All prices include VAT.
The Vela is an expandable pet backpack carrier for flying with your dog or cat. Laid flat it is 40 x 30 x 24 cm, exactly the cabin maximum at Transavia. Upright you wear it on your back, hands free.
A zip on the back opens a mesh extension with twice the space, handy at the gate or in your hotel room. On the plane it stays closed.
The video shows how your cat gets in, how the extension opens and how you lay the backpack flat for the cabin.
Pros
Cons
I tested the Vela with my cat Miki. Honestly: Miki weighs almost 8 kg, so it's snug for him and on Transavia the bag counts too. For cats and small dogs up to 6.5 kg it's a great backpack.
What I like: hands free at the airport and the extension open at the gate. Not sure your pet fits? Send me a WhatsApp and we'll check together.
Artem and MikiFounder of Zoospot and his cat
Transavia allows 8 kg for pet and bag together. Take off the 1.5 kg of the backpack and you have 6.5 kg left for your cat or small dog. Note: a blanket and snacks in the backpack count as well.
| Max. carrier size | 40 x 30 x 24 cm (l x w x h). The Vela laid flat: exactly this |
| Max. weight | 8 kg for pet and bag together |
| Type of bag | Soft fabric only, no hard crate. Fully closed, with mesh or ventilation and room to move |
| Which animals | Dogs and cats only, clean and not aggressive |
| During the flight | Closed under the seat in front of you, don't open or move it |
| Booking | When booking or via My Transavia, up to 2 hours before departure (before check-in). Limited places, book early |
| Cost | EUR 50 per one-way flight (flight number HV). Transavia France (TO): EUR 60 to 180 |
| Not allowed | To and from the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Morocco, UAE and Chambéry airport |
| Short-nosed breeds | Cabin only, also within 8 kg |
Rules sometimes change: check the official Transavia page before you book. More in our guide: Flying with your dog or cat on Transavia.
Upright: 40 tall, 30 wide, 24 deep. Laid flat: 40 x 30 x 24 cm, so it fits under the seat.
The extension makes it longer: outside the plane only, zip it shut before boarding.
All you need is a tape measure. Measure your pet while it stands calmly. On the plane the backpack lies flat, so your pet has to fit lying down in 40 x 30 cm, with 24 cm of height.
Measuring a cat
Cats usually lie curled up while travelling. Then length matters most.
Measuring a dog
In the flat backpack your dog lies down, it doesn't need to stand upright.
Add a few centimetres to the length and height so your pet can move. And don't forget the weight: on Transavia that's 6.5 kg at most.
| Dimensions standing | 40 cm tall, 30 cm wide, 24 cm deep |
| Dimensions lying flat | 40 x 30 x 24 cm, the Transavia cabin maximum |
| Use | Air travel in the cabin, train, bus, vet visits and walks |
| For | Cats and small dogs up to 6.5 kg (on Transavia) |
| Backpack weight | 1.5 kg |
| Material | Sturdy polyester (oxford) with mesh |
| Expansion | Zip-out mesh extension on the back |
| Openings | On top and at the front |
| Carrying | Padded shoulder straps, hip belt with buckle, handle on top |
| Safety | Safety leash inside |
| Inside | Removable plush mat, washable |
| Pockets | Side pocket for snacks or documents |
| Manufacturer | Zoospot |
Don't let your pet see the backpack for the first time at the airport.
1 to 2 weeks before: leave it open with the extension out, a familiar blanket and the odd treat inside. Then close it a few times and carry it around the house.
Practise laying it flat too: that's how it lies on the plane.
Dogs
Cats
This is a guideline based on 6.5 kg. Every animal is different, so weigh and measure your own pet.
Laid flat on the grass: this is also how the backpack lies under the seat on the plane.
