Since many airlines require that soft sided carriers be: water-repellent, with ample ventilation on two or more sides, check the specifics of the pet carrier you purchase.

Remember, you can actually buy a pet carrier at the airport if you get stuck. Most have them. Just note, if you buy a carrier from the airline, they start at $45 and can go over $90! (American Airlines). And they're pretty plain. The maximum size that American Airlines permits for a cabin carrier is: 23" long x 13" wide x 9" high. Remember, in most instances your pet carrier counts as your carry-on.

Jet Blue Guidelines

Just because a carrier meets the requirements of one airline, doesn't mean that it will meet those of another. Many of our customers travel using JetBlue. JetBlue will allow you to travel with small cats and dogs in the passenger cabin but not on flights to and from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic - yet another example where "airline approved" doesn't answer all questions about pet travel. There is a $50 USD fee each way on Jet Blue. They only allow one pet per customer unless it's a certified service animal.  You can contact Jet Blue at 1-800-JETBLUE for additional information.

Additional Jet Blue Pet Carrier Restrictions:

Carrier Height

Note that the height requirement for pet carriers noted above and for other airlines is often 9 inches or less. More often than not, these are dimensions given for hard sided carriers. Most soft sided carriers will fit underneath the seat in front of you and will meet the requirements for carry on luggage. A safe rule of thumb if you are not sure are the Sherpa carriers since they were designed by Gail who used to be a flight attendant and is used to the travel requirements of airlines. We have a very large collection of Sherpa carriers. The most popular for traveling are the Delta Dog Carrier, Roll-up and Montreal Sherpa Pet Carriers. Pick a size that would allow your dog to stand up and turn around in for comfort.

Pet Carrier or Tote for Airline Travel?

We don't recommend that you use a tote for airline travel even though it may meet the dimensions for carry on. Totes are designed for casual day or walking trips. They don't have the features that would make longer term or sturdier pet travel comfortable for you or your pet.

Checking Your Pet into Cargo

One of the reasons we do not like cargo travel is that the holds are not always temperature controlled. Be mindful of the season in which you travel and if you have to fly your pet in cargo, take into consideration the possible temperature of the cargo area and the comfort of your pet. For instance, some people freeze the pet water so that it's likely to be cool in flight during hot weather. (Check with airline first). It's exceedingly important no matter how you travel with your pet that your pet is wearing a collar and an identification tag. At a minimum, include the kind of information that you would use for your luggage. Remember, your pet is so much more important.