Top-Expandable Small Pet Carrier 17"x11"x9.5" Airline Approved

I breed and show, and have puppies that I fly all over the US to new homes. I had used a quilted, VERY EXPENSIVE Sherpa brand carrier up until I bought this- found it returned to a Petco that discounted it to cost since it had been opened and didn’t have a box. It was getting sad and saggy after 9 deliveries across the country, and I needed a new one that offered a little more room as I had a large Pointer puppy that needed to fly to TX- he would NOT fit in the Sherpa. Enter this magnificent carrier!!! For the price, I expected a one or two time use and it to be flimsy, and would look cheap in person. How about this is an over-engineered work horse that looks very expensive? Heavy durable mesh, zippers everywhere to get your pet in and out, but secure with fastex-style buckles so they can’t escape. ALL FOUR SIDES HAVE MESH. If you have ever been in a warm airplane, imagine how hot it must get under the seat- this carrier makes it so air flow isn’t an issue for the puppy, even on top. Easy to carry, easy to lift, easy to set up and fold down when done- it’s fantastic. The top expanding area though is the crown jewel of this carrier! For a larger puppy it made it so when we weren’t on the plane, he had room to sit up some and easily turn around. He was so much more comfortable and quiet as a result. It’s easy to collapse the top back down to slide under the seat, yet doesn’t impact the puppy’s space when you do. Photo of the actual carrier under the seat, and how large of a puppy was transported, meeting his new owner at the airport. I couldn’t believe at 18 pounds he fit! Once I arrived home from this delivery, the Sherpa carrier went into the trash. I’m considering buying a second one of these to have a back up, in case they would somehow be discontinued! NOTE: this carrier fits all the major airline requirements for size that will fit under any plane sized seats, with the top pushed down. So many carriers are too long, too high, or too wide. Which is important- there are a lot of people that get to the airport only to learn their carrier is too large!

This carrier was a perfect fit on Frontier Airlines Row 3 center seat. It is an extremely well made carrier and my 16 lb Bichon seemed comfortable. I highly recommend this product. It has a solid bottom removable pad that held its shape when carrying so my dog was stable. You can’t crush this carrier because there is a wire frame for support. This particular version does not have any expandable pop-outs like other models.

This carrier is made very well and passed the TSA qualifications for the size and vented sides. My little 10 lb dog had enough room to move around and was comfy throughout the flight. The padded cushion that came with it was very useful. It doesn’t weigh much so was easy to carry and I was also able to attach it to the handle of my suitcase. Great value for the money. I use it in the car now when I take my doggie to the vet or out shopping.

If you’re looking at the Petskd Top‑Expandable Pet Carrier 18×13×9.5″, here’s a breakdown of what we know + some pros & cons to help you decide whether it’s a good fit. ✅ What you’ll get Size: exterior listed as approximately 18″ L × 13″ W × 9.5″ H for the base model. Some versions note expandable width/height: e.g. “(9.5 + 3.5)″ H” when expanded. eBay +3 Ubuy Namibia +3 Amazon +3 Airline-approved / “under-seat” friendly: The listing says it’s “TSA approved” and “can be placed under the seat in the cabin.” Amazon +2 Ubuy Namibia +2 Features: locking safety zippers, anti-scratch mesh, top (and sometimes side) expansion panels for extra space, mesh ventilation on 5 sides. Ubuy Namibia Material: Soft-sided (polyester + mesh). Some models include removable pad, shoulder strap. Suitable for small cats & dogs (the dimension & airline approval implies small/medium sized pets). For example one spec states: “recommend pet size… dogs under ~10 lbs, cats under ~12 lbs.” Ubuy Namibia ⚠️ Things to check / limitations Interior usable space will be less than the exterior dimensions due to fabric, padding, structure. One listing warns: “In order to fit the under-seat dimensions of airlines, this carrier can only fit small dogs and cats… We recommend that the pet size you carry be within 15″L × 10″W × 10″H.” Ubuy Namibia Expansion panels: The extra space when expanded is great—but airlines will typically require the bag to be compressed to standard under-seat dimensions. So you’ll want to ensure you can collapse it easily and check your airline’s under-seat size limits (they vary by carrier). Weight / durability: Soft-sided carriers are more vulnerable than hard crates, especially if your pet moves around a lot or is a little stronger. The “anti-scratch mesh” is a good feature, but if your pet is heavy or very active, you may want to inspect the build. Color/variant and features may vary: Make sure the version you buy is exactly the size you need; some listings show slightly different dimensions (e.g., 17×11×9.5 etc). eBay +1 Airline approval: “Airline approved” is a marketing term — it means it fits under many seats / meets many airline’s carry-on pet bag requirements. But you should check with your specific airline (in your case, you mentioned Southwest Airlines) to confirm dimensions and requirements. Weight limit/comfort: If your pet is on the upper end of the small size spectrum, make sure they can lie down, turn around, and feel comfortable. Exterior dimensions are one thing; the interior comfort matters. 🎯 My recommendation If I were advising: For small cats or small dogs (likely under ~10-12 lbs) this carrier seems like a very solid choice especially if you’ll travel by plane. Confirm your pet’s length/width/height comfortably fit the interior (not just the external dimension). Before traveling: measure the compressed size (without expansion) and check with Southwest’s under-seat dimensions for pets. If your pet tends to move around a lot, or you anticipate rough handling (airport, car travel, etc), consider whether you might want something more rigid or structured—but for everyday travel this is a good value. If you find the price acceptable and the model is genuine (check reviews, seller, return policy) I’d say yes: you can buy it. If you’re unsure, compare a couple other carriers in the same size/price range to make sure you’re getting the best features.

