Best Dog Crates For Airline Travel (Jan 2023 Update)

It's the perfect size for our dog and is light weight and easy to carry and move. The top zips as well as the entry side and easily fits in the back seat of our car.jf06672

Everything about buying, assembling, and using our second Revol crate (we purchased our first, a Medium, last spring), was excellent, and our pup loves her new bigger digs. The company’s communication about the status of our pre-order was superb—well-timed, clear, and accurate. We weren’t expecting two boxes (I probably missed the detail in one of the emails), so were surprised when the second box arrived a few days after the first and only then noticed Box 1 on the first box. It would have been better if the box labeling had said Box 1 of 2 and Box 2 of 2, but that’s a quibble. The packaging did its job well and the instructions were both charming and easy to follow. The ONLY product design flaw in our opinion involves the last step of assembly: Handling and attaching the teeny-tiny screws in the four bottom corners. The allen wrench is ridiculously small (even for a woman’s hands), and getting the screws into their holes is incredibly difficult, from just getting them into the holes to fully tightening them. The placement of the screws, especially such small screws on an otherwise very large object, is i credibly awkward. Upshot: The holes are hard to reach because of the close proximity of the crate sides. It’s also hard to imagine that such tiny screws accomplish much of anything on such a large object. But that is our only negative criticism/observation. The product is overall superb—wildly expensive, yes, but very attractive and sturdy and safe. Kudos and thanks to the entire Diggs Revol team!!!Renee D.

I love the design and the customer service of the diggs crate. I had the medium slate gray size crate which is amazing in looks and design. I love how easy the front door opens. The medium size garage door I found to be not usable the way it folds in and up. I love the color and the design over all. I then ordered the large white crate when they came out with it. Again I loved the color and the look of it. I didn't like that they charged my card before I got the crate, nor did I like the price of the crate but they are the best crates on the market that I have seen so far. The large crate that I got the other day did have a large dent in the base which only effects the looks. For the price it would have been great to get the crate in mint shape. Their customer service is amazing so I might put in a call to them. The directions to put the large crate together could have been a little clearer about the ceiling or top of the crate. If you put it on the wrong way the garage door can't be put and I had to take it off and turn it around. This could be a lot clearer in the directions. Once I got it together I found the design on the large crate to be better for the garage door and I should be able to use it now but not as sturdy on the 4 pillars. I'm not crazy about the plastic inserts they look to fragile like they can easily break. I also found them hard to get in. Maybe I'm just spoiled since the medium crate was designed better and was put together when it was delivered. If either the medium crate or the large crate are in your budget they really are beautiful crates and I'm really glad I purchased them. I also bought the snooze beds and again the price is high but they are quality made. I'm still waiting for my large size snooze bed but I'd imagine I will get it soon.donna G.

I have a 30lb puppy who is expected to be closer to 50lbs when she’s an adult. I bought the intermediate crate. This crate is designed beautifully. It gets a lot of complements when people visit. It feels like a sturdy crate and the quality seems generally good save for a few joints on the front and back which got stuck for me. However, assembling it was a little difficult (they do recommend you have 2 people)—even inserting and removing the puppy divider is not easy. Taking it anywhere is impossible. It’s too long to fit in a standard sedan’s trunk. Also lifting it into the car (whether trunk or backseat) requires 2 people as well. Not convenient unless you live with other people. I think I’m going to wind up having to buy a wire crate anyways in order to travel with her. Also fwiw, this crate is the only crate she’s known (in our house) but she often prefers our friend’s dog’s wire crate haha. We wonder if part of it is the revol crate is tall whereas the large wire crate feels cozier so it’s something to consider. If you’re just looking for an aesthetic crate for your home, this is a nice choice. But if you’re looking for utility and multi-use for travel (and are interested in the intermediate or large size) just know you will need to buy a second travel crate or own an SUV.Elizabeth C.

