Delta Airlines Pet Carrier

This product was a "life-saver" for my wife and I as we recently traveled via Delta and needed to bring our small dog along. I've never done that before so I did not know where to start. In doing research I found the Sherpa Delta Pet Carriers and looked into them. This product which we bought fit the bill both in terms of cost, sizing and quality. And it was Delta approved! As I noted above we flew on Delta and had four flights. The bag easily went under the front seat in a 737 for all four flights. It also was very easy to carry slung over one of our shoulders as we made our way through the airport. It has adequate ventilation and fit our 9 pound or so dog fine. She seemed to be fine in it but I will speak to that a little later. If you are going to fly with your pet, this is what I recommend: 1. Call your airline and confirm their restrictions/limitations on pets and carrier sizes. Do NOT skip this step!!! Make sure to do this for the specific flights you are looking at (or already booked) because the size of the aircraft does matter as to what carrier will fit or not. When you cal the airline make sure you have the dimensions of the carrier and provide that to the agent. 2. Ideally before you book your flight make sure that it has "room" to accept pets in the cabin. I found, at least with Delta, is that they only allow a certain number of pets on-board any given flight (I believe it is four but don't quote me - confirm with the airline). If there is no room then you are out of luck. Better to find this out before you book than after. 3. You may have confirmed before you booked, but you must make a pet reservation after you book your flights. I'll tell you I was so scared when I called to do this as I did not know I even had to make a pet reservation. Thankfully, and this SAVED me, the Sherpa carrier included a sheet with instructions on flying with your pet and recommended making a pet reservation with the airline. If this tip had not been included, I think I would have been sunk as I would not have done this. 4. Condition your pet (dog or cat) to the carrier BEFORE you fly! I think you should start this weeks before to see how they adjust and acclimate to the carrier. I imagine some pets will be fine, but others, like our dog, will want to get out as soon as possible! She just does not like to be "contained." What we found though is that we could appease here by passing treats through the zipper on the top of the carrier. And once the flight got going it was a blessing but she settled down. Maybe the movement or noise of the engines; I'm not sure but she did fine. 5. Be ready to pay a fee to fly with your beloved pet. It is financially painful but something that they all require. 6. We made sure our dog's vaccines were up to date and got a certificate from the vet for her to fly. We never had to show this to the airline agent and it appeared to not be required so you may not have to do this if they are in the cabin (you do if they are in cargo). Depends on how paranoid you are but this is an option if you want to have that "just in case." 7. We did not have to remove our pet at security as some said they had to. I guess it depends on the agent or air carrier. One, one more "tip" is if you have a pet that is hyper or does not travel well is to speak to your vet about Dramamine for dogs (I'm sure for cats also). We did not have to use it for this dog but have for another dog we have to for car sickness. It takes the edge off the dog and helps it to settle down. I'm not for giving dogs medicine if they don't need it but I think to help the dog with anxiety it is well worth it and safe. And it will make your flight a lot more enjoyable as you don't want to be "that" person who everyone on the plane is whispering about :) Happy travels!

