If you’re planning to fly with your chihuahua, chances are you’ll want them to fly in the cabin with you. Flying in the cabin is much more comfortable for your pet, and with you handling the kennel, there’s no chance of your pup getting treated like—well—luggage.
Although there are a few exceptions, most airplanes require your dog be in a kennel small enough to be stowed under the seat in front of you. The dog must stay in the kennel for the whole flight.
Because of the strict placement for dogs on a flight, if your kennel is even 1” too tall or too wide, the dog may not be allowed on the plane. The size allowed depends on the airline, as they may be flying different planes, with different storage sizes underneath the seat. Here’s a brief overview of the most common airlines and their in-cabin kennel size requirements, as of 2024:
| Airline | Maximum In-Cabin Kennel Size (Hard Sided) | Maximum In-Cabin Kennel Size (Soft Sided) |
| Alaska Airlines | 17″ x 11″ x 7.5″ | 17″ x 11″ x 9.5″ |
| American Airlines | 19 x 13 x 9 inches* | 18 x 11 x 11 inches |
| Delta Airlines | Not specified. | 18” x 11” x 11” |
| Frontier Airlines | 18″ x 14″ x 8″ | 18″ x 14″ x 8″ |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 16” x 10” x 9.5” | 16” x 10” x 9.5” |
| Jet Blue Airways | 17″ x 12.5″ x 8.5″ | 17″ x 12.5″ x 8.5″ |
| Southwest Airlines | 18.5” x 13.5” x 9.5” | 18.5” x 13.5” x 9.5” |
| Spirit Airlines | 18″x14″x9″ | 18″x14″x9″ |
| United Airlines | 17.5” x 12 x 7.5” | 18” x 11” x 11” |
*American Eagle flights are 16 x 12 x 8 inches
No Set Kennel Size
As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to your travel needs. You will need to know which airline you plan to fly before you get a carrier, or get one that fits most and avoid the airlines with the smallest carrier size.
Below we have 10 fantastic options for carry-on Kennels. We will detail the airlines they are appropriate for and why. Keep in mind airlines sometimes have other restrictions besides size, usually regarding ventilation holes.
Sherpa Delta Airlines Travel Pet Carrier
If you want a carrier that you don’t have to worry about, how about one designed specifically for the airline? This is the Delta Airlines Pet Carrier. The dimensions of this carrier are 18.0″L x 11.0″W x 10.5″H. This is the correct dimensions for Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines.
It is too tall for the other airlines, but does feature a spring frame that allows the back end to be pushed down so it fits under the seat.
As an added bonus, this carrier is part of Sherpa’s Airline Approved program. If you use this carrier to get onto a Delta flight and they refuse to board you because of the carrier, the maker of the kennel will refund you the cost of your flight.
That’s a pretty big promise for a kennel company!
Alaska Airlines Approved PetsKd Carrier
This thoughtfully designed kennel by PetsKd was designed with Alaska Airlines specifically in mind. The dimensions of the kennel are 17″L x 11″W x 9.5″H. This is compliant with all of our listed airlines except for Hawaiian Airlines.
It also features other important requirements most airlines require, such as a solid bottom to make sure any messes don’t reach the airplane floor, and the kennel is properly ventilated.
This kennel also has a carry strap that makes loading and unloading your pup very easy.
Sherpa Original Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier
The most challenging pet carrier to source for is Hawaiian Airlines. As an added note, they are very unhelpful about their carrier requirements as well. After finding no carriers that met the requirements of the airline, we contacted them asking for help.
Hawaiian Airlines themselves have no clue whether such a carrier even exists, and have no suggestions for how to help you.
We did finally find this one, which again comes with the Sherpa guarantee for refunding flight costs if you’re turned away. Since Hawaiian Airlines seems to be very questionable in its carrier policy, we recommend sticking with this one. Make sure the one with the correct dimensions 15″ x 10″ x 8.5″ is checked when you order.
Also keep in mind this carrier only fits dogs of 8 pounds or less, so if you have a heftier chihuahua you may need to look for alternatives.
PetsKD Carrier with Expandable Sides
Let’s face it. The carriers for airlines are necessarily tiny, and your pup might not enjoy staying in there. Travel is a necessity if you’re moving, but what do you do with the kennel after? This pet carrier has a solution by having expandable sides, so it fits the airline when needed, but your dog can stretch out when restrictions aren’t in place.
This carrier is specifically designed for Jet Blue, but with dimensions of 17×12.5×8.5″ it also fits every carrier listed except for Hawaiian Airlines, Alaskan airlines, and Delta Airlines.
Smiling Paws Pets
Much later in the search for TSA approved kennels, we found this one. This kennel fits all of the airlines listed in our table, including Hawaiian Airlines! This kennel also claims to be reinforced for more exuberant pets and can expand outwards when not in use as a flight kennel.
The comments section of the carrier on Amazon is filled with people making successful flights on a variety of different airlines, even with larger puppies in it. It also has convenient pockets to keep your dog’s vet records and other important paperwork in.
Less than 5% of people reported straps snapping or dogs being able to chew through, but it is a possibility. We recommend ordering early if you choose this one so you have time to return it should it not work out for your pet.
Finding an airline approved carrier is certainly challenging. Always make sure you double check the measurements of your dog as well as the requirements of your individual airline before making a decision.
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Great post Andrea, I have an expandable carrier for Nili which I used when I brought her from Palm Springs to San Francisco by car, I love it and it is great to have for an emergency also. It is TSA approved if I decide to fly anywhere and Nili weighs 16 lbs. I firmly believe pets should travel in the cabin with us and would not fly if she could not.
I don’t think I’d fly a dog at all if it couldn’t be in cabin. It sounds really hot and loud! My pups would be terrified. Good on you for getting a great carrier that can be used in a lot of different situations.
Excellent information on carry-on bags for your fur kid. This is exactly what everyone looks for and needs as they start planning their travel with their furry buddy. I would never put my dog, Henry, in the cargo hold either. If I took him on a plane, he’d be in the cabin and I’d get one that would fit the requirements as you describe. Thanks, Andrea! I’m sharing this with all my dog parents.
We flew four cats from Great Britain to New Zealand, they had special crates in the hold. We could not keep them in the plane for 27+ hours which was frustrating, especially cooling our heels in Los Angeles for several (boring) hours!!!
I would have loved them to have the expandable sided ones you show here as they look so much more versatile than some and each cat would have had so much more to stretch their paws!
Thank you for sharing your experience! I hope your cats did fine, even if they probably wanted many, many make-up treats when they finally arrived. :3
Our dogs are all too big to fly in cabin so if we can’t drive- they don’t go. I’ve heard it’s a nightmare to find the right travel crate for flights so this post is super helpful for those that fly with their pets 🙂
It’s super important to check your airline’s carrier requirements. They’re all a bit different. Just because a pet carrier says “airline approved” on it, that doesn’t mean all or most airline’s will accept it!
Agreed! Can you imagine paying for a ticket, hotel, expenses, everything and then getting turned away because your carrier is 1″ too tall?
Excellent and such an informative post! I know this will be so helpful to many! Believe it or not, I’ve never flown! But such good info here, I’m definitely Pinning and Sharing with my readers! Thank you!