Get the right size crate. Crates that are either too big or too small will cause your animal to be refused at the airport. It may seem logical to give as much room as possible for comfort, but putting a Chihuahua in a crate made for a Great Dane will cause the dog to be bounced around like a ping pong ball if turbulence should occur, making for a very high injury potential. The industry standard is to have 2 inches from the top of the head or tip of the ear (whichever is higher) to the top of the crate when the dog is standing. He must also be able to turn around without squeezing himself against the sides.

An attachable food and water dish must be hooked to the inside of the crate or the airline will provide them for you at a cost of about $10 per dish. Freeze water in one of the dishes so it will melt while en route. Nothing else is allowed inside the crate except soft bedding. Bring along a small baggie of kibble (2 meals) for the cargo personnel to tape to the top of the crate. The airlines are really cracking down on what can accompany the animal, so pertinent paperwork is the only other thing that can be sent along - everything else has to be mailed or sent through a ground transport service like UPS or FedEx.

While Sky Kennel brand is widely used, there are many other companies that make travel crates so dimensions can vary somewhat. Below is a chart that provides general size guidelines. Underneath the chart is Continental's crate size and price list - you'll note those crate weights are just a bit different than what the chart says.