This BRAND NEW one I just bought - the strap broke in the airport after only carrying it 10 minutes - not happy! My old one lasted for years without doing that. I had to rig it to make it work so I could complete my journey. Though my old one is FIVE stars, I would take off 2 stars for the strap on this new one. I hope the company will make it right. -- Update 3: I bought a new one (Original Deluxe) in black and lil Bear loves this one more than the original one. It has more mesh for air (not shown in these pics) but otherwise is very similar to the Delta Black one I had. He actually got in it and took a nap--I was surprised! Still a good buy for the money. Bear is about 15 pounds and is a long-haired chihuahua mix - stocky build - he JUST fits in it. I could go for a large but he is able to turn around, lie down comfortably, and walk in it just fine. I like this one even better than the first one. --------- Update 2: Travel. Lil Bear and I did great together with this Sherpa Carrier. I hauled him around the airport easier than I thought, though it killed my shoulders and back to lug around his carrier and my other carry on, but that's travel. We went through the security line with no problems at all. And, the carrier fit under the seat perfectly. Lil Bear lay quietly the entire time (but he is a well-behaved awesome calm dog). The medium just fit - I mean JUST fit. I considered whether I should have bought a large but then that would have been too big. So measure your dog and look at the dimensions of the carriers and go from there. ----------- Update: I just found the other pocket on the other side! So two pockets! This is a very well-made/constructed pet carrier that I bought for less than I thought I'd have to pay for such a nice carrier! The 'canvas' is made of quality material and the seams are firm and intact. There are handles so you can hold the carrier in your hands, or you can use the included strap to put it across your shoulder. There are two openings to the carrier: one on the front, and one on the top. The zippers are heavy-duty and well made. There are also air vents - one on the side, and one on each end that you can unvelcro the covering to provide that air vent. Inside on the "floor" of the carrier is a nice padding that will detach for laundering. On the side is a zippered pocket. That would be my only "negative" to this - I wish the pocket were a little bigger so I could fit a little more in it, but it would fit some treats and a regular leash. A bigger deeper pocket would be nice, but that's not a deal breaker at all. THE SIZE ISSUE: - Besides wanting the pocket to be a little bigger, finding the correct size can be a little confusing. I researched so many reviews before purchasing, and the sizes and poundage were all over the place for a medium carrier! Argh! I knew I didn't want a small, but deciding between a large and medium was daunting. I went with the medium and he fits, but it's close. It's why the 4 stars instead of five, though I'm still tempted to give it 5 stars, but maybe some videos and pictures from the manufacturer would help. If you are confused about finding the correct size, I can only tell you that my dog is a long-haired chihuahua but mixed with something else - he's about 14 pounds, and about 10 inches high or so--measuring him from feet to shoulder/back height, length about 19-20 inches from nose to back (not including tail of course!)--these are approximate as it's more difficult to measure a dog than I thought (laugh). He fits inside the carrier with enough room to turn around but it's close - he can stand but it's very close - he'll be lying down 99% of the time and he should feel secure and comfortable. I have no idea about under the seat issues, yet, because this will be my first time to fly with a pet. The large may have been too large where he is kind of shuffled around in there - I felt the medium gave him some security from being "knocked about." I don't know if this helps, but I do suggest ordering early enough that you can not only train your dog to be comfortable with the idea, but also to gauge the size. My dog is a chihuahua-something-I-don't-know mix, and is about 14 pounds. He's about 10 inches high. He fits in it just fine. I didn't want him to have so much room that he was "knocked about" as I carry him, but he has enough room to stand--but just enough to stand, and he can turn around in it. The small would have been way too small, and the large would be too large. But he fits closely and I'd not want it any smaller than this. Surprisingly, the weight when you carry him even if you use the shorter straps on your shoulder isn't bad at all. Some Tips for getting your dog used to the carrier: They include a little tag with some tips. I did my own thing, too. If your dog is not used to a carrier, some things you can do are: I did these things one or two times a day only: Make sure the carrier is associated with something good - way long before your trip is to come, you should start preparing your dog so he isn't scared of something new. I started early on by putting a treat inside the carrier and put the carrier by the side of his bed. I just let him go in and get it without me closing him up. I did this for several weeks, the only difference is that after a couple weeks of doing this, I gently nudged him in and closed the front "gate" but didn't zip it-I petted and praised him. Doing this a few times, whenever I'd pick up the carrier to bring it over to his bed even before I opened the treat can to put in the treat, he'd be excited, knowing he was going to get a treat. Then next stage I put the treat in there, but I closed him up. Did this a couple times, reaching my hand through the top part and petting and praising him. The next stage, I closed him up with the treat and carried him around my house, talking to him in a happy voice. This is the stage where I am now. By time my flight comes, he'll be very comfortable inside there. I'm also going to take him in the car and drive around with him in it. He's a calm well-behaved dog, so I don't expect any problems at all. If I have problems once I do take my trip, I'll be back to report that. I do highly recommend.

Our cat is more Onry than most, so halfway between Hawaii and the mainland he managed to break the board that offers the bottom support, mostly because he was scared and actively trying to destroy the bag from the inside out. He’s never flown on a plane before so he was pretty scared, most cats would not be able to break the board but he is a super strong cat. That was the only drawback to this cat carry case, which fit perfectly under the seat on Alaska airlines and had no trouble getting through security. A word of advice traveling TSA from Hawaii to the mainland they made me take the cat out of the bag at TSA and hold him to go through security, luckily he had his harness on and I had a leash in the cat carrier pocket so I was able to secure him in case he jumped out of my arms at security. There were a lot of jokes from bystanders about “letting the cat out of the bag“. 😂 In spite of his best efforts to destroy the bag from the inside out he was unsuccessful, this is a sturdy cat carry case that will stand up to the sharpest claws! We had a 5 1/2 hour flight from Hawaii to Seattle and another four hours from Seattle to New Mexico and by the second half of the trip he had settled down and seemed to enjoy his cat carrier. When we traveled by car after reaching our destination he went into the carrier without protest and rode quietly and calmly in the carrier. A word of advice on putting your cat in the carrier, if you hold him and fold his legs underneath him, and hold both his front legs with your hand as he put him in and zip it quickly, he doesn’t have time to scratch the heck out of you struggling to avoid going in the bag. When we had a two hour layover in Seattle I took him into a family bathroom in closed room, and let him out for a few moments to use his portable litter box and drink some water. He didn’t protest when I put him back in the carrier. He was not drugged with a kitty tranquilizer on the flight, and for the most part it was a smooth flight thanks to his cat carrier, I was very grateful that the carrier had just a quick glance from the ticket agent and was waived through as being approved. Our cat is a little larger than most, and he fit in this carrier just fine and was quite cozy. I didn’t have any trouble getting it under the seat in front of me, and the shoulder strap made it easy slung crosswise over my shoulder to carry him through the airports on layover. I was surprised that the carrier held up to his attempts to get out of the bag during landing, because of all the scary noises and fast dissent he was pretty scared and actively trying to destroy the bag from the inside out. The mesh held up just fine and so did all of the seams, and he was unsuccessful on trying to get the zippers open. I’ve attached a photo of him from our layover in Seattle when I let him out of the bag for a few moments in the family bathroom to stretch his legs. He’s just like, “What the heck mom??!” So if you have a very long plane trip coming up with your cat, I recommend this bag. Other than him breaking the board in the bottom, it held up to his claws and teeth for the entire trip and seemed to provide a safe cozy space where he eventually settled down and was calm. (I want to add that him breaking the board is not a huge drawback because this is the second cat carrier he has had and he also broke the board in the first one which was a different brand, he’s brutal!)

