Reader Eva took a couple of flights with her cat Bogart last month, and kindly send me a report about the under-seat spaces she encountered. They flew on American, and their planes were a CRJ-700 and an MD-80. Bogart’s carrier is an older hard-sided Petmate Kennel Cab measuring 19″ x 11″ x (just over) 10″ (Eva noted that the current version has slightly different measurements: 19″ x 12.6″ x 10″).

Here’s what she told me:

“The maximum size a carrier can be on an American Airlines flight [per the AA website] is 19″ long x 13″ wide x 9″ high. My carrier is 10.25″ high. I had no trouble fitting the carrier on the CR7 plane in an economy aisle seat. I would estimate the under-seat space to be around 11” high. However, upon return on a S80 plane, the carrier did not fit all the way under the seat. A large bar (larger than that described in Dog Jaunt’s American 737-800 description, and characteristic of all seats regardless of aisle, middle or window) deterred the carrier from fitting.

Unfortunately, I did not have measuring tape with me to give you more accurate feedback. But a 19″ long x 13″ wide x 9″ high carrier will fit on a CR7 but not on a S80.”

I asked how the flight went for them, overall, and Eva said that “The trip went okay — the flight attendants either didn’t notice the kennel sticking out or didn’t care to delay the flight,” but Bogart, comfortable with car travel, was a bit overwhelmed by the airplane experience.

Thanks so much, Eva, for your report — I seldom fly on American, so I really appreciate your picking up my slack! All good wishes to you and Bogart, and fingers crossed that the next trip is a bit easier on her. I’ve added this post to Dog Jaunt’s ongoing series recording under-seat plane measurements.