Petmate Sky Kennel - For Air and Travel, Airline Approved Dog Crate for Pets 90-125 lbs, Heavy Duty Dog Kennel, Made in the USA- 48 Inches

This was the only kennel I found that came closest to airline requirements. It is approved by the USDA and IATA. We were on a military move from the states so this a review on the international kennel features and requirements only.Kennel Features:This kennel has 11 plastic bolt holes- This is the only requirement that this kennel does not follow. It came with plastic nuts. Metal nuts and bolts are required now for every flight. This carrier has 11 bolt holes plus an additional 4 tie down holes. My airline specifically said that every hole must have a bolt. So we needed 15 metal nuts and screws for the carrier. Some airlines let you leave the 4 tie down holes empty but check to be sure and order the bolts ahead of time to get the right amount. We dind't do this and had to buy 3 kits because of shipping time limits. Metal bolts on amazon did not have prime option. But these are what you need Pet Carrier Metal Fasteners Nuts Bolts (1-1/4" Medium Bolts, 16 Pack) 16 pack will ensure a better safe than sorry amount.Has Pre drilled zip tie holes- Hard to find kennels with this already done. It is a requirement to zip tie the kennel doors shut. Quick release are best. Helping Hand Assorted Quick Release Nylon Cable Ties, 8-inch Make sure you insist on zip tying your dogs yourself! I watched the security guy do it wrong and had to redo do it myself. So glad I got the quick release. Same thing happened to a friend only they didn't catch that the attendant only thread it though the hole and not the door. Their dog got loose in the belly of the plane after ripping off the door. This brings me to the next feature.Has single piece metal door- Be sure to follow this guideline, a metal single piece door. No plastic allowed! Some larger kennel doors have a fold in the middle of the door to make packing easier. Some airlines don't specify the type of door needed and some forbid the fold. It gives the dog the ability to pull the door in which will then collapse and allows for escape. This kennel door is a solid one piece.Has protruding bar/side handles- This follows the requirement of "a spacer rim protruding at least 3/4 on all sides with ventilation openings"This is so the airline can carry and move the kennel without using the handle (known to fail on some kennels) and prevent a dog from being able to bite or contact movers hands. This kennel states that the rim is designed to work as side handles.Has 4 sides of air holes- Requirement is air holes must be "on all four sides at least halfway on each side". This kennel has it and even better metal grates! I had a friend whose dog chewed the space between the plastic holes during flight. Some kennels show in the picture that they have air holes in the back but come to find after ordering they didn't have the air holes on the backside in the smaller sizes. Especially for cat carriers. Note- Domestic flights only requires 2 vent sides but they stack and pack kennels like baggage and airflow will be restricted. Go with ventilation on all sides.Food Dishes- These were actually deep enough to be functional. Kennels with dishes attached inside on the walls are not allowed. Airlines must be able to "access dishes attached to door without opening the kennel door" they do this through funnels. On my main international flight with 2 layovers and a total of 20 hours travel they did not feed or water my dogs once. Even though it's the law. My advice freeze water ahead of flight so it doesn't make a mess or even better get a lixit water bottle to ensure your dogs don't dehydrate. We got Lixit Small Dog Water Bottle 16-OunceStickers- This kennel came with stickers and that is a requirement but airlines have them and will use their own as well. The stickers included are crap and leave an awful residue. The airlines put the sticker packet of paper work over the " "Live Animal" in 1-inch letters on the crate's top" required sticker. Upon removal of that it lifted the sticker below mucking up the brand new kennels. My advice, bring the stickers and apply at check in where they are needed once the paperwork covers the entire top of kennel and use airline stickers if possible.Note for size- The length requirement for international travel is [their length + half their leg] so there must be ample room in front and back. This made us need the larger kennel which is much larger than our previous kennel. Some will say that the rule of thumb is as long as they can turn around it's okay. But that is the length rule for IATA. Height for IATA includes ears and ears cannot touch top of kennel while standing. Again, why we had to go up a size (dang chihuahuas). After traveling with my pets on over 6 different flights I can say that most airline attendants are clueless about the pet requirements needed. I had one tell me they don't even receive training on the requirements and offered to let both dogs go into one kennel (a international no no). But I did have had one who knew their stuff and used a tape measure. So better safe than sorry!Traveling with your pet no matter how far is stress full. With international flights being long dogs get anxious and try to escape, sometimes successfully in cheep kennels. So get this one! Airlines have different requirements and regulations. It's better to buy new then to try to modify existing kennels. Save yourself the time! Get this kennel and you only need to purchase zip ties (hand release are best), metal bolts, and some puppy pads. I realize this is much more info than necessary for a review but I know how hard it was getting this information. Please check this as helpful so that it may help others in the complicated kennel requirement process. Safe Travels!

