This is a specific conversation about Dog travel crates — safe and airline-approved — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A cracked bottom tray is a serious failure — sharp plastic edges inside a crate during a flight is genuinely dangerous, and the fact it happened mid-journey makes it worse. Travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether a dog is going by car, in a plane cabin, or in the hold, and cargo flight standards are the most demanding of all — IATA regulations set minimum requirements for construction, ventilation, and door security, but the quality of materials varies enormously between brands. Getting it wrong can mean the dog can't board, or worse, travels unsafely. To point you to the right replacement: what's your Pointer's weight and rough measurements, which airline are you flying, and is this again a cargo hold booking?
He's about 27kg, quite leggy — probably 80cm from nose to base of tail. It's British Airways cargo again, same route to Portugal. I just need something that won't fall apart under him.
inparticular.ai
Got it. At 27kg and 80cm body length, you're looking at a size 5 or equivalent extra-large crate — roughly 100–105cm long internally so he can stand, turn, and lie down comfortably, which is also what IATA and BA cargo specifically require. The cracking issue you experienced is unfortunately common with cheaper injection-moulded trays that aren't reinforced — under load and temperature change in the hold, they split. What brand was the crate that failed, if you remember?
It was an Animac one, think it was their XL. Looked solid but clearly wasn't.
inparticular.ai
The Animac crates are mid-range and fine for car use, but the base construction isn't built for cargo hold conditions where the crate is being stacked, loaded on trolleys, and dealing with pressure and temperature variation. For a 27kg active Pointer on a BA cargo route, I'd go with the Ferplast Atlas 80 Professional. It's a 103cm crate, built specifically to IATA standards, with a genuinely thick double-walled base tray that doesn't flex under load — this is the specific part where cheaper crates fail. The bolted door and ventilation panels also meet BA's cargo requirements. It's widely available on Amazon UK, around £100–£120, and it's the crate I'd trust for a dog this size in the hold.
Does he need anything inside it — bedding or anything — or does BA have rules about that too?
inparticular.ai
BA cargo does allow absorbent bedding — a thin non-slip rubber mat or a single flat fleece layer is ideal. Avoid anything thick or raised that reduces headroom, and nothing with loose stuffing that could become a choking hazard if he chews when stressed. A small water container clipped to the door grille is required by IATA — BA will reject the booking without it. Some people add a worn T-shirt for scent comfort, which is fine. Keep it minimal: the crate itself is the safety item, the bedding is just comfort.
That's really helpful. I'll go with the Ferplast Atlas 80. Is there anything I should check when it arrives before booking him in?
inparticular.ai
Yes — do a proper pre-flight check when it arrives. Make sure all four bolts on each door hinge are fully tightened and that the door latches click locked without any play. Test the base tray by pressing firmly on each corner and the centre — it should feel completely rigid with no flex. Check that the ventilation grilles on all sides are clear and unobstructed. Then do a dry run: put his bedding and water clip in, let him rest in it for an hour or two at home so it doesn't smell unfamiliar on travel day. Also photograph the crate exterior before you hand it over at cargo check-in — useful if there's any handling damage you need to flag on collection.
