When traveling with small pets, whether by car, airplane, across town or just to the veterinarian, the best way to protect them is in a high-quality pet carrier. Our carriers are all airline compliant and soft-sided meaning they will fit under the seat in front of you on an airplane more easily.
The purpose of a pet carrier is to keep your pet safe during travel. Poorly made carriers may allow pets to escape and that is when they are most at risk.
No matter what kind of companion animal you have, at some point they’ll need to be transported somewhere. And no matter whether it’s to another city or just down the road, for safety’s sake they should always be put in a pet carrier unless they are restrained in a dog car seat or vehicle pet safety harness.
You’ll need to know your dog’s height and length in order to choose the right carrier size. The carrier should be large enough for your dog to turn around easily and to curl up or stretch out when lying down. Measure your dog’s back from his neck, where the collar sits, to the base of their tail.
At Labitto, we know choosing the right airline-compliant pet carrier for your adventure buddy is essential to enjoying smooth journeys together. Whether you’re running errands around town or jetting off to far-away places, having a carrier that your pup is comfortable in is a necessity.
Sizing Guide & Common Breeds
What dimensions should my pet’s travel crate be when travelling in-cabin?
Each airline has its own set of requirements for in-cabin pets, however, the main guideline is that your pet must remain in its carrier at all times during the flight, with enough room to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
At the time of publishing, to travel with a pet on Delta, United, or American Airlines, your soft-sided pet carrier must be 18 by 11 by 11 inches or smaller. To travel with a pet on JetBlue, your in-flight carrier can’t exceed 17 by 12.5 by 8.5 inches, and cargo hold dimensions vary.
Weigh Your Pup
You can use your pup’s estimated weight as a guide to select the best pet carrier size.
The Out-of-Office Pet Carrier comes in two sizes:
Small (suitable for most dogs and cats 15 lbs and under)
Large (suitable for most dogs and cats 25 lbs and under)
When in doubt, we always recommend going a size up.
Measure Your Pup’s Length & Width
If you have a measuring tape handy, you can also take their measurements to confirm it will be a good fit.
Start at the front of their chest and measure the distance to their rear. For their height, measure from the top of their shoulder blade to the base of their paw.
Small fits most dogs up to 16.5″ in length and 10″ in height.
Large fits most dogs up to 18.5” in length and 12″ in height.
Small Size Recommended Breeds
The Small size is suitable for most teacup and toy dogs 15lbs and under, including the following common breeds:
- Brussels Griffon
- Chihuahua
- Chinese Crested
- Dachshund (Teacup & Toy)
- Japanese Chin
- Maltese
- Pomeranian
- Poodle (Teacup & Toy)
- Portuguese Podengo
- Pequeno
- Russell Terrier
- Schipperke
- Miniature Pinscher
- Papillons
- Silky Terrier
- Toy Fox Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
Large Size Recommended Breeds
The Large size is suitable for most small and medium dogs 25lbs and under, including the following common breeds:
- Affenpinscher
- American Cocker
- Spaniel
- American Eskimo
- Dogs (Toy & Miniature)
- Australian Terrier
- Bichon Frise
- Basenji
- Beagles
- Bedlington Terrier
- Border Terrier
- Boston Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Cavalier King
- Charles Spaniel
- Cesky Terriers
- Cirnechi dell’Etna
- Corgi
- Coton de Tulear
- Dachshund
- Dandie Dinmont
- Terrier
- Doodle
- English Toy Spaniel
- English Cocker
- Spaniel
- Fox Terrier
- French Bulldog
- Havanese
- Italian Greyhound
- Lakeland Terrier
- Lhasa Apso
- Löwchen
- Manchester Terrier
- Miniature American
- Shepherd
- Miniature Bull
- Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Norfolk Terrier
- Norwegian
- Lundehund
- Norwich Terrier
- Parsons Russell
- Terrier
- Pekingese
- Petits Bassets
- Griffons Vendeen
- Poodle (Miniature)
- Pug
- Pyrenean Shepherd
- Rat Terrier
- Scottish Terrier
- Sealyham Terrier
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Shiba Inu
- Shih Tzu
- Swedish Vallhund
- Tibetan Terrier
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Welsh Terrier
Maximum Room for In-cabin Plane Travel
Our carriers are in-cabin compliant with most major airlines.
Each carrier is designed to fit within the space under the seat in front of you, which is typically about 12” in height.
Our pet carrier is one of the largest in-cabin compliant carriers available. When traveling by plane with our Large size, we recommend removing your carrier’s rear pocket insert. This way, your carrier’s flexible rear frame can more easily conform to the seat requirements in front of you.
Please keep in mind that in-cabin pet policies are subject to change at any time, and we always encourage our customers to reach out to your specific airline prior to your planned travel with any concerns you may have.
Most Pups Won’t Fully Stand Up in the Carrier
It is totally normal if your pet is not able to stand up in the carrier.
Think of the ideal size as a cozy, snuggly place for your pup or cat to curl up and snooze. With soft-sided carriers like ours, most pups—unless they are teacup or toy size breeds—will not be able to stand up inside—and that’s okay!
How Do I Know It’s A Good Fit?
Your dog should be able to turn itself around comfortably in the carrier. Most dogs are not able to stand up fully, which is normal. What’s most important is that your dog is comfortable and at ease.
It is okay for the carrier to be a snugger fit so long as your dog is comfortable and under your supervision.
Conclusion
The role of a pet carrier is to serve as a safe space while on the flight. Therefore, choosing the right carrier with the ideal dimension, material, and weight is important.
