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Originally Posted by SophiesHuman   it just seems so cruel to stuff them under the seat....and I've still been looking for a carrier and can't find one to meet those measurements. Do you have a soft sided one? Any suggestions on where to look?
Thank so much for your input.....knowing another yorkie lover has done this helps.  |
You don't want a crate - you want a soft sided carrier. I live in Iowa and therefore that means very few direct flights - and when I change planes to come home in a bigger city - like Chicago or Mpls, I get on a tiny plane usually with little room under the seats.
There are a lot of bags that will work. The Sherpa bags I believe are all approved. I looked and looked - expensive to the cheap. They have ones that convert to backpacks or have wheels like a pull suitcase.
What I ended up deciding was I have pretty carriers that I use when we go out to run errands, so what I got for flying didn't have to be super expensive - just functional for flying, because that is all I would ever use it for. I found a bag at Petco on clearance - really cheap, not the color I would have preferred - but it fit the needs.
The one I have is kind of A shaped - as in the base when I carry it is the widest point - what I liked about this bag was when I lay it down under the seat in front of me - I lay the bag on it's side - gently - my 2 are just fine doing this - when the bag is on it's side they have more room to stretch out.
The bag looks a bit like this one I think
Walmart.com: Bergan Basics: Softsided Black W/Red Trim Pet Carrier, 1 ct: Dogs - I think that one looks wider at the bottom.
Anyway - look around on the Pet store sites, ebay etc. I'm sure you will find a bag that will work. The biggest thing I think you want is soft sides, in case it is a squeeze - because if it has hard sides and it won't fit under the seat, then the flight attendants will take the bag.
Also, sometimes a nice flight attendant will look the other way as you hold your baby on your lap under a blanket
I always travel with my own travel size blanket just in case I need to hold them for a bit. Also be sure to pack a blanket in the carrier - even if you don't put it in until you get on the plane. It is cold often on the floor of the plane - and cold air can pour out along the sides. I sometimes keep one blanket out on the outside of the carrier to block the cold air from blowing on that end of the bag.
There are lots of threads in the Travel forum about all the info you need to know when flying with your yorkie.