XL

LifeGuardXL

LifeGuardXL ensures oversized medical shipments receive maximum care

When your most critical shipments exceed 100lbs./45kg, LifeGuardXL is there to connect your cell therapy and other vital shipments to patients across the world. Your benefits include:

  • Highest boarding priority
  • Monitoring and support from our LifeGuard desk
  • Stations proactively notified of LifeGuard XL shipment
  • Handling by specialty-trained staff
  • Access to our global network and more than 50 U.S. cities
  • Extra shipment visibility with clearly identifiable purple LifeGuard tape

Learn more about LifeGuardXL

LifeGuardXL bookings must be made at least 120 minutes before domestic departures and up to 180 minutes internationally. Recovery times for LifeGuardXL shipments are 120 minutes domestically and 180 minutes internationally.