How to Choose the RIGHT Airline Approved Kennel
Let’s talk kennels. What is an “airline approved kennel” anyway? I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but we here at Petmovers.com have found in our 20 years of transporting pets that the #1 reason a shipment is rejected is the pet is NOT in an airline approved kennel . That’s right the NUMBER ONE REASON.
So obviously getting the right kennel is a big first step in making sure your pet’s move goes as smoothly as possible. It may sound as easy as just Googling “What kennels are airline accepted?” While this makes complete sense in theory, our years of experience, and a couple of tears have taught us the manufacturer’s claims are not always correct. So let’s take a look at what will work.
Getting the Right Size for Your Pet
Getting the right size kennel is important. We have an extensive guide on How To Your Measure Your Pet for the right kennel so head there to make sure your pet fits. If the kennel is too small, your pet will be rejected.
What Will be Rejected Immediately
A helpful place to start is to provide some examples of out what will be automatically rejected by the airlines such as Delta and United.
The first example is wire kennels. These are flimsy and not safe for traveling.
The next one is not so obvious, and probably the biggest problem we run into. The bottom portion of the kennel can not have holes in it. This compromises the structural integrity of the kennel. This is confusing because the biggest manufacturer of kennels (Petmate) makes these kennels. While Petmate kennels are great (spoiler alert, we will be recommending them later), these particular kennels are not allowed:
The next example is kennels with wheels. These slide around on the plane and will not be accepted.
Kennels with top doors are also a no go. The top doors have a tendency to pop open.
Our last example is kennels with fasteners that are plastic clips. These will also not be accepted by the airlines. The plastic clips are low quality and could pop open during the flight.
What is Acceptable
Ok, so now we know what is not acceptable, we will turn to what will work. The short answer is a kennel must have:
- Hard plastic sides
- Screws to secure the sides (no clips)
- A locking front door
- A solid bottom
One quick way to remove all worry is to buy the right kennel at the outset. Our favorite kennel, FAR AND AWAY is the Petmate Sky Kennel.
We have never had an issue with this kennel being rejected. It should be available at just about any PetSmart or Petco, or you can order it from Amazon using the link HERE:
If you are one of our clients, your PMC will walk you through these details and make sure your kennel is up to specs.
Now that you know how to choose the right type of kennel for pet travel, remember it is vitally important to choose the right size so please be sure to check out How To Your Measure Your Pet.
Happy Travels!
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[…] Loud noises can be an even bigger problem if your cat carrier is made of plastic. The hard plastic walls can cause echoes that can be very loud and disorienting for a cat. One way to deal with this is to drape a towel or a blanket over the carrier to help keep some of the noise out. Another good trick is to get a padded cat carrier or place a thick mattress into the carrier you already have. Of course if you are traveling by air you will need to choose the right airline approved carrier. […]
[…] Cats, unlike dogs, are not naturally acclimated to travel in cars so they need to be placed in carriers that can keep them safely restrained during the trip. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) highly recommends getting one made of fiberglass or sturdy commercial plastic because they are the ones that offer the most resistance to impact. On top of that, most models made of these materials are designed to reduce motion sickness and provide visual shields for your pet. Here is a good article on choosing the right kennel. […]