How to Prepare Your Pet's Crate for International Air Travel
The crate is your pet’s entire world for the duration of an international flight. Getting it right reduces stress, keeps your pet safe, and is a requirement – not an option – for any pet travelling as cargo.
Here is what you need to know.
IATA Container Requirements 101
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets the minimum standards for live animal containers. Every airline that accepts pets as cargo requires IATA-compliant crates. The key rules:
Material. Rigid construction only – plastic, fibreglass, or wood. No soft-sided bags for cargo travel. Metal crates are allowed on some airlines but check first.
Size. Your pet must be able to:
- Stand at full natural height without hunching
- Sit upright without the head touching the roof
- Lie down in a natural stretched position
- Turn around in a full circle
Ventilation. At least one-third of the total surface area must be ventilated, with openings on a minimum of three sides. The ventilation must allow airflow from outside – solid walls with small holes do not count.
Door and fasteners. The door must latch securely from the inside and outside. Spring-loaded or double-locking doors are recommended. Some airlines require zip ties through the door latches as a secondary measure.
Water and food containers. Attach water and food dishes to the inside of the door – not free-standing inside the crate. Most airlines require at least one filled water container. Frozen water blocks can satisfy water requirements for shorter flights. Attach feeding instructions to the top of the crate for journey legs over four hours.
Measuring Your Pet Correctly
Accurate measuring is the most common step people get wrong. Measure your pet in a relaxed standing position:
- Height (A): Floor to the top of the head (or ear tips for alert-eared breeds). Add 10cm.
- Length (B): Tip of nose to base of tail. Add 10cm.
- Width (C): Widest point across the shoulders. Multiply by 2.
The minimum crate dimensions are: height = A, length = B, width = C.
When in doubt, size up. Airlines will not reject a slightly larger crate, but they will turn away a pet crammed into an undersized one.
Labelling the Crate
Every crate must carry live animal labels. These must show:
- “Live Animal” – in large letters, in English and the language of the destination country
- Directional arrows – pointing upward, on all four sides
- Your contact details – full name, home address, and phone number (including country code)
- Pet details – name, species, breed, age, and sex
- Feeding and watering instructions – even if the instruction is “do not feed”
Print your contact details clearly on card and attach it to the top of the crate, not just the stickers. If stickers peel off in transit, the card is a backup.
Crate Training Before the Flight
A pet that has never been inside a crate will find a long international flight much harder than one that sees the crate as a familiar safe space. Start crate training at least 2-4 weeks before departure:
Week 1: Leave the crate open in a normal living area with the door off. Put familiar bedding inside. Let your pet explore freely.
Week 2: Feed meals near or inside the crate. Reward calm behaviour around and inside the crate.
Week 3: Start closing the door for short periods – five minutes, then twenty, then an hour. Stay nearby initially.
Week 4: Longer supervised periods with the door closed. Practice loading and carrying the crate if your pet is small enough.
By departure day, the crate should be familiar rather than frightening.
What Not to Put in the Crate
- Loose food – it can spill and create a mess, attract pests, or cause a customs issue
- Toys with small parts that could come loose and cause choking
- Heavy blankets that could reduce airflow or trap a limb
- Sedatives – IATA and most airlines advise against sedating pets for air travel. Sedated animals cannot regulate their own temperature and balance effectively in a pressurised hold. Your vet can advise if sedation is medically warranted, but it is not recommended as a routine measure.
One Last Check Before Drop-Off
Before you hand over the crate at the airline counter or cargo desk:
- Shake the crate lightly to confirm the door latch is secure
- Check that all labels are firmly attached
- Confirm the water container is filled and functional
- Take a photo of the crate and your pet together for your records
- Attach a copy of the veterinary health certificate and import documents to the top of the crate in a waterproof pouch
The crate is checked at drop-off. If it does not meet airline requirements, the flight may proceed without your pet. It is not worth taking that risk.