Unless you have a reason to need a hard carrier for your cat, this one is the best we've found. I have 3, 2 that we bought years ago (almost 8 years at this point and they still look new!). Those two have been cross country multiple times (in airplanes, only small trips in the car) and to 100s of vet visits. The new one we added this year when a new kitty joined the family. Honestly, I can barely tell which one is the new one. The quality hasn't changed. There is enough room for two small to medium cats if you have one that doesn't like to travel alone. It's plenty big enough for even a large (15lb) single cat. The pull out panel in the bottom is easy to clean and doesn't bunch up like a towel would. My favorite feature is the multiple opening choices and the shoulder strap options. Some of our cats are easier to get in through the front door and others are easier to get in via the long top opening. It also makes it easy to check on them from whatever angle you need to. There's a privacy panel you can drop down if the cat needs more privacy, but they seem to be fine with it up most of the time. The shoulder strap is so helpful when I have to take all 3 cats and my toddler to the vet. It's easy to position them all so that they don't squish each other while still keeping my hands free for doors. But, when I have one, the shorter handles are easy to carry too. The only downside to these carriers is that they collapse. This is great for storage and travel, but if you need to pack around your pet it can be a problem for road trips. Hard carriers protect the space the pet is in better. I consider this a feature for my needs, but YMMV. For cats, the smaller space when they aren't rigid is OK. They don't mind, feels cozy. But, if you have a dog that doesn't like tight spaces then a hard carrier might be better for you...unless it has to fit in a plane. Then this one is still the best.

I'm not sure how to rate this. It's a great bag--sturdy and I love that it opens from the top and side. My 10 pound (but tall, long, and skinny) Maltese mix seemed comfortable enough in it. The problem is, I bought it to replace another cheaper but similar bag for my return trip from Las Vegas to Michigan. On the trip to Michigan, I was not bothered or stopped by anybody because of the size of the Petmate (size large) bag (which was only slightly larger than this one). However, I was so uncomfortable during the trip because it absolutely would NOT fit under the (Delta) seat in front of me. I had to squeeze it into the space at my feet and it took every millimeter of that space--leaving no room for my feet, which I squeezed under the carrier. I couldn't even get the carrier in and out of the space unless the seat next to me was empty so that I could sit there and squeeze the carrier at the foot of my own seat. When I called about the possibility of upgrading to a "comfort" seat, the Delta rep made it sound like my carrier was too large, and I might get turned away from the flight. So, in a bit of a panic...I purchased the "Delta" carrier, size medium for the return flight. I was surprised, when it arrived, to see that it wasn't much smaller than my Petmate model. But this one was much sturdier and it seemed a little more flexible in terms of being able to push the top down, so I had some hope that my return flight would be better. I had a window seat both trips--maybe this was my mistake--but again it took up all the space between my seat and the one in front--no chance of getting it under the seat. There was some kind of bar just under the seat, which only left a clearance of about 6 inches I would estimate. So, I guess my complaint is not with the bag, but with the airline. How they can justify charging $125 each way for such a miserable experience is beyond me. And this is a "Delta Approved" carrier. Sure, they approved it by letting me bring it on the plane--they just expected me to fit it into a space that absolutely would not accommodate the carrier. And this replaced my carry on. Frankly, the seating arrangement on my flight was such that I can't imagine even a small sized carrier would fit under the seat. Unless I can figure out what I did wrong (perhaps seat selection?) I can't imagine ever flying with my dog again. I'd rather spend 4 days driving. Hopefully I can find other uses for the bag because it IS a great bag.

