When traveling with your pet, comfort and safety play an important role. Especially if you want to keep your dog or cat with you in the cabin.
The animal must have sufficient room to move during the flight and the carrier must comply with the airline's rules. How do you measure your dog or cat and what rules for cabin carriers do you need to take into account?
Why it is important to measure pets correctly
Accurately measuring your dog or cat is extremely important. This allows you to choose the right airline-approved cabin travel carrier. It must have ventilation openings, be sturdy, and offer enough room to move around for your cat or small dog.
Accurate measurement of pets for cabin travel carriers is important for the following reasons:
- Sufficient room to move around
- Comfort during the flight
- Safe travel in a closed travel carrier
Correct measurement is important in order to comply with the regulations of the airline you are flying with. Safe travel for humans and animals is one of the most important priorities. The guidelines for the dimensions of cabin travel baskets for cats or small dogs may vary from airline to airline. In general, the IATA regulations and animal welfare guidelines are followed.
What is IATA?
This abbreviation stands for International Air Transport Association. This association has also established rules for cabin travel bags for cats and small dogs. They must meet certain dimensions, openings, and ventilation options. Zoospot.nl cabin travel bags comply with IATA guidelines and regulations.
Regulations for the dimensions of airline cabin carriers
There are specific regulations for the dimensions of airline cabin carriers. It is important to consider these before measuring your pet.
- Cabin carrier must fit under the front seat
- IATA-approved and flexible carriers
- Dimensions from 32 x 32 x 50 cm (Pegasus Airlines) to 55 x 40 x 25 cm (Corendon)
- Pet weight including carrier: 5 kg to a maximum of 10 kg
Airline-approved cabin carriers for cats or small dogs must be made of flexible material and have sufficient ventilation openings. Dimensions may vary by airline (e.g., KLM: 46 x 28 x 24 cm, max. weight 8 kg; Transavia: 47 x 30 x 27 cm, max. weight 10 kg).
Measuring a cat for an airline cabin travel bag: 4 steps
- Step 1: Start by weighing your cat. This will help you choose the right airline-approved travel bag. Max. weight: 10 kg.
- Step 2: Measure the cat's length with a flexible measuring tape. Place the cat on a table and measure from the center of the chest to the base of the tail. Choose a carrier that is approximately 10 cm longer than the total length.
- Step 3: Measure the cat's height from the highest point of the shoulder blade to the feet. Add 5-10 cm to the carrier height.
- Step 4: Measure the cat's width across the shoulders. The carrier should be approximately twice as wide as the cat, plus 5-10 cm.
Measuring a small dog for an airplane cabin carrier: 4 steps
- Step 1: Weigh the dog for exact weight. Max. weight including carrier: 10 kg.
- Step 2: Measure the dog's length from chest to base of tail. Add 10 cm to the basket size.
- Step 3: Measure the height from the point of the shoulder to the base of the leg. Add 10 cm for the basket height.
- Step 4: Measure the width of the dog at the widest point of its back, multiply by two, and add 10 cm.
Height, length, and width – which dimensions are really important?
Height, length, and width are all important for cabin carriers. This ensures that your cat or dog can comfortably lie or stand and easily turn during the flight.
Additional tips for pets close to the size limit
Always choose the largest permitted size travel bag. Examples of maximum dimensions:
- Corendon: 55 x 40 x 25 cm
- Turkish Airlines: 55 x 40 x 23 cm
- TUIFly: 50 x 35 x 39 cm
These will still fit under the passenger seat. For larger pets, transport in the airline's hold can also be considered.
Common mistakes when measuring pets for carriers
Mistakes often include:
- Choosing a carrier that is too small
- Failure to check airline guidelines
Choosing the right approved carrier: comfort + compliance
At Zoospot you will find IATA-approved flexible carriers for small and large pets. Order easily online and receive your order within 4 business days.
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