Airline Approved Pet Carrier: Top 10 Picks for Flying with a Dog!

Taking your pet with you on vacation is exciting, but choosing the best airline approved pet carrier is no easy task!

You have to take into account whether you have a toy, small, medium or large dog. How about the type of pet carrier? Would you prefer a hard-sided or soft-sided dog carrier, or an airline pet carrier with wheels? Not least, you should buy FAA-approved pet carriers that meet airline regulations.

To help you make this tough choice, here is our in-depth guide to buying an airline approved dog carrier. You’ll be able to decide what to buy in no time. This is regardless of whether you have a Teacup Yorkie or a Staffordshire Terrier.

So, let’s take a closer look at your options when traveling with a pet.

What Are the 10 Best Airline Pet Carriers?

Alright, so we’ve been over what kinds of dog carrier are available on the market. And we’ve covered what you should look for to suit your style, and to suit your pet. So don’t you think it’s time that we gave you some options?

These are our ten favorite airline-approved dog carriers. For each one, we’ve listed what we like about them, as well as what we don’t. For each, there’s also a brief list of features which might make them stand out to you.

1] The Sherpa Original Deluxe

The Sherpa Original Deluxe is one of the best carriers on the market today. Not only is it well designed, being both comfortable and durable. But it’s recommended by the ASPCA, the Humane Society, and veterinarians.

Features:

What We Like:

We are big fans of the Sherpa because it’s one of the most secure carriers on the market. Dog and cat owners know that their pets are mini-Houdinis: if there’s a way out, they’ll find it. But the Sherpa is one of the most secure soft-sided carriers you can find.

Why? For a start, the zips lock together so that they can’t be undone unless it’s from the outside. The mesh on the sides of the carrier is exceptionally durable, and can’t be clawed or chewed through. And because the bottom of the carrier is reinforced, there’s no way out through there either.

On top of this security, the Sherpa Original Deluxe is a guaranteed airline pet carrier. It’s a fully FAA approved pet carrier and can be taken in the cabin of every major airline.

What We Dislike:

The only drawback is that the Sherpa Original Deluxe is for small pets only. Any pet larger than around 22 pounds will be too heavy to carry safely. For reference, that’s the weight of a normal-sized Dachshund. So while the Sherpa Deluxe is perfect for Jack Russells, terriers, French Bulldogs, and Pomeranians, it’s too small for dogs any larger than these.

Check the Price of Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

2] Petsfit Comfort Expandable Foldable Pet Carrier

The Petsfit expandable carrier is amazingly convenient. It folds out to become significantly bigger than its original footprint. This means that it gives your little pet an extra bit of breathing room on long flights.

Features:

What We Like:

Of course, the standout feature of this carrier is that it expands. But it would be easy enough to make an expandable carrier that’s flimsy, ugly or doesn’t meet most airline regulations. Petsfit has ticked almost every box.

For starters, the bottom of the carrier is sturdy and reliable. It’s just the walls which are soft so that your pet can sit in comfort. Everything about this carrier is quality made, so the fact that it’s expandable makes this excellent dog carrier that little bit better.

What We Dislike:

The Petsfit expandable carrier is for small pets. The largest size that this carrier runs in is a large, which holds twenty pounds, and just over 22 inches in length. This is big enough for most small to medium-sized dogs, but it’s no kennel.

Check the Price of Petsfit Expandable Travel Carrier on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

3] Outward Hound PoochPouch Front Carrier for Dogs

The Outward Hound PoochPouch carrier is what it sounds like. It’s a backpack-style carrier, which you can wear facing to the front. It has soft walls and mesh sides, and is perfect for toy dogs who find it difficult to walk long distances.

Features:

What We Like:

Some carriers are built to be strong and sturdy, others to be easy to wheel around. Others still are more fashionable than effective. The PoochPouch provides yet another option for traveling with your pet, which you might prefer over the competition.

Carrying a small or toy dog in a carrier like this one is a piece of cake. Ten or twenty pounds in a backpack isn’t a lot of weight, so traveling becomes easy.

What We Dislike:

If you aren’t used to carrying a backpack, you might not pick the right size for your dog. If they’re too big, they won’t fit comfortably, and their head will poke out from the top! If they’re too small, they might struggle to get comfortable as you move around.