flying my 2 kitties cargo was an ordeal that i absolutely DO NOT EVER want to go through again.(im sure it wasnt even that bad for them, but it was terrible for me!) ultimately though, it had to be done. ive never shipped/flown a pet before so this all began with a search for a crate. petmate skykennel was the obvious choice. even though they're cats, my boys are big fellas. i went with the medium size so they'd have extra room. the crates were exactly what i needed. only thing i will say is, i did order an extra set of all-metal bolts/fasteners (from amazon); the ones that come with the crates are ok, but the overruling word on pet cargo travel seems to be all-metal is required. maybe its just required for international flights? either way i ordered a set. glad i bought ONLY that from amazon, though!i was about to buy the crates from there too, then i thought hmmm maybe someplace else had them at a better price…and yep… "someplace else" sure did! A LOT BETTER!!ckmw

I did a lot of research before we decided to by the extra large Petmate dog crate. We currently have the "Giant" dog crate in a bedroom for our mixed malamute–but we have to disassemble it to take it out of the room. We need the dog crate for when we take our dog camping. The last time we took him camping, on the last day, we left him in our cabin for a few hours. When we came back, he had tore the curtain and blinds apart on two different windows. We spent hours trying to get new blinds and I had to sew the curtains. So, this crate in mandatory if our dog is going camping again! We currently have a fifth wheel trailer that we camp in. Also, the metal dog crates–our dog can get right out of them using his body!Diane

This crate is very light weight and great for travel. It pops up quickly and though a little tricky to compress again, is easy to put away. Larger dogs may be able to roll this crate around. I like that it has a metal door since my pup chewed through the zipper on my last crate during a competition.Sammi

It is utilized in our camper for our 90 pound chocolate lab. She fits well enough to lay down and it was not wrecked the first few uses, but she is crate trained. I do however believe the bottom material could've used some more reinforcement as a dog that size wont take much to make an accidental rip. Folds down very compact and is not complicated to get it that way! Overall, very pleased.Brittany

This crate tucks in nicely by the bed. I had to twist the crate to get it to fit, but since it is soft sided, it was easy to do. I have 2 long haired miniature dachshunds, and they both have plenty of room and are really happy to have their blankets and sleeping space. The crate is well made and is perfect for my needs. I looked at a number of options and could not find another crate as narrow as this one. The metal door is easy to close and I was able to flip it so the door opened the direction I needed. The only negative is with the limited space, the opening radius of the door is fairly limited. Both my dogs can easily fit, but depending on the space in your unit, a larger dog might have troubles fitting through the door. (Again, this limitation is based on the narrow width I have available in my unit.) So happy with the purchase-perfect for the trailer. The dogs give it 4 paws up.Dog L.

The crate had obviously been used and returned. The metal was rusted in places and the plastic bottom tray was dirty. When I decided to return it, It was a challenge to get it back in the box. When I took it back to the store, I asked about a discount and received 15% off (the tax). I had previously bought one that was marked down by 50% because the box was damaged. I was quite disappointed in the whole experience. Apparently the merchandise was supposed to be checked if the box was damaged and that wasn’t done in this case.Janice

I've owned dogs for the last 40 years. I've used MidWest wire crates for my last 4 dogs. This iCrate didn't disappoint. It's sturdy and and easy to put up and take down. I use them when I travel with my dogs too. My dogs only use their crates for sleeping in at night or napping in during the day. During the day, their crate doors are left open. I close the dogs in at night. I don't have an issue with my dogs trying to escape from their crates, so I can't speak to whether or not this would be sturdy enough for a dog that's determined to get out of their crate. These crates are more than sturdy enough for my miniature Schnauzer, Havanese, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. All three of my dogs love their MidWest iCrates, as did my previous dog! They go in them voluntarily and when told to "crate up". My only concern with the current crate I ordered is that that one of the latches isn't lined up quite right so it's a bit tight when closing the crate door. I bent it slightly and it works much better. I haven't had that issue with any of the previous MidWest crates I've used. I'm a MidWest crate fan.Eddie09

