Has anyone flown with a cat in cabin recently?

We are military and PCS’ing from Guam to Florida soon. We are taking our 2 cats in cabin with us and recently purchased soft carriers which have ventilation on the top, and can expand on all sides when there is enough space.

The United policy online does not say anything about how many sides need ventilation and the picture they show looks like it only has ventilation on one side, however i’m now being told by someone else in the military that it needs ventilation on all sides and that we may be turned away.

Anyone have recent experience with this? Thanks!