Airline Pet Carrier
We heard that it’s possible to take our precious pet westie, Sparky, onboard and in the passenger cabin on a Delta Airlines flight from LAX to Indianapolis. Having just traveled all the way from Australia, a thirteen hour trip with our poor Sparky in the cargo hold, we were excited at the idea of taking him in the cabin.
We had to do quite some research online and confirmed the booking on the phone with Delta. See information from Delta at this link. Various aircraft have different pet pack dimensions, and we had to choose one that would fit under the seat in front of us, but be large enough for our dog to be able to stand and turn around within the carrier. The requirements also maintained that the carrier had to be soft, contain the dog within the carrier safely without risk of escape, and have a padded, waterproof liner.
We found the Petsfit Airline Pet Carrier
After a few treats and gentle coaxing, he soon got used to the idea that the Petsfit Carrier
The airlines have strict checking in procedures when you want to take your pet in the cabin, so we followed the necessary steps and went to the ticketing counter for final inspection and weight checks. The airport is a daunting experience for anyone, especially a small dog, so we made sure we allowed plenty of time to relax and step cautiously through the whole procedure.
The checkin process was fairly time consuming. Firstly a queue, then the dog’s paperwork was thoroughly checked, weighed, and the Petsfit carrier was approved on the spot.
The side extension on the Petsfit carrier is great for waiting at the boarding gate. Your pet can stretch and get some extra airflow during the wait. Onboard the flight, your pet must be under the seat in front of you, so you need to keep extra carry-on items to a minimum.
We enjoyed watching him when the aircraft was taxying, and being down low and snug in his carrier, he didn’t mind the bumps and thumps and other noises that often unnerve us during a flight. In fact, he curled up and went straight to sleep just before take-off. The roar of the engines and flight turbulence did not upset him at all. He slept during most of the flight. Only waking for some company, some water, and then he slept again for the landing!
The Petsfit Soft Airline Pet Carrier
- 16″ x 10″ x 9″ – suitable for small dogs or cats up to 7lbs.
- 18″ x 11″ x 11″ – suited for pets up to 13lbs.
- 19″ x 12″ x 12″ – suited for pets up to 20lbs.
Smaller sized soft pet carrier for cats and small dogs.
Excellent review and a great product for pets travelling. Keeps them safe which not a lot of people do when they let their pets run around in the vehicles. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! I never knew you were able to bring dogs into the cabin. I don’t remember ever seeing one in the cabin before. Maybe it’s only for relatively short trips. I fly from Vancouver, Canada to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia every year for Chinese New Year with my wife but that trip takes a total of 19 hours accounting for a short layover in Hong Kong.
The carrier looks great and I like how it has the side extension to allow the dog to move around a bit. And it looks like it folds completely flat so it’s easy to store and transport. If I had a small dog I’d definitely get one!
Great review!
Thanks so much for your notes Andy. Long flights like 19 hours don’t allow dogs in the cabin. They have to go in the specially heated section of the cargo. Most USA domestic flights allow in-cabin transit. People do laugh when they see the dog there. They usually don’t notice until we are on our way off the plane.