Airline Approved Pet Carriers

REMINDER: For the times when you can't bring your cat or dog along, we have a huge selection of automatic pet feeders.

Tips on purchasing airline approved pet carriers as carry-on luggage for in-cabin air travel.

America's Pet Store carries a wide selection of airline approved pet carriers. You'll find Sherpa airline approved pet carriers and other brands as well. All makers of airline approved carry on pet carriers do their best to design products that will be approved by most domestic airlines in the U.S.A., on most flights.

Most airlines have stricter rules for hard-sided pet carriers than they do for soft-sided carriers. That is because a soft-sided carrier is flexible and can be scrunched down a bit to fit under the seat in front of you. If you want a pet carrier that is likely to meet more than one airline's requirements, American Pet Store recommends that you purchase a soft-sided pet carrier to travel by air with your dog or cat as a carry-on.

However, with so many different airlines with differing requirements it is impossible to say that an airline approved pet carrier will be approved by all airlines. In fact, many airlines will accept an airline approved pet carrier on some flights, but not on others, even though it is the same airline.

The main reason requirements will differ for carry on pet carriers, whether between competing airlines or within an airline's own route structure, is the amount of space under the seat in front of you. Different sized planes are used for different routes and the available space under the seats in the cabin will differ as well.

So the best thing to do is double check with your airline for specific details on what they will accept as an airline approved pet carrier on your flight and/or any connecting flights. If you are using two different airlines to complete your travel then you will need to contact both of them to find out if your cat carrier or dog carrier meets the requirements of both airlines.

Even if you are prepared with one of our airline approved carry on pet carriers, most airlines (if not all of them) do require advance reservations for traveling pets whether they are dogs, cats or parrots (or other breed of companion bird). America's Pet Store recommends that you find out your airline's definition of airline approved pet carriers before you purchase one. Here is some contact information for the most popular domestic airlines in the U.S.A.

Call ahead to find out the exact dimensions accepted for airline approved carry on pet carriers. For your convenience, here are the contact numbers for the most popular airlines:

• American Airlines airline approved pet carriers info: 800-433-7300


• Delta Airlines airline approved pet carriers info: 800-221-1212


• Southwest Airlines airline approved carry-on pet carrier info: 800-435-9792
  (airline approved carry-on pet carriers only; Southwest Airlines does not accept pet carriers as checked baggage)


• United Airlines airline approved pet carriers info: 800-241-6522


• US Airways airline approved carry-on pet carrier info: 800-428-4322
  (carry-on pet carriers only; US Airways does not accept pet carriers as checked baggage)


• Continental Airlines airline approved pet carriers info: 800-525-0280


• JetBlue airline approved carry-on pet carrier info: 800-538-2583
  (JetBlue accepts cat carriers and dog carriers only for in-cabin travel; JetBlue does not accept pet carriers as checked baggage)

In addition to size, here are some other features to look for in airline approved cat carriers and dog carriers:

• Ventilation: Be sure to choose a well-ventilated pet carrier for all travel, including air travel.


• Double access doors: Many airline approved pet carriers are designed with two access areas; one in the front and one in the back. This can make it easier to deal with pets that don't want to cooperate when getting in or coming out of their pet carrier.


• Wheels: Pet carriers with wheels can be very useful, especially if you have to switch planes and it's a long way between gates.