Airline-approved pet carriers come in two categories: for the hold or cabin. Hold carriers must meet strict safety criteria and are usually plastic or fiberglass with wire mesh doors. Cabin carriers come in three styles: fanny packs, duffel bags, and wheeled kennels, depending on the size of the pet.
When transporting pets on an airplane, it is important to use specially made carriers to comply with airline restrictions. In general, larger animals must travel in the hold while smaller animals can travel with their owners. There are therefore two different categories of carriers approved by airlines: those intended for the transport of animals in the hold and those intended for the containment of pets inside the aircraft cabin.
For pets that will be traveling in the climate hold, the regulations on the types of containers that can be used are very strict. Carriers can only be built with certain materials and must meet strict safety criteria. These requirements mean that most pet carriers approved by airlines for use in the hold are very similar. The most common kennels are plastic or fiberglass kennels with wire mesh doors and/or ventilation panels. The size of the carrier depends on the size of the animal; the pet should be able to stand, sit, turn, and lie down comfortably.
Airline-approved pet carriers intended to be carried on airplanes have multiple variations in style, although they usually take one of three forms. First, there are bag-like fanny packs that have handles so they can be slung over the owner’s shoulder or carried by hand. These are generally meant for smaller pets, as the method of carrying doesn’t lend itself to carrying excessive weight. The resemblance to a handbag makes them popular with fashion-conscious owners, who can choose from many different carrier looks.
Another popular type of airline-approved cabin pet carrier is the duffel bag. As the name suggests, the structure of these carriers is similar to that of a duffel bag. Most duffle bags have several pockets to hold various accessories and a long shoulder strap in addition to the duffle-style handles. Unlike coin purses, these are often collapsible to make them more travel-friendly. This feature means that they are usually the most versatile of the airline-approved pet carriers as they may be able to fit into oddly shaped spaces.
Finally, suitcase- or backpack-style wheeled kennels are popular for transporting larger pets. The weight distribution from a backpack makes it much easier to carry more weight over an extended period of time. Unlike carriers similar to purses or duffle bags where pets are usually positioned horizontally, pet carriers require the pet to ride in a vertical orientation when being carried or rolled up and in a horizontal orientation when traveling under the seat of an aircraft .
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