| mjsharafi |
January 2nd, 2016 10:16 AM |
Westjet & Sleepypod Air
haleyt: I had exactly the same scenario and question as you. I bought a Sleepypod Air precisely because it could apparently compress down to 8 inches in height and I had to take my Jackhuahua on a Westjet flight whose max. allowable height for in-cabin pet carriers was 8.5 inches (this is unusually restrictive among airlines--Air Canada, Delta and United are all in the 10inch+ range). When my Sleepypod Air arrived, I realized that it doesn't zip down to 8 inches in height. Rather, you can squash it down to 8 inches manually. If you let go, the thing will spring back to its normal 10.5-inch height! You can also shorten the bag, but the mechanism there is a tad more convincing: the ends fold in and stay in place on their own (with much bending and pushing the first few times). It feels a bit misleading for Sleepypod to advertise its product as compressible to 8 inches in height. I didn't know if the bag being squashable would be good enough for Westjet, and worried that we wouldn't be allowed on the plane because of this! (It was my first time traveling with my pup on a plane.) As it turned out though, nobody asked or checked anything when we boarded the plane, and there was a good one inch of extra space above the Sleepypod in the Westjet plane, even when the Sleepypod was its full normal 10.5 inches in height. The person on the phone at Westjet was very picky about the dimensions when I called to pay the pet fee in advance, but after that, nobody asked or seemed to care. I will say that I was still really glad that I shelled out the extra cash for a Sleepypod Air. It is a much sturdier bag than the cheaper one I had before, and I think my dog likes having the sides be solid and not net. I also put in the privacy shield in the back, so that it wasn't net behind his rear end either. I put a small blanket in the bag with him. I thought about putting in a pee pad, but it would have ended up all bunched up very quickly, as the bag is tilting and getting bumped around constantly as you walk (I'd buy the Sleepypod ones for that, as they fasten down.) The Sleepypod had pockets on both sides, which is handy for the pup's travel documents, harness and leash, etc. And when you arrive at your destination, you can open the bag up so that it functions as a bed for your dog. That was also very handy. It also has the possibility of slipping down securely over the handle of your rolling suitcase (sitting on top of it) so you can connect your pet bag and suitcase. So I highly recommend this bag, but not necessarily because of its advertised 8-inch height and Westjet requirements! I was also traveling at Xmas, when I'd think airlines would enforce their rules most strictly given all of the pressure on their systems. I got a travel (flattening) plastic water/food dish and hooked it onto the outside of the bag.
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