We bought this in April 2022 for our Rhodesian Ridgeback mix puppy. He was weeks old when we rescued him. He was a Parvo pup and barely survived, so rest and his own quiet space was highly recommended for recovery. We first used the divider which was great. However, as he grew, so did his strength. It definitely is not strong enough for large dogs. Even for short amounts of time. At the moment he is 6 months and 60 pounds. Thankfully he did not get out nor hurt himself! I wish I could share photos of how bent up this crate is and the cracked floor liner. IWifeMomLove

The 4 way locking mechanism on the door of this kennel has repeatedly failed. The first time it broke they offered me a replacement door. The second time they said "we already offered you a one time replacement. Let me se if we have a door available for you to purchase." A $300 kennel should last at least the lifetime of one dog. You will be buying a new defective door for this kennel every couple years. No more petmate for me.Mike4300

Nicely built, easy to assemble (all holes line up for screws, about 10 with butterfly nuts).You get extra screws and rubber nuts. The cage design for opening and closing is nice and easy to use. Most of all, our dog took to it the first time. We had the S, same company. Uma is getting big now. Of course, we chose the same company and same product, just L in size. When a puppy, accidents do happen. It is easy to clean. Uma is about 20lbs now and can stand up in the kennel. Still plenty of height room. She may become 30-40lbs and this kennel will be all we need. Our use is for nighttime and when we go out. We have the gray which does not stand out. It is a neutral color and looks good in your kitchen, bedroom or where you keep your dog. The kennel also provides a rectangular cage on both sides on the top half so the dog can look out. Some of their kennels come in 2 colors and different designs.SONNYPLEASE

We needed an airport approved crate to travel to Japan, since ours was not. Crate is very secure, well made! It comes with everything you need to travel. We did switch out the bolts with the petco travel pack sold in stores to be airline compliant. Glad we made this purchase, our pup made it safe and sound and we felt at ease knowing the locking system was way more sturdier than our last crate.CoroLina

This is a nice crate and since the last time I purchased one I have noticed improvements by adding latching connectors instead of those old thumb screws and this particular one has the wheels which I find very helpful when moving it around the house.hwana63

I love all the ventilation on this crate and the two door option. It has a handle on top and its not too heavy although a little unwieldy. However its pretty compact and my 5 month old toy Aussie Shepherd weighs 14 lbs sleeps in it overnight.Consumer

I love this crate- it’s double doors make it easy and convenient for my golden retriever to get in and out. Valley Vet has the cheapest prices for this product that I could find and it shipped quickly and without damage.Alyssa F

Although the carrier was more expensive with Hayneedle, I ordered 2 because they prominently advertised that it was the color Bleached Linen and everyone else was showing a two-tone tan and black. I have 2 in Linen already and wanted 2 more to match. The ones I received were tan and black. The carrier quality is fine and up to the standard of my 2 older ones, but these are not as advertised. To most people, it probably wouldn't matter, but I was disappointed.Laurie

This crate is not safe for a puppy. Our 9 week old pup tried biting on the wire door of the crate and got her teeth caught and could not get off without our help. She was frightened. I removed the door so she can go in and out at will. Maybe it will work when she is bigger. Caution!Laurie

Great kennel. Even better shipping, came to my house in 2 days after ordering. I wouldn't go off of the weight recommendation when purchasing this kennel for your dog- the XL says for dogs 50-70 lbs and my golden is 60 lbs however my golden although being within the weight limit was a tad bit too long for this size. I did take it back to my local Petco to exchange for a slightly larger size (size 40 inches in length) and the store's customer service was phenomenal in helping me with my exchange. Size your dog accordingly with a measuring tape when purchasing the proper kennel size- your dog should be able to sit inside, turn around, and lay down comfortably.Tanya Q

What a pleasant experience. This is such a sturdy crate. I have Serama Chickens that are indoor pets and this was just a great buy for a very reasonable price. Although I do not have a dog, there is no doubt in my mind that this cage would be perfect for a small dog.Lori

