Approved vs Banned Pet Carriers Kennels Guide

WHAT is an Airline Approved Pet Carrier or Kennel?

At DryFur, we aim to guide pet owners in their search for genuinely "Airline-Approved" pet carriers and kennels. Unlike others, we do not sell or profit from any specific brands of kennels or carriers, so you can trust that our insights are entirely unbiased.

Over time, I’ve received countless inquiries from dog and cat owners about the right DryFur Pads for their newly purchased “Airline-Approved” kennels. When I ask for the brand and size of these kennels, I’m often surprised by their answers. Many owners unknowingly purchase products that are neither airline-approved nor compliant with airline regulations for cargo or checked baggage.

This confusion seems to stem from outdated product listings by major pet supply companies. While these kennels may have once met airline standards, evolving safety requirements—sparked by government-mandated incident reporting—have led airlines to tighten their policies to improve pet travel safety. Unfortunately, many retailers have failed to update their product descriptions, leaving pet owners misinformed.

To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of kennels and carriers that are approved and accepted by most airlines. Look at the options marked in green below for the safest and most reliable kennels / carriers for your pets next move or travel adventure.

The pet carriers & kennels listed below in Green are approved and accepted by most airlines.

EXAMPLES OF AIRLINE APPROVED CARRIER KENNELS

APPROVED - In Cargo Crates
	Vari Kennel are always APPROVED THE Safest and always guaranteed to be "AIRLINE APPROVED" Pet Carrier / Kennel for airline travel in the cargo area of the plane or as Checked Baggage is Sky Kennel or Vari Kennel (size 100 and 700 may still need slight modifications if they lack ventilation on back wall or Cable Tie holes around the door) Some changes have taken place 2024 some airlines are now requiring all ventilion holes to be no more than 1x1 inch so double check with airline.
	Sky Kennel are always APPROVED THE Safest and always guaranteed to be "AIRLINE APPROVED" Pet Carrier / Kennel for airline travel in the cargo area of the plane or as Checked Baggage is Sky Kennel or Vari Kennel (size 100 and 700 may still need slight modifications if they lack ventilation on back wall or Cable Tie holes around the door) Some changes have taken place 2024 some airlines are now requiring all ventilion holes to be no more than 1x1 inch so double check with airline.
APPROVED - In Cabin Carriers
	Sherpa Bag - APPROVED Safe and always guaranteed to be "AIRLINE APPROVED" Pet Carrier for airline travel in the passenger area of the plane as carry-on. A very well known popular retail store brand. Easy to find locally or some airlines carry the Sherpa Bag with their branding.
	SleepyPod Air - APPROVED Safe and always guaranteed to be "AIRLINE APPROVED" Pet Carrier for airline travel in the passenger area of the plane as carry-on. The SleepyPod Air is vigerously safety tested and is available online at the Sleepypod store and many small and large online retailers.
	Sturdi Bag - APPROVED Safe and always guaranteed to be "AIRLINE APPROVED" Pet Carrier for airline travel in the passenger area of the plane as carry-on. The prefered carrier of many cat show professional breeders. Available at many online retailers and can be found for sale at most local cat and dog shows.
Common Misconceptions About Airline-Approved Kennels The kennels and carriers marked in Red below are among the most commonly misrepresented as "Airline Approved." If you’ve experienced issues with these products—such as being turned away at the check-in counter—please feel free to email me your story. I’d be glad to include it in this list to help other pet owners avoid similar situations. I hope this guide ensures your pet is never left behind. Misleadingly Advertised Kennels Many pet supply companies and online retailers, including Amazon, Chewy, Petco, PetSmart, and even manufacturers like Petmate-Doskocil, continue to promote certain carriers as "Airline Approved" or as meeting airline travel requirements. Unfortunately, these claims are often inaccurate. Always verify with your airline before purchasing a new travel kennel, and consult their specific acceptance policies. Cargo Kennel Features to Avoid While some kennels may meet general airline requirements for cargo travel, they will not be accepted if they have any of the following features: (Please ensure to consult with your airline for the latest regulations.)
BANNED - Pet Carrier Features
	Double Doors Top Loading - NOT APPROVED Meaning one wire door in the front of the carrier and one wire or plastic door on the top of the carrier. American Airlines and Delta Airlines site clearly states no top opening kennels allowed; other airline's rules read kennel or carrier must have a solid roof.
	Dial Latch Attachments - NOT APPROVED Meaning no nuts and bolts to keep the top and bottom of the carrier together, instead they have round plastic dials that often fail. Some airlines do still accept this type of carrier, but many do not. For example, United Airlines clearly lists with a photo on their pet travel kennel requirements page this type of kennels will no longer be accepted.
	Snap Latch Attachments - NOT APPROVED Meaning no nuts and bolts to keep the top and bottom of the carrier together, instead they have plastic latches that snap together and often fail to stay snapped closed. This pet carrier kennel is also listed on United Airlines pet page as will no longer be accepted. *Please See our page on Kennel Modification for tips on how to secure this type of kennel for airline travel by easily drilling and adding holes for nuts and bolts on the 4 corners.
	Plastic Pegs - NOT APPROVED Meaning no nuts and bolts just small plastic pegs that are inserted into the holes and then turned to the right or left to keep the peg in place. Some airlines still accept these types of pet carrier kennels, many do not their rules will read "all plastic attachments are not acceptable" *Although these types of kennels can be refused, they are easily modified by removing the plastic pegs and adding Metal bolts & wing nuts. As long as the door is metal grate and not plastic.
	Plastic Doors - NOT APPROVED Meaning doors completely made with plastic. Doors must be a metal grate. Plastic lock housing & grips are acceptable. Most Airlines List plastic doors and wire top opening kennels as not acceptable.
	Collapsible / Foldable - NOT APPROVED Meaning crate is able to fold down after use. This PLASTIC type of carrier was banned from airlines many years ago and is still advertised as "Airline Approved". Alaska Airlines first rules read the Kennel must be NON-COLLAPSIBLE.
	Plastic Wing Barrel Door Latches - NOT APPROVED Meaning door comes out completely when all 4 latches are turned to the open position. Plastic latches can accidentally get turned in open position releasing the door and the pet. Door is also unable to accept Releasable cable ties. Also has plastic pegs which are also not Airline approved.
	Wire Metal Crate - NOT APPROVED Meaning made entirely of metal grate. Lower walls and floor of kennel must be solid and leak proof.