What to Consider Before Buying an Airline-Approved Pet Carrier

Airline Requirements and Restrictions

When choosing a pet carrier for a plane ride, the first step is to check your airline’s specific size requirements. Every airline has slightly different rules, so double-check that your favorite carrier complies with your favorite airline’s required dimensions.

Consider if your pet will be coming on board with you or if they will be traveling in cargo hold. Most soft-sided, in-cabin pet carriers are suitable for pets up to 20 pounds, and most airlines only allow pets up to this size in the cabin, says Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, and chief veterinarian at Petco.

Pet Comfort

“Regardless of where your pet will be during the flight, their carrier should provide enough room to stand up, sit, lay down and turn around without issues, as well as ventilation from at least three of its sides,” says Miller.

Most airlines consider this and require your pet to be able to turn around in their carrier. In addition to a comfortable size, perhaps add your pet’s favorite toy or small blanket in case they get anxious or chilly.

Frequency of Travel

If you only take your pet on a trip every few years, you may not need an expensive pet carrier that’s versatile and packed with features; the budget-friendly JetPaws carrier may do the trick. If you frequently travel with your furry friend, investing in a high-quality pet carrier that’s comfortable for both you and your pet is worth the extra cash.

How We Tested

We took our pets on flights to determine how these airline-approved pet carriers performed in real-time with real live animals. We tested the ease of putting our animal into the carrier, the comfort and calmness of our pet once inside the carrier, and storage options for essential goodies — like treats or a blanket.

Then, we went through the airport — from check-in and security to boarding— and rated the bag’s wearability, and we also noted if the bag could fit underneath the seat in front of us or if it was easy to check our animal into the cargo area of the flight. After our in-flight experience, we rated each pet carrier on size, quality, comfort, portability, design, ease of cleaning, and value.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Lindsay Tigar is an experienced travel and lifestyle journalist. Her work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, Vogue, USA Today, Fast Company, and other publications. To bring you this review, she consulted our testers for their impressions of pet carriers, considering effectiveness, durability, and ease of use, as well as airline restrictions. While researching pet carriers, we spoke with Dr. Whitney Miller, chief veterinarian at Petco, as well as Amanda Farah, national training and behavior coordinator at Best Friends Animal Society.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.