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Traveling with your dog can be a complicated endeavor, but thankfully, there are high-quality dog travel crates to help your dog arrive safely at your destination. The Dog People have tested and reviewed the Sleepypod AIR in-cabin pet carrier to help make choosing a quality dog travel crate easier.
Our Sleepypod AIR Pet Carrier Review
Rover test pup Olive put the Sleepypod Air to the test, considering its functionality in the car, on the plane, and as a home-away-from-home for a dog in a new place. Olive’s pet parent Amber also talks through zippers, straps, and luggage attachments, with some handy tips for getting a pup acclimated to a new carrier.
What We Like About the Sleepypod AIR
Sleepypod is one of the best-regarded brands in the pet travel space, but their products are pricier than many other options. We decided to take one of their signature products for a test drive to see what all the hype was about.
The AIR has a handful of impressive features we feel make it worth consideration:
- All Sleepypod carriers are rigorously crash-tested for safety at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration facilities.
- The Center for Pet Safety has approved the Sleepypod AIR’s use for pets under 18 pounds.
- The carrier is made of rugged luggage-grade material that resists tears and stains (plus the internal bedding is machine washable).
- A padded shoulder strap and top handle make it handy to carry, while a luggage handle sleeve lets you slide the carrier onto a wheeled suitcase for easy travel.
- The Sleepypod Air meets all TSA requirements for cabin travel.
There are a few things to keep in mind about your particular pup’s travel preferences:
- The Sleepypod gets nice and toasty—it’s cozy for many dogs, but if yours runs warm already, it’s a good idea to leave a few flaps unzipped for improved ventilation.
- Mesh sides don’t offer a lot of visibility into this carrier; it’s a boon to dogs who prefer the dark and quiet, but less so for claustrophobic pups and those who like a clear line of sight to their dog when they travel.
- Air travel isn’t for all dogs—so while this comfortable carrier is capable of passing TSA regulations, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a dog will have a good time on a plane. It’s worth thinking hard about whether your pup is suited for air travel.
Purchasing the Sleepypod AIR Pet Carrier
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Other Styles of Dog Travel Carrier
Looking for something a little different? Sleepypod makes pet carriers in a variety of styles, all of them crash-tested for safety. The Atom is for the little guys 12 pounds and under, while the Mini caters to the teacup crowd at seven pounds or less.
Then there’s the round Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, which functions as a safe car seat (with seatbelt attachments), a mobile bed, and a carrier with a handle. It’s certified safe for pets 15 pounds and under, and its supportive rounded sides are a boon to the donut dogs out there—the pups who like to curl nose to tail for extra comfort.
At 17 inches in diameter and 13.5 inches tall, it cuts a different figure than the Sleepypod AIR, which is 22 inches long, 10.5 inches wide, and 10 inches tall. It has a bevy of optional accessories, including a plug-in warmer insert for extra coziness. Though it may fit under some airline seats, it’s not marketed for air travel—which makes it a nice alternative to the AIR for pet parents with fabulous but unflyable pups. (We hear you—not all our dogs are suited for air travel, either.)
The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed
Find on Amazon Find on the Rover Store
More Dog Travel Resources
- Traveling with Your Dog: Expert Tips From a Trainer
- The Real Cost of Traveling with Your Dog
- 5 Tips for Destination Travel with Your Dog
- 13 Dog Travel Crates That Are Ready to Go When You Are
Traveling and need someone to walk your dog while you’re away from the hotel? Rover is in over 10,000+ cities to help your trip be worry-free.