Review on 🐾 Optimized: SturdiBag XL Flexible Height Pet Carrier with Dividers for Dual Pets by Tammy Jackson

Very large double-sided split sturdibag in black. I used it to fly my two puppies from Minnesota to Texas on a Southwest Airlines flight in August 2015. This was the first time I've flown with pets so I'll add a comment on the overall flight experience for anyone who wants to know how to do it (I was nervous the whole time and a little nervous, will never do that again, plus My dogs are getting too big to fit in both when they mature anyway.) But first the carrier. My puppies (16lbs and 4lbs) were both able to fit in the sturdy bag without being too tight or uncomfortable. It's really very durable - holds 2 dogs totaling about 20lbs (which was a PAIN on my shoulder btw) and yet I never felt like it could snap, their uneven weight shifting and so on. The base of the carrier is also quite sturdy and provides a comfortable surface for dogs. The foam cushion is white so it gets dirty easily, but it's also easy to wash. The smaller pup occasionally scratched at the mesh fasteners, but could not cause any visible damage. I think my dogs could also tell that the carrier was strong enough that they didn't try to run away, but again, it depends on the dog. There is a divider that you can zip up to keep each pup in their own compartment, but in my opinion this is only suitable if each pet weighs less than 10 pounds. Otherwise half a bag of Sturdi is too small for a pet. There are 2 plastic poles that you can insert into the top of the stretcher to really hold the "blanket" and maximize your dog's headroom, but I find the top holds up well without them, and the insertion of the poles would make the XL tote bag look even more more, and that's the last thing you need. I like that there is a hole at each end as it gives you more freedom to get in and out. Also 2 holes at the top for each dog's head (although I didn't use this feature on my pups as I felt it would only encourage them to come out while they were at the airport). the puppy was able to stick its head out through one end because the zipper wasn't closed tight enough; At this point I started using a hook connecting 2 zippers together to avoid misses. This is a really handy and (to me) essential feature. I also really liked that there was a lot of mesh on the ends and top which allows for better ventilation. One of my puppies has long hair and gets warm easily, so that was an issue. If he gets too hot in the carrier, he won't want to stay in it and that can be devastating. You might be able to tell a little bit by looking at my photos: I had the closure (which is held in place by Velcro) folded up halfway and the mesh closure up, and I placed the flat personal compartment inside. Porters between 2 gates. That way my dogs had airflow through the mesh and I didn't have to constantly bring them a fan. My other puppy has a short coat and I know that wouldn't be a problem for her, but I didn't want to risk making a long haired puppy uncomfortable and possibly causing a stir. If you don't have early check-in, try to check-in online as early as possible before your flight so you have a reasonable choice of seats. IMO if you are traveling with pets in the cabin the closer you are to the front of the plane the better so you don't have to wait long to get off the plane. And yes, the middle seat on Southwest Airlines aircraft has the most legroom. Although the XL bag looks large, none of the airport employees, including TSA, batted an eyelid. When I went to check-in to pay for flying with pets, the lady didn't even look to see how the dogs fit in there. By the way, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it costs $90 each way for transportation and not per animal as I thought. At TSA, none of the employees said a word other than saying how cute my dogs are (that definitely helps). At the checkpoint, I first put my bag and shoes in the same tray, then I took my dogs out of the burlap on the leash, and then I put the bag straight onto the conveyor belt. Then the dogs and I went through the x-ray machine. I didn't use any special non-metal leashes, but luckily I didn't turn on any alarms. When I put my dogs back in the sturdy bag (which took a while because one of my pups wasn't well trained to sit in the carrier), the TSA officer told me I didn't have to put them back in the carry. and could just keep them on a leash because "people walk their service dogs all the time". LAUGH OUT LOUD. I thanked the lovely lady for her kindness but told her I would keep her in a carrier as they were clearly not service dogs and I didn't want to cause any trouble. In case you haven't guessed it, MSP Airport is quite chilly. After all that, I still wasn't completely relaxed because I knew I had to get past the gate guards. If either of them thought my stroller was too big to fit under the seat (which I honestly believe), chances were I couldn't sit down. So my solution was to make it look like a normal holdall as much as possible to not stand out. Just before queuing to board the plane, I zipped both sides so no one could see inside the bag and used my scarf to cover up the huge white luggage tag they gave at check-in. in attached to the shoulder strap of the durable bag (similar to attachment to all checked baggage) so that it is not apparent that it is a pet carrier. I was able to board the plane and the employee didn't even look at my "duffle bag". To be honest I wasn't trying to go with nothing. The XL Sturdibag fits under the seat (at least mostly) as you can see in one of my photos; I just didn't want the clerk to think it wasn't. To get a sturdy bag under the seat, I had to put it on the floor of the aisle between two rows and slide the bag in (along). in front of the seats and then under the center seat in front of me. It's too big to try to attach by starting just above the seats and trying to fit it between the back of the seat in front of you and the seat you will be sitting on, especially if you have a pet that weighs over 10 pounds Inside. It needs to be routed from the aisle floor to the footwell under the seat. I hope that makes sense. Again, this was with Southwest Airlines. All in all, the XL Sturdibag definitely did its job for my first transport box, although I find it a bit pricey. Will I recommend? Yes!