Make sure your carrier is airline-approved before checking your pet.
When traveling by air with your pet, you need to use a pet crate that meets the regulations for the airline you will be flying, otherwise the flight personnel will not accept your pet for travel. The way that your pet will travel on the airline, whether via cargo or in the cabin with you, also determines the requirements for the carrier.
Size
The pet crate must allow the pet to sit erect and stand in the carrier without its head touching the top of the crate. The animal must be able to turn around and lie down in a natural position within the carrier. To travel in the cabin, the size of the carrier cannot exceed the dimensions of 19-by-13-by-9-inches, according to the American Airlines website. If traveling as checked baggage, the carrier cannot exceed 40-by-27-by-30-inches, with some exceptions for smaller planes that cannot fit this size kennel. Carriers cannot weigh more than 20 pounds for in-cabin travel and 100 pounds for checked pets, which includes the weight of the carrier combined with the pet.
Type
To travel with your pet in the cabin, your carrier must be made of water-repellent, padded nylon and can be collapsible. If you are checking your pet as baggage, it must be made of solid plastic, wood or metal and cannot fold down due to safety considerations. Crates for travel by cargo cannot leak and must be secure to prevent the escape of the pet from the container. In-cabin containers must have mesh ventilation on two or more sides, while crates that travel by cargo need ventilation on two sides of the container and the door. One-third of the openings must be on the top of the crate with rims to prevent the ventilation from being blocked.
Safety
A crate must close securely with locking pins that extend 5/8 inch past the top and bottom of the crate. Carriers must not lock so that airline personnel can access an animal if necessary. A handle or grip on the top of the carrier is required. Crates must contain two dishes that can be accessed without opening the door of the carrier and be labeled "live animal" in one-inch letters, with arrows pointing upward. List your name and contact information on the crate. Make sure there is enough room in the carrier for bedding to absorb any pet accidents.
Warnings
Ask the airline you are traveling with their maximum dimensions for a carrier, if traveling with a large dog; Delta airlines will allow a carrier up to 48-by-32-by-35-inches on some flights, while other airlines do not allow carriers this size. You must have fed your pet four hours before check-in for pets traveling via cargo. For traveling by cargo, the airline may require you to attach a 24-hour supply of food to the top of the carrier with feeding instructions. Check with the airline for any temperature restrictions if checking the pet in as cargo. Some airlines may not allow snub-nosed breeds of cats or dogs on the plane.
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