I purchased two of these "KennelMaster 24" Folding Black Wire 2 Door Dog Crate" and have had them for several months. What a great buy! Super easy to set up: they come preassembled and all folded up. They unfold and set up in a minute. I have one for each of my dogs: a Maltese/Bichon mix and a Chihuahua mix (who looks just like a small German Shepherd). We use their crates for the night time and when we leave the house. These crates are made of very nice thick metal. Incredibly sturdy. The latches are well made and smart-doggy proof. I like that the bottom is solid and can be easily removed and sanitized. My dogs have scratched and nibbled on the bars daily and the crates have held up like new. There are two doors on each crate: one door on a long side and one door on a short side. There's also a handle on top which makes it really easy to move around when I am relocating it, transporting the dogs, or just moving the crates to vacuum and clean underneath. My crates also came with some additional wire dividers that I don't use. I believe they are for making the crate smaller when you have a puppy and removing it as your dog grows. Crates can be really expensive so I was glad to find these at such a bargain price, especially because they are so well made. I know these crates will last many, many years. I have no negative things to say about these dog crates. I would highly recommend them! Please note: I do not put both dogs in the same crate, though they do both fit. The photo shows both in one crate because they both wanted to be in the photo 🙂vrmvrm

Initial impression is positive and the kennel has potential. However, the fail point of this kennel is the door. The welds between the door and the hinge are very poorly done. With light use (maybe a couple times a month) and a well behaved dog that does not fight his kennel or paw at the door, mine broke in less than 2 years. I expect a lot more from a product that costs this much. Furthermore, the company’s solution was a 10% discount on a replacement door, which they conveniently sell for over $130. I would strongly suggest looking at other kennels as there are some good options.August Houghton

The kennel is extremely well made. The shape of it maximizes floor space (compared to the Ruff Land), it is extremely well ventilated, and I love that it can be locked. It is much heavier than other kennels of a similar size, but the handle makes it fairly easy to take in and out of vehicles as needed. I strongly recommend this kennel.Tara

This is a solid, well made kennel. We have been very pleased with this purchase and are planning to purchase a second. We have used ours for travels, as well as for a sleeping crate because our puppy prefers this crate over a more open designed crate we have. I feel he likes the den-like feel this one provides. He goes right to sleep in it whether at home or in the car. We are very active campers, bikers, hikers and this works perfectly with our lifestyle.Elizabeth C.

The crate seems super solid and the wheels are very convenient for moving it around since it really is enormous. I haven’t put it to any heavy use yet but I expect my giant breed pup will be very comfortable in this crate during our overseas move.Anonymous

This was not hard to assemble but has no hardware to make it more secure for travelling. My 10 pound dog sleeps in this at night time and she has plenty of room to move be around inside for repositioning. All in all I’m pleased with this purchaseKatie

Arrived quickly, easy to construct, solid and safe for our little one. I particularly liked the secret hatch with a food & water tray enclosed.alebar1108

I am a bit disappointed because we I went home to put the carrier together, there were no screws to secure the carrier together. It just snaps on the sides, but I feel it would be safer with the screws. It is ok to transport my dog in the car, but not comfortable carrying it. I may take it back.Sage

Good quality heavy duty cage for my Doberman puppy. The chewed the wires off the regular cage. Only concern is the tray goes under the metal grate at the bottom of the cage. Not good at all. He got his foot pad/toe caught in it. Also his collar caught in it. I forced the tray to go into the cage on top of the grate. Problem solved. Need to have an option of where to put it. Would recommend with supervision of your dog. No collars on when grate is not covered. Good tough cage. Neighbor bought same fir her bull dog puppy same age as my dobie. She likes it also. If wasn’t for grate at bottom would be a 5FLORIDAMOMOF8

