Travel crate guidance for dogs and cats crossing the Pacific

What we coordinate

Crate guidance is part of every move we plan, but it is also something many families ask about on its own. For your route and airline we:

• work out the right crate size from your pet's measurements, not from the breed label on the box;
• check the crate against the airline's own acceptance rules for the travel mode you are booked in;
• flag anything that commonly causes problems at check-in, such as fittings, labels or a crate that is too tight;
• give you a crate-training plan timed to your departure date;
• explain what can and cannot go inside the crate for the flight and on arrival.

We give guidance and checks. You buy the crate yourself or, where available, through local partners. We do not manufacture or sell crates, and we never tell you a crate is "airline approved" in general: approval depends on the carrier, the aircraft and the mode on the day.

Who this is for

• Families moving a dog or cat between the United States and Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong or elsewhere in Asia.
• Owners of large dogs, where the crate size decides which aircraft and which carriers are possible. Our guide to cabin, checked baggage and cargo explains how the modes differ.
• Owners of snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats, who face both bigger crates and fewer airline options.
• Anyone booking a cargo or checked-hold journey for the first time.

The standard airlines start from

Airlines that carry animals work from the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR). For cats and dogs, the relevant section is Container Requirement 1. IATA's own summary for travelers says the container must give the animal room "to turn about normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position", and that snub-nosed breeds need a container about 10% larger. You can read it on IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner.

In practice, that means measuring your pet, not guessing. We ask for a few measurements (nose to base of tail, floor to top of the head or ear tips when standing, elbow height, width across the shoulders) and turn them into minimum internal dimensions. Then we compare those with the crates actually available to you.

For the full step-by-step on materials, doors, ventilation and labels, see our guide to choosing an IATA-compliant travel crate.

Airline rules on top of IATA

IATA is the floor. Each airline adds its own limits on size, weight, aircraft type, season and breed. Some examples from airline pages we have read:

• Delta states that "brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs, cats and their mixes are not permitted" on its flights, and it only ships pets as cargo for active U.S. military and State Department Foreign Service staff traveling on PCS orders (Delta, shipping your pet).
• Delta will not ship a pet when the ground temperature exceeds 80°F or falls below 20°F, and asks for a certificate of acclimation between 20°F and 45°F. Temperature rules like these change which month you can fly.
• Hong Kong requires dogs and cats arriving under its Group II permit to travel as manifested cargo; excess baggage and hand-carried baggage are not permitted (AFCD permit terms). That is a government rule, and it affects which crate and booking you need for the USA to Hong Kong route.

Airline policies change, sometimes between booking and departure. We confirm the carrier, aircraft and mode for your pet before you buy anything, and again close to the flight. The differences between cabin, checked hold and cargo are explained in cabin, checked baggage or cargo, and on our airline and cargo service.

Snub-nosed dogs and cats

French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians and similar breeds are the hardest pets to move across the Pacific. They need the larger crate IATA describes, and several airlines refuse them outright or only in certain months. Delta's ban covers mixes too.

We tell you early whether a workable option exists on your route and in your season, and what it means for crate size and timing. Sometimes the honest answer is that the route has to change, or the date. Read more in snub-nosed pets and airline restrictions.

Crate training: start weeks ahead

A pet that already treats the crate as its own space travels calmer, and is easier for handlers to check. We give you a plan that starts as soon as the crate arrives:

1. Leave the crate open in the living room with familiar bedding. Feed meals near it, then inside it.
2. Close the door for short periods while you are in the room, then while you step out.
3. Build up to a few hours, including car rides in the crate.
4. In the last week, keep the routine steady and avoid new stress.

Dogs and cats respond differently. Many cats accept a crate sooner if it smells of home; many dogs need more practice with the door closed. Older pets may need a gentler pace; see flying with senior pets and preparing for a long-haul flight.

Travel-day details

On the day, small things matter: the right bedding, water and food containers that can be filled from outside, secure fastenings, clear labels and your contact details. We give you a checklist tailored to your airline, because carriers differ on what they allow inside.

How crate guidance fits the rest of your move

Crate size feeds directly into flight planning: it can rule out an aircraft type, a cabin option or a cargo slot. That is why we settle it early, alongside the veterinary documents timeline. On the arrival side, the crate also has to suit whatever ground transport is arranged, which we coordinate through local partners where available (see door-to-door coordination).

If you want to see the whole process in one place, read how it works.