The company should sell a dolly for it. The carrier is very well made, I really like the top that actually stays up when you want and folds down without caving in. I really wanted to keep it but I couldn't find a dolly that worked well with it, I tried three different dollies. My dog is heavy, about 27 pounds and she fits just fine in it but since you are not allowed to have a carry on when flying with pets in the cabin, I can't put her on top of it and it is to hard to be carrying it on my shoulders. I ended up buying a similar one with the expandable top that i didn't like as much because the construction is not as good and the top doesn't stay up as well but the dolly that it comes with, makes a lot easier to travel with my dog.

This carrier is soft sided and fits under Southwest airplanes' seats, but rigid enough to provide protection for my cat while in transit. During layovers, there are multiple zipper openings to allow for petting, hydration and treats/tranquilizer administration. Each zippered section has a clip that secures both ends of the zipper so kitty's paws cannot open them. Peace of mind! I purchased a lightweight leash and clipped it to the anchored clip inside the carrier (and clipped the leash to a cat-friendly harness) so kitty was able to get up and move around as well as pop out of the top for petting during layovers without the fear of her getting away. For cat parents, you will appreciate this---when we got home (I had to transport her from east coast to American Southwest with three airport connections because my mother passed away and I promised to take care of kitty)...kitty goes into it willingly to sleep in it while she gets used to being in my home. She feels it is a safe zone as she acclimates to her new environment. This is a sturdy carrier and, honestly, I will puchase more for my other kitties who loath the front-loading, hard-sided carriers. It folds flat when not needed. Can't say enough good things for kitty use. Little doggies, not sure if it is strong enough for an anxious pet. P.S. ask your vet for mild tranquilizer when transporting long distances. Ours was a 12 hour travel day. Those meds helped her stay relatively calm...and when she was calm, I was calm(er). Hope this helps. OH, and we got the pink carrier.

This is a well designed and sturdy cat carrier. My 10 pound cat is very suspicious of carriers, but I left this one out and open for three weeks, and the other day, he just jumped in through the top and went to sleep for four hours. The bed is soft and comfortable with a washable cover and a rigid bottom plate that easily supports the cat’s weight and is also washable. There are several zippered openings, including a front door, and more importantly from my standpoint, the entire top opens with zippers, revealing a surprisingly large space inside. That was how my cat went in to take his nap, and how I put him in when the time came to go to the airport. All of the zippers can lock in place. Alaska Airlines barely glanced at the carrier and there were no questions about allowing it on the plane. The top can be pulled up an extra 3 inches or so to give the cat more headroom when not under the seat. The expandable top is easily pushed down to fit the airline’s height limitation.

I’ve had this carrier for maybe a year or two and it’s been holding up extremely well. It may be a little expensive but it’s worth every dollar. My dog is 9lb and she fits well! She has enough space to stand up lay down and relax. The padding itself isn’t super comfy but I just added blankets and she didn’t seem to mind. Assembly was extremely easy and doesn’t weigh a lot impares to other carriers! The only downside is that the strap did snap but I’m sure it’s just due to wear and tear over the years. It was also approved by Spirit, frontier, Southwest, united, and delta airlines!!! It also came with a little ID card I customized with her info. I love this carryon and would buy it again!!

Great quality! Comfortable. Lots of room for my 11 lbs Shih Tzu. It’s also the right size for our United Airline flight.

Muy buen acabado

I was having an impossible time trying to find a carrier that fit air canadas plane specific regulations while also trying to keep my cats comfy for a 14 hour flight and thankfully I came across this carrier. Both cats fit comfortably in it and can stand up and turn around. The one in the photo is 14lbs and my other one is 19lbs and both are happy with it. I don’t travel until feb but I’ll post an update with how well it travels.

We travel a lot with our Yorkie and what I like about this bag is that the top raises to give her extra standing space if she wants it. When flying the carrier fits perfectly under the seat in front of me. I like that the carrier has lots of visual/air ventilation screens. It has one side or rear pouch to put treats in, leash/harness or doggie bags. It has a side strap to attach the carrier to the suitcase and basically, I’m happier when my pup has lots of in comfort/space to travel in.

And it’s great quality, really cute too. All zippers have clips so dogs can’t open the zippers. Brilliant design.