Perfect for my needs. I'm using this as an additional shelter for a couple of feral cats. I have been helping out a feral colony for several years now. A generous person in the community provides food and water consistently all year long as well as access to an unheated porch/mudroom. I help with acquiring supplies and engaging in seasonal set up and clean up. When the population was 12-15 (all trapped, spayed/neutered, returned to territory), we had several feral cat shelters in place around community. With the porch being home base for food and water. When the cold temps would set in, if any of the cats needed additional sheltering, the porch was/is always a place to go so we would set up a large dog house (igloo) with bedding (and if sub zero temps, add in heating unit). As the years have progressed, the population has decreased. At this point in time, there are but 2-3 cats left in the colony. While nothing else has changed for them, we decided that the large igloo dog house was too big to set up for 2-3 cats, and too big to be effective in cold weather. So, I set out to find a smaller unit that could handle 2 or 3 cats huddled together, or 1-2 spread out. We think it is 2 original feral cats and 1 random cat that likely has a home but enjoys eating the food. Sometimes a racoon or opossum, too. So come winter I expect to really see only 2 cats using the shelter. Although down to just two ferals, they have spent their entire life knowing that this is home base. They have zero inclination toward human interaction, but they know where the food comes from and will wait patiently while we fill bowls of food and water (2x a day!).So as I searched for the perfect vessel, I also took into consideration room for bedding and a heat pad. I didn't want anything too large (or I would just go ahead and use the old igloo), didn't want anything with lots of air holes, and preferred something flat on top so the cats could have an additional tier to lounge on. As with the igloo, we'd be keeping this up on a table.I looked at a lot of options- using a covered litter box if I could find one large enough, other containers.. basically wanted a large box that was smaller than the igloo but more sturdy than a cardboard box. It dawn on me to look at crates of this style. Even that took awhile to figure out, as there are many styles and most weren't what I needed- and were either too big or too small. SO, I was pleased when I found this one. The dimensions seemed right, the placement and size of the air holes seemed appropriate to our needs, and the top is pretty much flat.I put it together quickly. It comes with "live animal" stickers on it already along with another one. It also comes with a food/water holder. I don't need anything of that. I didn't even put the door on, but it would be super easy to put it on if the need arises. I can cover the air holes when it gets too cold by placing a towel over top and letting excess dangle down. The slats from the air holes will be perfect for use with a low wattage heating pad. We have a plug near table where this is set up, and I can likely figure out a way to fish the cord through, if not , then just out the main opening will work.If at some point this is no longer needed, then it will make a good bed for the indoor cats, or as a carrier for vet trips- if you have strength to carry this size as well as have room in vehicle. I have never air traveled with a pet, so I can't comment on how well it would stand up to those needs. I did notice that it has extra holes to run zip ties through for added security. This is explained in the short, easy directions.28" L X 20.5" W X 21.5"H is large enough to accommodate a couple of cats, or a smallish dog.My pics are from after just setting it up. I have more to add to it, but at least you can see what it looks like once it is put together (minus the door).

Very well made. I don’t intend to use it for air travel, but sure gives me peace of mind leaving my dog home alone. I worries of getting a body part caught in wires of a wire crate. The locking mechanism on the door is great. The water bowl that comes with is pretty stupid. It would work for a Pomeranian. If you get a crate this big, you have a big dog and need a big clip on bowl. All in all, it’s everything as advertised. (I have the XL size for my German shepherd)