Air travel with a dog – is that even possible? I can answer this question with yes. However, there are a few things to organize and clarify before departure.
Above all, before flying with a dog, you need a suitable dog transport box for the plane. We introduce you to three top products and explain their advantages and disadvantages. We also explain what you need to pay attention to before departure and what the most important criteria for airplane dog transport boxes are.
My dog transport box favorites for the plane
The test: which dog transport box for planes is the best?
Nobby transport box Skudo
The Nobby Skudo transport box is made of hard plastic and, like the other two products in the test, can be closed with a mesh door. Rollers can be retrofitted, but are not included in the original product.
There are three different sizes, so you will always find a suitable box for your four-legged friend.
The box is well ventilated through side slots. This ensures a pleasant temperature equalization with the environment so that it is neither too hot nor too cold in the box.
The top and bottom of the box are held together by plastic fasteners. For air travel, however, additional screws are required, which the product does not have. These are to ensure that the dog cannot escape from the crate.
Because plastic clips alone are relatively unsafe and can be damaged and lose their function under heavy loads, such as when loading and unloading the aircraft.
The scope of delivery does not include a water bowl. However, this is mandatory for air travel and must therefore be purchased separately so that your dog is happy. If you spontaneously need a dog transport box, you should therefore order a water bowl immediately, otherwise your dog will not be allowed on the plane.
So, the way the product is delivered is that it will not be accepted for air travel. In some cases, there have already been conflicts with airport employees who have not accepted the box.
According to the manufacturer, the box can be upgraded with an additional IATA flight kit. However, information on the contents of the kit was not available.
Karlie airplane dog carrier
This transport box is available in different sizes and is approved by all European airlines. The material is very high quality and robust, so that even wild and playful dogs cannot escape.
The box is divided into two and consists of an upper and a lower part. These are connected by plastic fasteners and can also be secured with screws. So the box cannot come apart when loading and unloading.
The box has no wheels, which prevents the box from slipping in the cargo hold or in the aircraft cabin.
A drinking bowl is included in the scope of delivery so that your dog can be optimally cared for during the flight. It thus fulfills all the criteria for an IATA certification.
It is also particularly practical that the box has a drainage channel for urine. Many dogs have to get rid of themselves, especially on longer flights. Even on short trips, this happens again and again due to the great excitement. The drainage channel ensures that the dog does not have to sit on a wet surface.
Kerbl transport box Gulliver Mega
This box is also available in different sizes. So you can perfectly adjust the transport box to the size of your dog.
The box consists of two parts that are put together with plastic fasteners. In order to be approved for flights, the parts can be firmly connected with screws.
The Kerbl transport box is IATA certified and therefore approved for air travel. This saves you a lot of stress at the airport.
The storage compartments on the top are particularly practical. Dog treats or important documents can be stowed there so that you always have them to hand. The storage compartments are also ideal for dogs that need medication. If necessary, the drug can even be administered during the flight.
Air slits on the sides ensure optimal air circulation, so that your dog can breathe well at all times.
The box also comes with a drinking bowl so your dog always has water available during the flight. So you don’t have to worry about your loved one becoming dehydrated.
The guide to dog carriers on planes
What to do before the trip
1. Getting used to the transport box
It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the cargo hold or in the aircraft cabin – during the flight your dog must under no circumstances leave its transport box. It is therefore important that your dog is used to being in the crate for a long time. It is best to start practicing several weeks in advance and increase the time your four-legged friend spends in the box every day.
From private trips without a dog, I know that the stay on the plane sometimes takes much longer than normal – for example because of a delay, turbulence or problems at the destination airport. Be sure to factor in such delays when practicing with the box.
You can find my complete guide on how to get your dog used to a dog crate here.
2. Regulations in the country of entry
Before you travel with your dog, you should find out about the conditions and entry requirements in the destination country. In some countries, there is a long quarantine requirement before an animal is allowed to enter the country. In others, animals must be registered as cargo. In order to avoid nasty surprises and to avoid conflicts, you should therefore be prepared for everything.
Also plan the return journey well, because in some cases there are completely different travel regulations in the holiday country than in Germany.
What do you have to look out for when buying a dog transport box for flying?
1. Determine the right size
Depending on how long the flight lasts, your dog will spend more or less hours in its transport box – not only during the flight but also to load and unload it. It is therefore particularly important that the transport box is the right size. It should not be too big so that the dog cannot be thrown around.
While a box that is too big can be adapted to the dog with padding, a box that is too small is much worse for your four-legged friend, because then he does not have enough space and in the worst case has to stand or lie crooked all the time.
So that nothing happens and your dog arrives safely at its destination, it is important that it can stand upright, lie stretched out and turn around in the box at all times.
2. Does the dog transport box have an IATA approval?
There are special requirements for dog transport boxes for air travel – the so-called IATA certificate. When choosing a box, you should find out exactly whether it has the certification. In some cases, the manufacturers allegedly market certified boxes, which are then not accepted by the airlines. If in doubt, you should always contact your airline to avoid misunderstandings and problems.
The IATA certificate stipulates that the transport box must not be foldable. This prevents accidents in which, for example, the box accidentally folds up during loading and traps the dog.
The material must be very robust so that it cannot be damaged even in turbulence and during loading and unloading. Only hard plastic or wooden boxes with a mesh metal door are allowed. Plastic doors are not allowed.
It goes without saying that the box must be lockable and lockable. After all, you don’t want your dog to take a trip through the interior of the aircraft.
Air travel is very exciting for animals and difficult to train beforehand. In order to offer anxious dogs enough air to breathe and not to trigger claustrophobia, there must be enough ventilation slots in the box. Please note that ventilation slots on the top are not permitted.
In order to prevent the box from becoming independent, wheels must be removed before the flight. On some models it is also possible to fold away the wheels.
Boxes that consist of a bottom and top part must be screwed together. A connection with plastic clips is not enough for a trip on an airplane.
If you are now wondering how the animals are looked after during the flight, I can reassure you. Your dog always has water available during the flight. To ensure this, a dog bowl or other drinking device must be attached to the transport box.
If a transport box meets all of these criteria, there is a high probability that it is also IATA certified and can be used on air travel without hesitation. So you can travel with your dog with peace of mind.
When is the dog allowed in hand luggage and when does it have to be in the hold?
While I have never flown with my dog myself, if I did plan to, I would feel more comfortable having my dog in the cabin with me during the flight. That way I could calm him down and he would have a familiar face with him.
However, carrying a dog in the cabin is subject to strict criteria. The dogs must not be too big or heavy. The exact values differ depending on the airline, but 10 kilograms are often given as a guideline. This value includes the weight of the dog transport box, which is why your darling must weigh well under 10 kilograms to be allowed in the cabin.
Larger and heavier dogs fly in the cargo hold. But there are also some exceptional cases. This includes guide dogs and other recognized assistance dogs. The transport box must be particularly stable for transport in the cargo hold. Otherwise there is a risk that it will break during loading or during the flight.
Conclusion: dog transport box airplane
A good dog transport box for planes must offer your dog enough space and, above all, must have IATA certification.
In our test, the Karlie box won, which met all the criteria at a very good price. The box from Kerbl is also…