Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) vs Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small): which airline pet carrier?
Two of the most cross-shopped in-cabin carriers, compared the way an airline sees them: by published size against each under-seat limit. Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) is 17 × 11 × 10.5 in; Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) is 15 × 10 × 8.5 in.
Side by side
| Property | Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) | Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) |
|---|---|---|
| External size (L×W×H) | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in |
| Type | soft-sided · flexible height | soft-sided · flexible height |
| Pet weight | up to ~16 lb | up to ~8 lb |
| Airlines it fits outright | 5 of 12 | 10 of 12 |
Airline by airline
Green = within the published size; amber = fits only collapsed / flexed; grey = over. Height is strict — it's the dimension a seat won't negotiate on.
| Airline | Original Deluxe (Medium) | Original Deluxe (Small) |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Fits | Fits |
| JetBlue | Flexes — check height | Fits |
| American Airlines | Fits | Fits |
| United Airlines | Fits | Fits |
| Southwest Airlines | Flexes — check height | Fits |
| Alaska Airlines | Flexes — check height | Fits |
| Frontier Airlines | Fits | Fits |
| Air Canada | Flexes — check height | Flexes — check height |
| Allegiant Air | Fits | Fits |
| Sun Country Airlines | Flexes — check height | Fits |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Flexes — check height | Fits |
| Breeze Airways | Too big | Too big |
⚠️ "Fits" means within the published maximum — real under-seat space varies by aircraft and seat. See why →
Choose the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) if…
- Spring-wire top flexes down to squeeze under lower seats. Guaranteed On Board®.
- It clears 5 of 12 tracked airlines outright.
- Your pet is under ~16 lb.
Choose the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) if…
- Naturally short (8.5") and soft — one of the few that already clears the 8.5" airlines (Southwest, JetBlue). Part of Sherpa's Guaranteed On Board® program.
- It clears 10 of 12 tracked airlines outright — more than the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium).
- Your pet is under ~8 lb.
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
Full profiles: Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) · Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) · best carriers ranked · all carriers