Copa Airlines in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
Copa Airlines allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 18 × 11 × 11 in, soft-sided, stowed under the seat in front of you. Already own a carrier? Enter its measurements below to check it against this limit. Copa Airlines does not publish a cabin-pet fee on its own policy page. 9 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
The Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) leaves the most room — 1" on its tightest dimension, while the Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) only just squeaks in with nothing to spare. Copa's 11" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with Allegiant, American, American Eagle (regional, incl. Republic Airways), Delta, Frontier, JSX, United): Air Europa, Avelo, Breeze and Pegasus allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit Copa Airlines?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses Copa Airlines’s published 18 × 11 × 11 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Carriers that clear Copa Airlines (18 × 11 × 11 in)
Roomiest margin first. Sized to the airline’s limit, not to your pet — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
 Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Fits 0.5" spare | See on Amazon → |
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
Copa Airlines pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | 18 × 11 × 11 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Yes |
| In-cabin fee | Not published · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | dogs, cats |
| Weight | Max 10 kg (pet + carrier) |
| Pets | One pet per passenger |
| Booking | Reserve the pet's slot up to 48 hours before the flight through Copa Sales Offices or the Call Center; a per-flight fee applies. The pet stays inside its carrier, in front of you, for the whole flight · what to book, buy and pack → |
Source: official Copa Airlines pet policy · verified 2026-10-03 · how Copa Airlines ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit Copa Airlines
Matched to Copa Airlines's published 18 × 11 × 11 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full Copa Airlines carrier shortlist →
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
This table ranks by Copa Airlines’s size limit — not by your pet. The weight under each carrier is what that size is rated to hold. A bag can clear the airline and still be the wrong size for the animal, which is the most common reason one goes back — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Fits 0.5" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb · over Copa Airlines's 22 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb · over Copa Airlines's 22 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | Search Amazon → |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb · over Copa Airlines's 22 lb limit once the bag is counted | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Fits collapsed | See on Amazon → |
5 carriers too big for Copa Airlines
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Copa Airlines's number is its published maximum, not a guarantee for your exact seat. Before you buy or fly:
- Check which aircraft operates your flight (in your booking or on a seat-map site).
- Avoid bulkhead and exit rows — bulkheads have no under-seat storage and most airlines ban pets there — and check this airline's seat rules above.
- Call Copa Airlines to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Copa Airlines allow in the cabin?
Copa Airlines's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 18 × 11 × 11 in. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Copa Airlines pet policy.
How much does Copa Airlines charge for an in-cabin pet?
Not published. Always confirm the current fee on the official Copa Airlines pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Copa Airlines?
9 of the 15 carriers we track clear Copa Airlines's published 18 × 11 × 11 in. The roomiest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small), with 1" to spare on its tightest dimension. The heaviest pet any carrier that clears Copa Airlines is rated for is 22 lb (some fitting carriers publish no pet rating). Full shortlist: /fits/copa-airlines/.
Does Copa Airlines require a soft-sided pet carrier?
Yes — Copa Airlines requires a soft-sided carrier in the cabin. Height is what rules carriers out: Copa Airlines publishes 11", against 13" at the most generous airline we track.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Copa Airlines?
One pet per passenger. Species accepted: dogs, cats. Weight limit: Max 10 kg (pet + carrier). Reserve the pet's slot up to 48 hours before the flight through Copa Sales Offices or the Call Center; a per-flight fee applies. The pet stays inside its carrier, in front of you, for the whole flight