Pet Travel Carriers

After writing about traveling with my dog Prune in last week’s Club Yolo Substack, I got many questions about what kind of bag I use to carry her. To be honest, it’s some crappy generic nylon bag I got in Bordeaux, and when I looked up the name, it didn’t seem to exist anymore. What I love about the bag is that it’s so lightweight, I can put a cozy little dog bed in it and it doesn’t put her above the weight limit for flying. But given the amount of interest in pet travel carriers, I thought I should see what is out there on the market. Let’s just say, I think we’ll be upgrading soon.

P.S. I highly recommend reading the comments on each product and engaging with customer service to make sure all your questions are asked. On the Beis (below), there were people who said it was too tall for some under-the-seat situations. I also always want to know how much the carrier weighs, so I can put Prune on a no-treat diet the week before a trip if I have to! —Yolanda

Utilitarian airline approved

1. Dagne Dover Kyoto Carrier – I love the way this one looks, and that you can fold it flat when you’re not traveling. Ticks all the boxes—it’s under 4lbs, has a trolley strap, and I like its cozy interior bed, which would work well as a bed at the destination. 

2. Voodoo Pet Travel Carrier – Looks great and the price is right at $110. Love the white with leather accents—and has the trolley strap I can’t live without. 

3. Away Airline Approved Pet Travel Carrier – Very utilitarian looking, it has a washable bed, lots of venting, and a trolley strap. My only issue is it’s 4.3 lbs, which is about a pound more than most. But that wouldn’t be a problem for dogs who aren’t at the cusp.

4. SturdiBag Pro 2.0 – This is the NY Times Wirecutter top pick—I like that it has a flexible frame, and is completely machine washable. 

5. Max Bone Pet Carrier Bag – Love all the mesh windows and the faux sheepskin bed, which is washable. Looks very well made and weighs just 3.5lbs.

6. Tuft and Paw Porto Carrier – I love this—it even has a trolley strap! They say it’s for cats, but it’s for an animal up to 30 lbs. It also has a nice mat that opens out and lies on the floor so it feels like a cave that also opens up.

7. Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier – They seem to have thought of everything: a built in pee pad that can easily be swapped out while your pet is inside, a collar clip, and three pockets for your essentials. Bonus: it has a 5-star crash test rating.

8. Beis Regulation Pet Carry-on – I’m ordering immediately—it has a washable bed, expandable in-flight legroom, trolley sleeve, backpack and shoulder straps, and even a padded laptop sleeve and a couple of pockets for you so you don’t have to have a separate carry-on to compete for space with. 

Not necessarily airline approved, but great for car or train travel

9. Mutts & Hounds – Charming totes in quilted wax cotton and tweed with cozy sherpa interiors that double as a dog bed when unzipped. 

10. Found My Animal – I love this cute, preppy style and the inside pocket is perfect for a phone or wallet. 

11. LISH – Made from real Harris tweed and doubles as a bed.

12. Just Fred – Theirs has extra cushioned siding and a padded window so your dog can sightsee too. 

13. Owleys – This one is super cozy and also functions as a car seat.

14. Little Beast – This bag is so nice and light, and I love that it comes in sizes from XXS to XL 

The Splurge: Visions of Upper East Side or Parisian dog ladies…

15. Goyard has been making accessories for pets since the 1890s, so they’ve had time to perfect the dog carrier—this one is impossibly chic and meets the standards for most airlines. 

16. YSL in tanned vegetable leather or in their monogram for $3800

17. Prada pet backpack For $3750, their signature nylon is surprisingly practical, and the backpack comes with the most adorable collapsible dog bowl and pet waste bag holder. 

18. Louis Vuitton Dog Bag Channeling Elle Woods… for $3550

19. L/UNIFORM This chic canvas and linen bag can be monogrammed with your pups’ initials

20. Hermès Carrying Bag for Dogs–chiiiiiiiiiiic…. Also, utilitarian. Only $3500!