Check the Price of Outward Hound PoochPouch Carrier on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

4] The Aspen Pet Porter Plastic Kennel

The Aspen Pet Pet Porter is a classic pet carrier for airline cargo. They can be used for short or long haul flights, and are built to be as strong as possible. You can choose from many sizes, which can fit even the biggest dogs.

Features:

What We Like:

If you’re concerned about your pet’s safety, then solid-sided kennels can’t be beaten. In the unfortunate event of something hitting the kennel, or it rolling over, your pet might be shaken. But they’ll be completely secure and safe, protected against almost anything.

The other benefit of these kennels is that the range can fit almost any dog. The smallest sizes fit dogs of up to nineteen inches long. But aside from small, there are medium, intermediate, large, extra-large options for dogs of different weights. So whether you have a toy Chihuahua or a Doberman, there’s a kennel that will work for you.

What We Dislike:

Hard-sided kennels are great for security, but not for convenient travel. These carriers are more cumbersome and difficult to transport than the other options in this list. That’s the price you pay for added security.

Check the Price of Aspen Pet Pet Porter on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

5] NOZTONOZ Soft-Krate Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home

The NOZTONOZ Soft-Krate Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home is a soft-sided kennel designed for small, medium and large sized dogs. It’s an option for anybody who needs to travel with their large dog. But, you don’t want the weight and solidity of a hard-sided kennel.

Features:

What We Like:

We included this carrier in the list because it’s the best of both worlds. The breathable mesh textile sides keep your pet comfortable and cool. But at the same time, they’re tough and tear resistant: which they have to be because the carrier is for large dogs.

And that’s our next point. Most soft-sided carriers are for small dogs only, but not this one! You can buy it in a small size, to fit dogs of around 15 pounds, like a Jack Russell. But the scale goes all the way up to an impressive 90 pounds, big enough to fit Akitas, Bloodhounds or retrievers.

What We Dislike:

Pointing out anything wrong with these kennels is difficult. Of course, their soft sides aren’t as strong as those on a classic kennel. But the point is that the NOZTONOZ Soft-Krate Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home offers an alternative option for larger dogs, so that’s a trade-off that many are willing to make.

Check the Price of NOZTONOZ Soft-Krate Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

6] Snoozer Wheel Around 4-in-1

The Snoozer Wheel Around 4-in-1 is a perfect combination of three things. First, the fact that it has wheels means that it’s a piece of cake to travel with. Second, it has tough and durable mesh walls that can keep your pet safe on your journeys. And third, it looks better than the majority of other carriers on the market.

Features:

What We Like:

We love that this carrier offers a little bit of everything. It’s convenient in that you can wheel it around or carry it on your shoulders. Its mesh walls are surprisingly durable, but still comfortable because of their soft interior. And it doesn’t look all that bad either, as it’s well designed.

It’s quite lightweight, but not flimsy, so it’s appropriate for small to medium sized pets like Pomeranians and Yorkshire Terriers as well as spaniels. It’s also small enough that it complies with in-cabin regulations for several different airlines. And it opens from above, which can be an appealing option.

What We Dislike:

This carrier is meant for small and medium-sized dogs. Any dog heavier than a spaniel will be too heavy to carry. In fairness to the Snoozer Wheel Around, that’s the case for wheeled carriers. But it would be nice to enjoy that same convenience with a Great Dane.

Check the Price of Snoozer Wheel Around 4-in-1 on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

7] The SturdiBag Pet Carrier Range

The SturdiBag Pet Carrier range is a great choice if you don’t just want a functional carrier, but a good looking one too. It comes in a range of limited edition prints that can suit any taste. But it’s also functional, sturdy (as the name suggests) and hard wearing.

Features:

What We Like:

SturdiBags are strong and sturdy and can hold a surprisingly heavy pet. So, if a small or a medium-sized dog has been feasting on treats lately, that’s not a problem! But what we love most about this carrier is that it’s not just practical, but fashionable too.

The SturdiBag stands out because of its unique print designs. The manufacturers offer limited edition prints like zebra or leopard skin, stripes, leather prints, and patterns to suit all tastes. So while the SturdiBag’s features aren’t all that different to other carriers on this list, its style certainly is.

What We Dislike:

The only thing not to like about this carrier is that it’s a duffel bag. This limits the size of the pet that you can carry unless you’re particularly strong. It’s also less easy to carry than a rolling carrier, or a back or front pack.