*The price was very reasonable and the size/construction was surprisingly sturdy. *As an added bonus, our cage has a side door that wasn't advertised. We almost didn't purchase this one since it appeared to only have the one door at the end. But our cage has a second door that swings out from the side panel. *We have always taken small (4" size) zip ties and secured the corners of our cages to provide added strength – in case dogs paw at the cage. I would still recommend zip ties although the cage seems to snap in place tightly. Of course, if you frequently fold down the cage, replacing zip ties can become cumbersome. *The plastic pan on the bottom is thinner than our last cage, but our dogs have not chewed or scratched at them previously, so this won't be a problem for us. *The carrying handle appears strong enough to lift the empty cage and will be useful. *Upper and lower slide latches are provided on each door. All latches have a rod bent at the end to help secure the latch. In the past, our dogs learned to shake the door until the latch slid over but this new design prevents the latch from sliding open.KYMom

I bought one of these and liked it so much that I just purchased another one. Both are the 42 inch size.I have 2 older 42 inch similar type kennels but they are a different brand and I paid a lot more for them. I think that the BestPet brand wire pet cage/crate/kennels are just as good as the more expensive ones that I have. In fact I was able to purchase two of the BestPet kennels for what I paid for one of the older kennels I have. I like the latches on the Best Pet kennels. They have a little "crook" on the end that prevents the latch from sliding open accidently. But it is easy for a human to open and close. I am an older woman and the kennels are easy for me to move around to the areas I desire to put them. They are sturdy, but easy to handle,and have the plastic slide out tray at the bottom for easy cleaning, I was unsure about this Brand at first because the price was so GOOD that I figured something had to be flawed with this kennel but I was very wrong. I do think it is a good idea to buy a couple of extra plastic trays or if you are crafty cut a piece of heavy duty plastic to have on hand when you change out a tray for cleaning. Plastic is just plastic so a heavy dog could cause damage to the tray .But the trays I got with my kennels are not flimsy at all. The kennel comes with a plastic handle that can be attached at the top. I live in a rural and at night the coyotes and other undesirable critters come out and I have had problems with Tom cats just mauling my young cats. So now I can put my kittens or young cats and puppies in kennels at night and I don't have to worry and fret about what is happening in the dark to them. Also, this will save me money in Vet bills. The cost of just one of the large kennels is about the cost of an office visit to the vet so I am very pleased to wake up each day and know that all of my "babies" are safe and happy. Included with the kennel is a wire divider that can be put in the kennel so you can keep pets separated from each other. I had one particular cat that had an injury that seemed to outsmart me and escape from any cage I tried to keep her in. She can't get out of this Best Pet kennel. I will buy a couple more of the 42 inch size kennels to have on hand because the price and quality is so great and I plan to buy a couple of the smaller wire ones to transport cats and pups to the vet in. I find the plastic cat carriers to be attractive but not so practical when you have a heavy cat or a "wild" cat or unhappy dog that needs an injection from the vet before it can be removed from the carrier to be tended to. These kennels come with a very fair 3 month Limited Warranty. (Send in the Warranty Card !!) Keep your receipt and KEEP THE BOX it came in if you need to return it for any reason.A customer service ph. number is provided. You can also order parts, etc., if needed.Elizabeth

We bought this cage just to give our little guy a slightly bigger bed, now that he is full grown. This is actually just a bed with a door, because he loves being in it, and goes in on his own, just to nap, with the door open. We have the black crate cover also, which I highly recommend buying. As far as durability goes, or security for that matter, I've seen better. If you have a large or rambunctious dog, I would think twice. Also consider the fact that there is only one door latch on each door. But that's what you get for the price.Sherry

This product has room enough to grow as your puppy grows. The divider provided with the crate is easy to use. The crate is great to set up and is easily folded down to move it take with you. The tray in the bottom is very durable and cleaning is a breeze. This product is everything it says it is and I recommend it to anyone. This is my first time with an extra large breed dog and it has made things easier for me and I am confident when I need to put my pup in it to go to work. I know he will be fine and comfortable.Char