I’ve traveled with pets by air many times over the years, but I’ve never really found a carrier that felt truly perfect—until now. One of the most important things for me is security. If the metal fittings aren’t strong and properly locking, I worry about durability during travel. It also needs to open from the top so I can easily give water or check on my pet. Flimsy designs can tear too easily, while overly rigid ones become heavy and inconvenient to carry. For cats in particular, this balance matters a lot. Cats tend to be sensitive to cold and easily frightened, so I actually prefer a design that is partially covered rather than fully mesh on all sides. For cat use, this carrier is perfect product. (For dogs, especially strong chewers, soft carriers may not be suitable. A hard crate—ideally checked into the cargo hold—would be safer.) There is also no chemical or unpleasant odor, which I really appreciate. About design, at first, I thought it might be a bit too plain. Compared to other brands with nice flashy colors, I wasn’t immediately drawn to this black version. However, once it arrived, I was impressed. The gold-tone hardware and logo give it a refined, premium look. It feels simple but elegant. As expected from an airline-recommended design, everything from size to functionality and usability feels carefully considered.

Summary: • United Airlines Approved 👍 • My dog is 9lbs, 11inches long, 14.5inches tall standing up (bottom of her paw to the top of her head) • Travel time is always 4-6 hours DC↔️LAX Story / Why I chose it I’ve been hunting for the perfect in-cabin dog carrier for years (I think I’ve tried around 7 carriers before finding this gem) I wanted something that’s roomy, breathable, and calming for a dog that gets anxious when she can see too much and this one actually checked nearly all those boxes. Fit & Comfort My dog is ~8.5–9 lbs with an 11-inch back and 14.5inches tall standing up (bottom of her paw to the top of her head) . She can turn around inside, stretch a bit, and lie down comfortably (I mean as much as possible considering she’s in a bag still.) Breathability & Safety There are enough vents for airflow so I never worry about her overheating or suffocation. But the design doesn’t expose her too much she can’t see me fully and try to paw or escape, so she stays calmer. Privacy & Anxiety Because the carrier isn’t fully transparent, she doesn’t have visual overload or stress. She tends to settle down and even sleep during travel, which used to be a huge concern for me. Build & Travel Use • Feels sturdy but flexible (so I can slide it under seats) • Zippers, seams, handles all seem durable • Space under the airline seat fits well, and I don’t struggle with bulk • Easy to assemble • Definitely a good value for the money • Lightweight and thick enough not flimsy Trade-Offs / Things to Watch • On very long trips, she hasn’t had hours of room to move — good for short to moderate flights • Because of the privacy design, you might not get full visibility of her at all times • If your dog is larger or restless, double-check size specs Final (Overall) Thoughts This is the most balanced in-cabin carrier I’ve come across — it respects my dog’s comfort, gives me peace of mind, and works reliably for travel. For any small, mildly anxious dog, this is a smart choice.

Much higher quality than I expected, but of course, I should have known, Delta would only brand exceptional products! Great fit, sturdy but not heavy or cumbersome, easy to remove and wash plush liner if needed, breathable, many window options and openings. Even a young sensitive puppy felt secure being toted around in noisy places in this carrier. Elevated craftsmanship with Delta luggage tag - I joke that it’s nicer than my luggage!

Super fijne reistas en stevig materiaal.

Perfect to travel with if you do not have a very big cat or dog. I love that I get attach it over my luggage, it fits perfeclty under the seat in front of me and it has enough ventilation. Easy to fold when empty and easy to wash.

作りも申し分ないし、非常に高級感あります。ソフトキャリーなのにハードのような安心感。 １箇所に非常に頑丈な枠がついており、上部が全くたわみません。 機内持ち込み用に購入しましたが、今回の航空会社(デルタではない)にはキャリーに高さ規定があり、少したわめて「サイズ内ですよー」というつもりでしたが浅はかでした。 高さ規定さえクリアしていればこちらを使用したかったです。

The bag was missing the shoulder strap and the inside cardboard bottom. I had to go out and buy my own shoulder strap and insert. Without the hard cardboard bottom insert it’s just a soft sack which is not practical when traveling with your pet. They need some sort of floor

Las compré para un vuelo que haré con mis tres gatos. Los tres son de distintas tallas y el mismo tamaño se adaptó perfecto para cada uno. Sobretodo para el más grande y pesado es una gran transportadora pues no se deforma y soporta bien el peso. Viene con una correa larga para poder colgarte la transportadora Las ventanas de malla son muy útiles para que la mascota no se sofoque o acaloré y pueda ir viendo al alrededor