Petmate Vari Kennel

Why it is listed

This is the cargo-hold plastic crate people actually fly, at a manufacturer from-price that still starts under $40. It is not crash-certified and it does not fold. Measure the dog and email the airline.

Pros & cons

Pros

• petmate.com: EcoTEC plastic with ≥90% pre-consumer recycled content, made in the USA (other components imported), squeeze-latch door, 360° vents, interior moat, zip-tie holes, wing nuts included, no-tools assembly, six sizes 19–40 in with published interior dims and weight bands (up to 10 lb through 70–90 lb).
• From $39.99 (19 in) to $189.99 (40 in) on 2026-09-02. 19/24/28 in have a multi-purpose handle; 32/36/40 in have vehicle tie-down strap holes.
• Page says it meets most air-travel requirements if you use the wing nuts; contact the airline.

Cons

• One-year limited warranty, not lifetime. Two-piece clamshell is not a fold-flat crate and is not CPS 5-star.
• No puppy divider. Large sizes ship LTL (10–14 business days) per Petmate.
• “Most airlines” is not a boarding pass. Always match the carrier’s current kennel rules.

Score breakdown