Check the Price of SturdiBag Pet Carrier on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

8] Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel

The Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel is a regular hard sided kennel. The only difference to the usual kinds is that this particular model has two doors. There is a regular gated entrance at the front, as well as a top-loading hinged gate. This is great for nervous pets who don’t like being forced through a front loading entrance.

Features:

What We Like:

The Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel is a little different from other hard-sided kennels. The walls are as strong as any other kind, and feature air holes and wire gates for comfort. The only difference is that you can load your pet in either through the front, or the top.

If you’ve never traveled with a pet before, you might not realize why this is so important. If you try to load a cat or a small dog into a carrier through the front, they won’t like it. It’s because pets don’t enjoy feeling trapped, and will do anything to stop you forcing them inside.

Loading them in through the top stops your pet from reacting this way. They’ll feel far less nervous being lowered down into the carrier than forced through the front. So we’ve included this carrier because a top loading gate is an unusual feature in hard-sided kennels.

What We Dislike:

Regarding features other than the top loading gate, this carrier isn’t so unusual. It’s little different to any other hard-sided carrier apart from that. But we’ve included it in our list so that you have the option.

The only other problem with the Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel is that it only comes in two sizes. These are small and ‘large,’ but the large is intended only for dogs and cats of 21” length. So it’s only suitable for small and medium-sized dogs like spaniels and toys.

Check the Price of Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

9] Argo by Teafco

The Argo by Teafco is a carrier designed for small pets. Regarding comfort and convenience, it’s a useful pet carrier, but not the best. What makes it stand out is that the Argo is by far the most stylish carrier on the market today.

Features:

What We Like:

The Argo is a convenient carrier in its own right. But what makes it stand out is that it’s designed just as much for style as substance. While the features above clearly indicate that it’s comfortable for both you and your pet, it’s also a designer bag.

For starters, it looks like a stylish tote bag, not a pet carrier. It’s a muted pink bag in an attractive design. It’s perfect if you want to take your pet on holiday, but not be left hauling an oversized, ugly looking carrier!

What We Dislike:

The Argo by Teafco is an over-the-shoulder design. So it can only carry small pets like cats, and toy dogs like Pomeranians. If your pet is particularly heavy, this bag will weigh down on your shoulder and might be uncomfortable.

Check the Price of Argo by Teafco Petagon on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

10] The Suncast 23-inch Pet Carrier

The Suncast pet carrier is an excellent choice for nervous pets. Why? Because it has strong metal bars on three sides instead of walls, which let your pet see outside. This keeps them from feeling uncomfortable and confined during long trips.

Features:

What We Like:

It’s specially designed for nervous pets. Being put inside a carrier can be one of the worst experiences that a nervous pet can go through. They can’t understand why they’re being confined in a relatively small space.

The Suncast carrier isn’t bigger than any other kind. But for your pet, it feels like it is. The thick walls, normally with only one or two openings, are replaced with bars. These bars are just as secure as hard plastic, but let your pet see outside, and remain calm.

What We Dislike:

The Suncast carrier is relatively normal apart from the fact that it has bars instead of sides. The only drawback is that it doesn’t come with a mat like most other carriers. You’ll have to buy one separately instead.

Check the Price of Suncast Pet Carrier on Amazon!

Our Verdict:

What Are the Different Types of Airline Dog Carriers?

When it comes to choosing your airline pet carrier, you have a variety of options. There are carriers for dogs large and small. There are carriers which are built for the comfort of your pet, above all else. And there are carriers which are super-easy to cart around with you on your travels.

This list is of the basic kinds you’ll be able to find in most online stores:

Kennel Style

Hard-sided plastic pet carriers are the traditional kind. The benefit of having this model is that they’re sturdy enough to withstand traveling. They’re also capable of keeping rowdy dogs inside if they try digging their way out. This is something to bear in mind if your dog is particularly strong.

Soft-Sided

Soft-sided, fabric carriers are the main alternative to plastic models. Fabric carriers, while not as sturdy as plastic ones, can still be strong. They are often made with heavy duty microfiber, which can withstand scratches and tears with ease.

Soft-sided carriers a great solution if you don’t want a bulky, plastic model that can be difficult to hold or store comfortably. Ventilation is provided by mesh side screens which allow in air. Another benefit is that the vast majority of them are sealed with zips, which can be useful.

