Airline Approved Pet Carriers and Travelling with Larger Dog in the Cabin
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Airline Travel
Thanks Brian C. for the page you inspired! Though we have many pet carriers for airline travel, we've put the best of the best al in one place for easy reference if you have to fly somewhere and need to be assured that you have a carrier that will pass muster on most flights. Be advised, however, that each airline has its own requirements for travel with pets. We provide the dimensions of our carriers so you can check to see if they are within a specific airline carrier's guidelines.
While small dogs are usually ok to travel by plane in a tote, the carriers on this page are better for larger dogs and will fit comfortably under the seat in most cabins. We have tried to provide the dimensions in most cases so that you can compare them to those required by the airlines. The limit for the large sized carriers for cabins is approximately 23 pounds. The dimensions of your dog may make a difference.
Don't forget to check that you have a reservation for your pet before you fly.
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Picking the Right Soft Sided Carrier
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
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. (See http://www.AdoringPets.com for more information on Service Animals). You can contact Jet Blue at l 1-800-JETBLUE for additional information.
Additional Jet Blue PET CARRIER Restrictions:
Your pet must stay inside the carrier the entire flight.
Carrier must be smaller than 18"l x 15"w x 8"h (45.72 cm L x 38.1 cm W x 20.32 cm H) and fit under the seat in front of you.
Jet Blue sells pet carriers that are 17"l x 12.5"w x 8"h (43.18 cm L x 31.75 cm W x 20.32 cm H) at their ticket counter for $20 USD.
The combined weight of the pet and carrier may not exceed 20 pounds (9.07 kg).
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
We will readily admit that we are not big fans of putting your pet in cargo if you have to. If your pet is small enough to travel in the cabin, do consider taking your pet with you. It's not only safer, but your pet will feel much more settled traveling with your familiar scent nearby. If your animal gets lost, there's some hope in the fact that this is no longer treated as "lost luggage." Congress has passed a law that requires airlines to create a separate system for locating your pet and the circumstances have to be investigated.
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.
Some of our More Popular Airline Approved Carriers
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