Published in 2025 / Updated in 2026
PetsTravel.info provides the most comprehensive information on all types of pet carriers accepted by all airlines.
A carrier is essential for transporting your pet on a plane, bus or train.
Pet carriers differ in size and material.
Soft, hard and hard with additional reinforcement are suitable for airplanes.
All the different airlines’ pet travel policies are collected in one place on the PetsTravel.info.
Which carrier is best for transporting a pet in the airplane cabin:
Soft carrier
A soft carrier is suitable for transporting cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and rodents weighing up to 8 kg in total together with the carrier. As a rule, this is a light bag made of fabric or artificial leather. It can have either a short handle or a strap so that it can be carried on the shoulder. Such a carrier should fit under the seat on the plane.
According to IATA rules, the carrier must have mesh openings on at least three sides, ideally three mesh walls: this is necessary for high-quality air exchange. The bottom must be dense and waterproof.
Fabric carriers without a rigid frame can wrinkle a little, so even if your carrier is 2-3 cm larger than the dimensions allowed by the airline, it will fit under the seat in front of you. Soft carriers are usually not measured with a tape measure, but simply inspected visually, and sometimes checked on a calibrator for carry-on luggage.
Popular brands: Rurri, Triol, Trixie.
Hard carrier
A hard carrier is suitable for transporting small animals weighing 1-2 kg in the airplane cabin. These are usually used for rodents (rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, etc.). The carrier should fit under the seat on the plane.
However, plastic carriers that meet the airline’s requirements are very tight, and only rodents, birds or small animals up to 1-1.5 kg can feel comfortable there, so it is recommended to take a fabric one for transporting cats and dogs.
Hard carriers of a slightly larger size, but weighing no more than 8-9 kg, with a pet can be transported in the adjacent seat with some airlines upon purchase of the appropriate ticket.
The carrier for the seat next to you must be made of hard plastic, similar to the carriers for luggage. It is attached to the seat with seat belts. If the carrier does not fit in width, it will not fit in the seat, and if in length, the passenger in front will not be able to recline the seat.
The carrier must strictly comply with the airline’s requirements – this is Skudo 2, Odyssey Moderna S or carriers of similar size from other manufacturers.
Which carriers are suitable for transporting pets in the cargo hold of an airplane:
Only hard carriers are used for transportation in the baggage compartment of the aircraft.
They can be either small, for example for birds and rodents, or large for large cats, dogs and other large pets, with a total weight of 23 kg to 75 kg (depending on the airline’s rules).
According to airline rules, the carrier must be made of strong plastic and have an iron lattice door.
Large carriers must be reinforced with bolts and construction ties, and in some cases also with a luggage belt.
How to calculate the size of the carrier
The baggage carrier must meet the international standards of IATA, the International Air Transport Association.
To calculate the dimensions of the carrier for your pet, you need to take the following measurements:
A = The length of the animal from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.
B = The height of the animal from the floor to the elbow joint.
C = The width at the shoulders, or at the widest point (whichever is greater).
D = The height of the animal in a natural standing position from the floor to the top of the head or to the tip of the ear (whichever is higher).
E = D + the thickness of the bedding.
Then the minimum dimensions of the carrier can be calculated using the following formulas:
Length of the container = A + ½ B
Width of the container = C × 2
Height of the container = D + thickness of the bedding
A brachycephalic breed requires a carrier that is 10% larger than all dimensions.
Popular brands: Skudo, Stefanplast Gulliver, Ferplast Atlas Professional, Triol Premium.
A reinforced carrier is used to transport dangerous breeds of dogs in baggage, as well as to transport wild or aggressive animals. The parameters of carriers for dangerous dog breeds are determined by the IATA Container Requirements 82 (CR-82) rules. A reinforced carrier is usually made to order for a specific animal. It is made of wood or metal.
Many airlines require additional reinforcement for large carriers.
How to feed and water your pet if it is traveling in cargo?
A feeder is not required by most airlines for flights within 6-8 hours, but a water bottle should be present in any case. Some carriers come with a water bottle included with the carrier. In any case, the water bottle should be deep and secured.
To prevent water from splashing when loading onto the plane, you can put ice in the water bottle before checking the carrier into the baggage compartment.
IMPORTANT: Don’t forget the stickers on the carrier if your pet is traveling in cargo.
According to IATA standards, the carrier must also have stickers stating that live cargo is being transported inside. The sticker must be attached so as not to cover the ventilation holes.
Additionally, indicate the pet’s name, flight number, destination, and the owner’s phone number, just in case.
PetsTravel Info – the most complete and reliable information on international travel regulations for dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and even exotic pets.
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