Airline approved pet carriers should be leak resistant and well ventilated. The best carriers are durable, have plenty of air vents, a top door, a side door, and a soft removable pad on the bottom. Carriers should be discreet and easy to carry. All carriers should have attached paperwork and name tags. The paperwork should be up to date with any vaccinations such as for rabies.

It is possible that you will not be asked for the health information, but it doesn’t hurt to have it just in case. The carrier should be larger than the pet so there is no agitation. The pet should not be able to touch the side or top of the kennel while standing in the center. No airline carriers should have plastic doors or plastic latches. Metal doors and metal latches keeps the carrier more secure. If a carrier has wheels, they should be detachable. Wheels could make the carrier move around during flight.

A food and water dish needs to be attached to the door. The food and water dish should be able to detach. Keep plenty of toys in the carrier to keep the pet occupied. The sides of the carrier should be soft. If the pet is scared, it might hit against the hard side and get hurt. The bottom needs to be waterproof in case of water spilling or accidents. Some rules vary from airline to airline so be sure to check each airline’s website for any needed carrier information.