Expandable

Some soft-sided pet carriers can be expanded, which means that it can be stored away easily. This is because they have zips, which can be unzipped to expand collapsible sections. These kinds can often be collapsed completely for convenient storage and transport, too.

It also means that a carrier that may have fit your puppy just right can also be adjusted to your grown dog. So when your dog grows up, you won’t have to buy a new dog carrier. This saves you money, even if your pet carrier is more expensive, to begin with.

Front Opening

The most common kind of pet carrier is that which opens from the front. Kennel style carriers typically have a wire gate that opens from the front. Some soft-sided carriers also have an opening at the front, and at the back, using zips.

The opening usually is quite large, easily large enough to accommodate your pet. Front opening dog carriers are typically sturdier than other kinds, especially if the carrier is kennel style. This is because the sides, top and back of the carrier can be sturdy and reinforced.

Multiple Opening

Carriers which can open from either the top, the side, the front or all three allow for great convenience. It is unusual to find a kennel-style carrier which has top and side gates, which makes these kinds a rare find. By contrast, soft-sided carriers can have zips at both ends and on the top, almost like a duffel bag.

Top and side opening carriers allow you to open them from whichever angle is easiest. This can prove to be convenient, for instance, if the carrier is in your lap. It comes at the cost of the sturdiness of a hard-sided, kennel style carrier.

Carrier with Wheels

An airline pet carrier with wheels can come in either the hard or soft-sided varieties. This can be exceptionally convenient. When carrying your luggage by hand, the fact that your carrier has wheels allows you to travel in comfort.

Not all carriers have wheels. In fact, the majority of carriers don’t. Those that do are typically more expensive, but that’s the price of paying for convenience. It may be a good option if you are older, have arthritis, an injury, or you want to make life a bit easier.

Over the Shoulder

Some dog carriers can be worn over the shoulders, like a backpack or a baby carrier. These can be used for day trips and camping, or for transporting your pet to and from the airport. Not only that, but a puppy or toy dog looks adorable when you carry them in one of these.

Of course, these carriers are intended only for small dogs, toy dogs, and puppies. Carrying around a Great Dane or a Labrador on your back will likely give you a hernia. But if your dog fits, this might be an excellent choice for you.

What Makes a Good Airline Approved Pet Carrier?

Picking out a pet carrier, but want to choose the best quality you can find? Even though you might think they all look the same, you would be surprised at the variety you can choose from. In fact, there’s been a boom in recent years of the choice available for you to buy.

This boom means that now more than ever, you can pick the approved pet carrier that’s right for you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of factors that all go into making a suitable pet carrier. So, when you’re making your choice, bear these eleven points in mind.

What Are the Dimensions of a Pet Carrier That Fits under an Airplane Seat?

Picking out an in-cabin dog carrier is mostly about fitting a tight space. The exact dimensions underneath an airplane seat differ based on both airplane and airline. But, here are a couple of facts to keep in mind.p

First, don’t think of those guidelines as the maximum size of pet that you can take on board. It’s the size of the carrier that matters, and your pet has to fit into the carrier with room to spare. So really, the fact that Alaskan Airlines allows a 17” tall carrier means that your 17” pet won’t fit.

Second, these guidelines are malleable if you have a soft-sided carrier. So long as it can be compressed underneath an airline seat, it’s small enough.

How to Measure a Dog for a Pet Carrier

It might sound like a simple task, one that you can do just before you buy your pet carrier. But it requires a little more care because it’s more complicated than you think. Here’s a step by step guide on how to measure your pet, and get them ready for the big day.

How Do You Calculate the Measurements of Your Dog?

It sounds simple, but it’s not just about wrapping them in a tape measure.

The way you measure a pet is quite specific:

1. Your pet’s length is calculated from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail.
2. Your pet’s height must be measured when they are standing up straight.

A great tip is to use a piece of string and then measure the string. You might not realize until you try, but it can be frustrating trying to measure a dog. They’re always shifting around and trying to see what you’re doing, making it difficult to read the measurement.

Ultimately, you shouldn’t be trying to cram your pet into an under-seat carrier if they’re too big, or just about small enough. If flying is uncomfortable for them, they aren’t going to want to come with you the next time. Think of your last experience flying on an airline with almost no leg room: it’s like that for your pet in a tiny carrier, only worse.

