Best 3 Large Dog Airline Crates: Approved For Flight Travel

Do you need a large dog airline crate so that your dog can safely join in on the fun of traveling internationally?

Since we know how it’s hard to leave your dog home when you do travel we’ve compiled a list of the best airline travel crates and reviewed them. If you continue reading this article you’ll  find crates that are heavy-duty, plastic, and more so keep reading.

Best 3 Large Dog Airline Crates

BEST OF BEST LARGE DOG AIRLINE CRATE

SportPet Designs Plastic Kennels

Versatile Use
The simple reason why we’ve decided to review this crate as the best one is that it is an IATA-approved dog crate. IATA stands for international air transport association and if you do get this crate, you are most likely to not need to make any changes to the crate so that you can travel with your specific airline.

Real Size
This is an extra-large airline dog crate and while that might be true, if you look into the crate’s dimensions you’ll quickly realize that this crate can only house dogs that your dog can’t be over 32-in long and 24-in tall which means it’s best to use it with large dogs.

Connecting The Plastic Shells
The large dog airline crate is made out of 2 plastic pieces and the way that you connect the two is by locking the plastic lips that are already on it or additionally, you can double secure them with nuts and bolts. The crate also has holes for you to tie down the crate with bungees. These are just some of the requirements for air travel.

Other Airline Requirements Bonuses
Additional requirements for air travel that the crate comes with are detachable water bowls and ”live animal” stickers. For you to transport the crate to the airport with ease you’ll get wheels for it that you can easily place on or off and 2 handles on top for carrying.

Single Door And Lock Type
There’s a single door for access to the crate but that’s also a requirement for large dog crates for air travel. it’s made with steel wire and you’ll be able to open it by pinching the lock. We should add that you should only travel with your dog if the dog is crate trained and calm.

Buy On Amazon

BEST PLASTIC LARGE DOG FLIGHT CRATE

Petmate Sky Kennel Pet Carrier

Crate’s Length
Since large and extra-large dog crate airline-approved models are so hard to come by, we have to say that we are really impressed with this crate’s length of 40-in. If that’s too small for your dog you can even get a 48-in long one. This one can contain large dogs.

Air Crate Supplies
The extras you’ll get with the large dog airline crate will all help you actually get to travel by air with your dog since these are some of the things that airline require a dog crate to have They are ID and ”live animal” stickers, clip-on water, and food bowls, nuts and bolts, and tie-down holes for bungees.

Vault Lock Type Abilities
The lock on this crate is really something special. Like most doors for extra large airline dog crates, it is made out of steel wire but the lock is a vault-type lock that won’t slip or slide so that the door accidentally gets open. The crate can easily be considered the safest dog crate for cars as well because of this.

Crate Parts
This is a large plastic dog crate. It consists of a top and bottom plastic that you need to connect with the provided winged nuts that won’t corrode. If you’d like, you can use the crate as a car travel one but you do have to crate train your dog before for both options

Buy On Amazon

BEST HEAVY DUTY LARGE DOG AIRLINE CRATE

Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel

Ventilation Points
Like all large dog crates for air travel, this heavy-duty plastic dog crate gets ventilated from all sides. This is one of the requirements from airlines that a large dog crate for air travel should have. The side windows are covered with steel wire while the back only features holes made in the plastic frame.

Easy Open Lock
The crate’s door is also one of the ventilation points since it’s made with steel wire as well. It features a lock that won’t require you to put too much effort into opening it. The lock also won’t slip or slide so that it accidentally opens the door.

Indoor And Car Crate
Since it’s missing a few things needed for air travel you can actually use it as a large indoor dog crate or a crate for car travel since it is made with heavy-duty plastic. This shouldn’t discourage you from traveling by air cause it’s made to be airline compliant and all you need a few additional things for it and you’re good to go.

Training Is Necessary
The two recycled heavy-duty plastic pieces, on the top and bottom, can easily be connected using the provided winged nuts and bolts. Before you decide to travel with your dog and use this large dog airline crate, your top priority should be to crate train the dog first.

Buy On Amazon

How to Pick A Large Dog Airline Crate

If you’re finding it difficult to decide on a large dog airline crate we’re here to help with that. Since traveling by air is definitely no joke we gave this guide special attention to highlight the most important things about these crates and their differences like size and the things they should come with always to be airline approved.

Typical Build Material – These crates are most commonly made out of plastic that’s either heavy-duty or durable and rigid. There should also be a single steel wire door that has a safety locking dog crate door. The lock and how it’s designed are really important because you don’t want the lock to accidentally open while you’re flying.

Extra Supplies – IF you’re lucky enough, some of these crates will come with detachable water bowls, ”live animal” stickers, and will have holes to tie the crate down with bungees. There are the most general, but maybe not all requirements by airlines for crates.

Basic Air Travel Crate Build – These crates will always be made out of 2 plastic pieces that need connecting. IF the crate is designed only for air travel you’ll have to go the extra mile and connect with just nuts and bolts but if it’s more versatile, then you’ll be able to connect the two simply with locking clips.

Sizing  Importance – You want your dog to be as comfy as possible inside his large dog airline crate and one way to ensure that is to get the right size of the crate. Since crate manufacturers know how important this is, you’ll get a size chart and the method on how to measure your dog’s length and height. Generally speaking, your dog should be at least 4 inches shorter to fit comfortably inside the crate

Crate Training Importance – Before doing any type of traveling, your dog should be crate trained and calm. There are loads of guides on how to do this but as a last resort, you can tranquilize your dog. This is to be done by a veterinarian and should really only be used as a last resort and thoroughly discussed with your dog care professional.