The crate prices on Dog.com totally rock! We decided we needed an extra crate for up at the cabin….since it was "last minute" I ran to my local national chain pet store and they had one brand of folding crates like this one…..their pricing was ridiculous…..the size I needed was 3X what Dog.com was charging, even with shipping. No brainer, we ordered this one & it came standard shipping super fast & over Memorial weekend (like 2-3 days-we were still at the cabin!) and it's exactly like our other crate we bought from this site 4 years ago. Great quality….very sturdy and easy to fold & set back up. Also comes with a divider if you have a puppy or want to have two small dogs share the crate. The bottom liner also slides out for easy cleaning, if needed. You can't go wrong with this crate.SaintPaulMom

I bought to take my new cat to the vet. He was only 9 lbs at the time so I assumed it would be more than enough for him. Upon bringing him home it literally fell apart and he got loose outside and had to be chased down. I followed the little instructions there were, latched and tightened everything the was to tighten and it still fell apart. And even when the 2 halves stay together the door never stays in place, complete waste of money!Stepcutie

Just bought 2 15 pound crates from a retail store and wow… I used to use petmate carriers almost exclusively and now I'll probably not buy another. Super shoddy construction, cheap, flexible plastic, would offer no protection in a car accident and probably wouldn't hold a determined animal.Fras

I order this because my at has an appointment next month with the vet. I have been leaving it together and open. And what I found out is that my cat actually likes to lay in it. And with the extendable handle. It is great for someone my height.bkelley

smaller than expected. Would not be comfortable for full sized cat on a long trip. Mini yorkie perhaps? Good quality otherwise. Rolls okDebs0p1p

My pup wanted to be able to fit in this traveling so much that she didn't want to get out of it even though she was uncomfortable and couldn't sit up when the zipper was we completely closed. Unfortunately, the carrier is was too small and cramped for her long legsEve

Putting this together – I would say that the plastic is a good construction, the clasps and screws are great, and the metal bars for the windows look to be a decent quality. They ship you extra clips and screws in case you have a problem. I personally don't like the wheels (on any crate), so I'll leave those off and the pet bowl might be okay if I was sending the dog via airplane. The Large size isn't very large in my opinion. A dog should be able to stand up, turn around and lay down. I think this crate is more like a 50 pound max than 75. My 10 week old Golden Female Retriever will likely outgrow this kennel in 6 months and be in that weight range. In a way I'd like to exchange it for a bigger one.RichH

We needed a larger kennel to ship our 45 lb dog on an American Eagle flight. They have size restrictions and this kennel provided the space our border collie needed and fit the airline size. Held up perfectly to a two flights and 9 hours of flying.WaterHog

It's the easiest crate to put together. I didn't read directions and so easy to fold and store. Its really all ready put together just unfold. Easy.2longislandny

We bought a larger crate 6 months ago that housed 3 small dogs and 2 cats for 3 days while we drove across country. For several months the 3 dogs shared it at night (the cats found another place to sleep). Recently, we decided to separate the 2 older dogs from the younger and bought 2 of the medium sized crates. The "travel crate" was folded and put away in the laundry room for the next time we travel with all our babies, and we stacked the 2 medium crates. Even stacked, these crates have good strength and a solid build. I can't say enough about how exceptional these crates are and the divider is great when needing to separate pets in a pinch.mslubner

I was so excited about the fantastic sales price on the crates! Ordered an i Crate in the large size, before I did the research. After research I realized I ordered the lowest-grade crate, not what I wanted. Tried to cancel the order to reorder the higher-grade Ultima Pro. After two calls, they did send a cancel through to see if it would work. (It didn't.) I didnt want to risk waiting and missing the sale so I ordered the Ultima Pro, had to be medium, because large was out of stock. Just opened it and, like others, got one that can't even be put together because it's so out of square. It can't even be bent into place it's so bad. This is one reason I HATE buying online. The only good part is I can at least return it to the local Petco instead of having to ship it back.Lotsa animals here

My dog loves her new crate. She out grew the first one we purchased . This one gives her all the room she needs to stretch out and sleep. I was very impressed with the quality of this crate versus the quality of the first crate. This new crate has superior strength . No rattling. It is sturdy and strong. I would definitely recommend this brand of crate.Dave