On the Charlie Carrier, there is actually a good deal of mesh for ventilation, and I actually know several people who actually purchased theirs specifically for flying. It's actually an ideal combination of both being very structured, and having a good deal of mesh for ventilation. I can definitely understand everyone's concern that that a dog would certainly need proper ventilation! And at first glance at the Charlie bag...if the flap is down..., you can't see the ventilation, but it is definitely there.
There is actually a very long panel that runs from one side of the bag, across the top, and down the other side of the bag. You can certainly leave the flap down across the bag for complete and total concealment of your dog in a store etc...but there is a good deal of mesh. And you can roll up either one side of the bag or both. If you were just running around etc... You have the option to roll up both sides, they have two clasps on the top center of the bag that each side can be attached to at the top of the bag if you roll it up. On one side, it is open at the top, and it has mesh at the bottom..so that the dog has the option to stick it's head out and enjoy the scenery
and on the other side, if it's rolled up, that entire side is mesh.
And for airline travel, you can actually roll back the flap to expose the mesh for better ventilation. Obviously, you probably wouldn't open the side for the dog to stick his head out and visit so that the bag is still closed to meet airline requirements etc.
It is one of the most structured of any of the purse style bags that I have ever seen, and it really does hold it's shape. I think that this combined with the mesh does provide a good deal of ventilation. It actually seems to be the best of both worlds. IMO Because you are able to have a bag that just looks like a designer quality gorgeous bag, but then it is extremely structured, holds its shape to allow ventilation, and has both a side that is mesh, and the option to have the side open.
Also, the attention to detail on this bag is amazing!! The cushion is nice and thick, and I've seen picture after picture where dogs actually get in these on their own in the house and sleep in them as their bed
As you can probably tell from my post, I've looked at her bags for quite some time.
I like being able to read everyone's thoughts and reviews of various products on YT!! And the other carriers mentioned do seem nice as well!! I just wanted to point out that there is more ventilation than it might initially appear. Oh and also, I'm sure there are others of you that do this as well, but I have one of those cooling mats...it doesn't require water or to be put in a refrigerator. It's just a gel mat that cools the dogs..I place this in the bottom of my own carrier just as an added safety mechanism...plus my dogs love it
The pressure of the weight of their body is what causes the cooling mechanism on the mat... I never have to do a thing to it. I found cooling mat at Marshall's for $8, but they have them by precision pets online.