| Go to: IATA Standard Boxes |
We have big travel boxes, small travel boxes, wooden ones and pre-manufactured ones, and of course made-to-measure or off-the-shelf for any type of animal (though we do try to avoid putting our two-legged customers in them).
Whichever box you're going to use, ours or from some other supplier or even one you've used before, you really need to ensure that they meet IATA standards or they might not be accepted by the airline.
And if all the information below just isn't enough for you (you virtuoso, you!), then you might want to peek at this too:
IATA Standard Travel Boxes
Yes, an important reason to use an IATA standard travel box is to ensure that it will be accepted by the airline, but also, perhaps obviously, in order to make sure your pet travels safely. A good box will mean that your pet has enough space inside but not too much space, and that it will be a strong enough box to withstand the rigours of shipping. What makes a strong box? Well, there are many things that go into it but you can start understanding by looking at the images below, and of course you're welcome to contact us for more detail if you feel unsure.
DKC Wooden Travel Boxes These are not just throw-away boxes ~ we often see return customers reusing boxes we built for them years earlier. Also, since they're made-to-measure, the cost of your pet's air waybill (i.e. the flight ticket) will usually be lower than with a pre-manufactured box because air waybills are primarily charged on size, not weight. The downside? (Yes, there is a downside.) These boxes, although very durable, are not going to last as long as a high-quality pre-manufactured box and they're also more difficult to store. |
Pre-Manufactured Travel Boxes SkyKennels or VariKennels are the best of this breed, but there are others too. This is just one example of a good polypropelene box, which comes in various sizes. There are some advantages to this kind of box over a wooden one, including very great longevity and ease of storage if you decide to keep them for years. But yes, the downside is the likely costlier air waybill. Tough decision? Well maybe not sooooo tough. In the end, final cost of the entire shipment will help you get through this particular maze. |
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Wooden Travel Boxes for the Entire Family! Well... you know what we mean <silly grin>. Bird boxes, like the one below, or any type of box you'll need for any type of animal, because we know that where the family goes, the mouse, hamster, guinea pig, snake, ferret and pet rock must go too.
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Not-So-IATA Standard Travel Boxes  There are A LOT of different travel boxes out there and maybe you already own one.
This particular box is usually used for light transport, perhaps to bring your pet to the vet. While it's probably just fine for such purposes (though not definitely), there are several reasons (at least!) why it would not be good for air transport, including insecure hinges and fasteners which make the door very susceptible to unexpectedly prying open, as well as weak and often brittle plastic. Do be careful! |
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