Saint Bernard airline cargo crate advice

Travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether your dog is going by car, in the plane cabin, or in the hold — and airline regulations vary significantly between carriers, so getting this wrong can mean your dog simply can't board. Saint Bernards are one of the trickiest breeds to plan air travel for because of their sheer size, so it's worth being thorough here. What are your dog's measurements (height standing, length nose to tail base, weight)? Are you flying cargo hold, and if so, which airline and route are you booking?

That's a very valid concern. First, the hard truth: British Airways follows IATA Live Animals Regulations and has a combined crate-plus-dog weight limit of 75kg for hold travel. At 80kg alone, your dog exceeds that limit before the crate is even factored in — a large hard crate adds another 15–20kg on top. BA will not accept him under those conditions. You'll need to check with a specialist pet freight forwarder who uses dedicated cargo airlines like IAG Cargo's PetAir UK service, which handles giant breeds under different commercial freight rules rather than passenger airline rules. Can I ask — have you already spoken to a pet travel agent, or are you still at the early planning stage?

Good — yes, you'll need an IATA-compliant crate whatever route you go down, and the freight operators will specify exactly the same standards. For a Saint Bernard at 80kg, you're looking at an IATA size 700 crate, sometimes listed as XXL or 120cm. The crate interior needs to be tall enough for him to stand without his head touching the roof, long enough to turn around, and wide enough to lie down comfortably. The one I'd point you to is the Midwest Skudo 120 — it's a genuine IATA-approved hard plastic travel crate, widely used for giant breeds, and it's available on Amazon UK. Interior dimensions are roughly 122cm long x 81cm wide x 89cm high, which should work for most Saint Bernards. It has the metal door, ventilation on all four sides, and the bolt-together construction that IATA requires. Do you know his standing height at the shoulder and his length nose to tail? That'll confirm whether the 120 is your size or whether you need to look at bespoke.

It should fit, but only just — and IATA requires he can stand, turn, and lie down without restriction, so measure him carefully before you buy. The rule of thumb is: crate length = dog's nose-to-tail length plus 10cm; crate height = dog's standing shoulder height plus 15cm minimum. At 80cm shoulder height you need at least 95cm internal height, and the Skudo 120 is 89cm internally — that's borderline. If he's upright-necked or has a very elevated head carriage, you may be right at the limit. I'd strongly suggest measuring him standing naturally before ordering. That said, the Skudo 120 is the largest standard off-the-shelf IATA crate you'll find on Amazon UK without going custom. If it's even slightly tight, your freight forwarder may be able to source a size 700+ wooden crate built to his exact dimensions, which is common for giant breeds on dedicated cargo routes.

That's exactly the kind of thing worth knowing early. To summarise: look at the Midwest Skudo 120 on Amazon UK as your baseline crate — it's IATA-compliant and the right size category — but verify his standing height before buying. And contact a specialist like PetAir UK or Airpets International rather than booking directly with a passenger airline; they handle giant breeds on dedicated freight routes and can advise on whether a custom crate is needed. Good luck with the move — Saint Bernards are worth the logistics.