There’s something else you should bear in mind when you’re calculating the size of your pet and carrier. Are you planning on giving them a cushion, something soft, or some waterproof pet pads? If so, this can significantly reduce the height they have available, making the carrier too small for them.

Which Airline Allows the Largest Pet Carrier?

The airline which allows you to bring the largest pet carrier on board is American Airlines. If you’re flying AA, you can bring a 19” long x 9” high x 13” wide carrier with you in-cabin. This means you can bring most dogs up to the size of a Shih Tzu or a pug.

But in truth, the difference between the airlines is hardly more than an inch or so at most. Each airline varies between around 7.5 and 9” as the maximum height they allow and 17 to 20” long. No airline will allow you to bring medium or large sized dogs in-cabin.

If you want to bring a pet larger than this with you on vacation, they’ll need to be taken as cargo. In the cargo hold, you’re essentially allowed as large a kennel as you can buy. So, whether you want to bring a Newfoundland or a Pomeranian with you on vacation, you’ll be able to.

What’s the Lightest Airline Pet Carrier Available?

Pets are heavy enough to be tough to carry on their own. The problem is only made worse if you have to grapple with a weighty pet carrier too. So it’s only natural that you want to pick the lightest airline approved pet carrier you can find.

Of all the carriers we feature on our site, there are a few that stand out. The Argo by Teafco weighs in at only two pounds- but it can only carry very small dogs. For carriers that can carry most medium sized dogs too, there’s only one choice: the SturdiBag range.

SturdiBags are soft-sided, duffel bag style carriers that you carry over your shoulder. As the name suggests, their mesh and microfiber linings are durable and robust. But they weigh in at an impressive 2.5 pounds. The manufacturers state that it has been safety tested with pets up to 50 pounds. But, it’s up to you if you want to carry that much weight around.

 Can I Buy a Pet Carrier at the Airport?

Generally, no you can’t find pet carriers to buy at the airport. Only a few airlines like JetBlue, Southwest, Continental, and AirTran sell in-cabin carriers. A few more will sell you hard-sided kennels for cargo transport, but that’s it.

They can be found in some airports. For some fliers, they will have been told at check-in or before they board that their pet carrier is too big. So, for these people, there is little choice but to buy another carrier or leave their pet behind.

We can forgive you for thinking that your pet carrier isn’t the most important thing. So what’s the harm if you buy one at the airport, rather than getting one in advance? Well, you can do that, but there are a few reasons why you should consider planning ahead.

The first reason is that the pet carriers which are on offer at the airport are not typically very varied. There will be a few different kinds available for the few customers who buy them at the airport. But there will be next to nothing compared to the variety of specialist pet stores, or from online.

The problem with this lack of variety isn’t that your pet carrier won’t match your luggage or handbag. It’s that the carrier might not match your pet, which makes the ride an uncomfortable one. In fact, the worst case scenario is that you won’t find one that can fit your pet at all.

Another reason why you shouldn’t buy a carrier at the airport is that they are typically overpriced. Think back to the last time you had to buy something like a socket converter or a luggage lock at the airport. They cost far more than market value because the shop owners know that you have next to no choice!

Which Airline Carrier Should I Buy?

To help you make that final decision, here is our rundown of the three carriers we recommend. They’re divided between those for toy and small dogs, those for medium sized pets, and kennels for large sized pets.

Toy and Small Dogs

The Sherpa Original Deluxe is our number one choice for small pets. It’s durable and lightweight, and it looks great. But what makes it stand out is that it’s ASPCA and veterinarian approved, and meets every single airline guideline. You can’t go wrong if you need to bring your Shih Tzu or Chihuahua with you on your vacation!

Medium-Sized Dogs

We like the Snoozer Wheel Around 4-in-1 because it’s the most convenient way of traveling with your medium sized pet. It can be challenging to carry medium sized dogs like Cocker Spaniels because of their weight when you carry them by hand, or on your back. The Snoozer lets you cart them around like hand luggage- and it’s a tremendous all-around carrier, besides.

Larger Dogs 

The Aspen Pet Porter Plastic Kennel is a classic kennel for dogs of any size. It’s well ventilated, which means that it meets almost every airline requirement of a pet carrier for airline cargo. Not only that, but it’s precisely the kind of sturdy manufacture you should expect from a hard-sided kennel. You can rest assured that your Doberman, Labrador or Retriever will be comfortable and safe in one of these.

Last update on 2020-11-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API