Uncomfortable and unsatisfactory experience travelling with a pet

I recently travelled on LIFT Airlines, and booked a seat for my small dog to accompany me on the flight. The experience was shockingly dreadful considering the exorbitant price tag on flights over the November/ December period. I adhered to the carrier bag specification listed on LIFT Airlines website, but I still struggled to put the carrier on the floor between the seat, as the space was so limited that I actually had to remove my pet from the bag just so collapse it and try to fit it under the seat before putting my pet back in the carrier bag. Even doing this, my dog was so uncomfortable in a collapsing bag that was squashed in the allocated space. Considering that the return cost of flights for my pet was close to R5k, I really did not expect this. I understand that the aircrafts differ, but maybe then consider changing the pet seat row to be behind the premium rows as at least that way, there is sufficient space. You really cannot expect people to stuff their pets in such a small space, with a big price tag attached. If that is the case, then allow the owners to have their pets on the seat next to them, or on their laps. I am really disappointed in the flight experience when travelling with a pet, and if tha5 does not improve, I will neither fly with LIFT anymore nor recommend them to any other person.