Why do pets travel as cargo and not in the cabin?

On long-haul commercial flights, live animals travel as cargo for safety, regulatory compliance, and comfort. The cargo hold is specifically designed and certified for live-animal transport, with controlled temperature and pressure, and the IATA-compliant crate offers more space and security than a soft cabin carrier. Whether a pet can instead travel in the cabin depends on the individual airline’s regulations rather than the length of the flight, and is usually limited to very small pets — your Airpets consultant will advise if a cabin option exists for your route.