Soft Mesh Fly

So my smallish (<10 lbs) little mutt and I just got back from visiting my parents' for Thanksgiving. This was his first flight, and he did pretty well on the way there, but on the way back he started tearing up his soft-sided Sherpa carrier (specifically, the little padded part above the mesh and the cotton padding on the floor). After we got back, I tried to tear off what he started tearing off above the mesh so that he wouldn't ingest any of it the next time we use the carrier (we're flying again for Christmas), but now I'm starting to think better of the whole soft-sided thing. He's crate-trained--should I just get a little mini-crate-type carrier? Any recommendations on what kind? And what's best to use in the bottom (I use towels in his crate at home but am worried he'd tear a towel up, too, if he got antsy during the flight)?