Reader Mia travels frequently with Callie, her small (9 lb., 12″ tall) Cockapoo, and she generously sends me info that she thinks other travelers with dogs will find useful. This time it’s about the under-seat spaces she encountered on a couple of flights on United’s CRJ-700 planes (here’s a link to a floor plan from SeatGuru, so you can follow along):

“I had the good fortune to travel First Class with Callie in her large SturdiBag on a United CRJ-700 going and coming back from Thanksgiving with my family and just thought I’d let you know my findings in case you want to add it to your list. I apologize for not taking any pictures but I flew at night both times and the cabin was completely dark except for just before take-off and just after landing.

The First Class set-up is 2 rows with one seat on the left-hand side of the aisle (looking towards the front of the plane) and two seats on the right. The double seats on the right-hand side of the aisle have the dreaded awkwardly divided under-seat space, which makes sitting in an aisle seat on that side impossible, unless you are flying with someone who will let you put your carrier in the under-seat space next to the window.

Also, since there are only two rows in First Class, you’ll only be able to sit in the second row and on the double seat/right hand side of the aisle, and sadly the second row seats are permanently reclined/immoveable. I sat in 2F coming back from Thanksgiving and found it awkward/uncomfortable–I kind of wished I was in a regular seat in Economy instead!

My trip going to Thanksgiving though was great, as I got to sit in what I think is the only good First Class seat for someone traveling with a pet on the United CRJ-700: 2A. Seat 2A is great because you don’t have to sit next to a stranger, the large SturdiBag fits perfectly longways (with the front of the bag facing me) under the seat in front, and the seat reclines properly!

On a side note, I’ve flown Economy on this plane as well [Note: As you’ll see in the floor plan, Economy has two seats on each side of the aisle], and the under-seat space is completely undivided and so a large SturdiBag fits perfectly under any Economy seat — I’d still recommend the aisle seat though as it gives you an extra inch or two versus the other choice, due to the side of the plane curving inwards next to the window seat.”

Thank you so much, Mia, not only for your report but also for your patience! The mills of Dog Jaunt grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small — readers’ reports are very, very welcome, and they will all get published, believe me. I’m adding Mia’s message to Dog Jaunt’s collection of posts about under-seat plane measurements.