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Airlines For the Dogs

Dog-Gone Good Airline!

Finally, An Airline Just For Pets


By Christine Columbus, Inc. Co-founder, Robert G. Brost

Peapod

This is the "pet" era. Kids are "out"; pets are "in." Just look at all the media that have spokes-pets. Look at the explosion of pet shops, pet daycare, pet motels, pet grooming services, pet products, etc. Once we boarded our dog, Peapod (photo to the left), at a doggie motel where she had her own room, a TV, bed and bedspread (not a dog bed, but a people bed), a private outside patio, and a fan. We never could get another reservation since they've booked up solidly months ahead.

And if you need further proof, we now have a pet airline! I kid you not. Called Pet Airways (PetAirways.com), this first ever all pet airline was founded by Alysia Binder and Dan Wiesel and, with their 5 planes specifically outfitted for these four-legged passengers, flies pets between five major cities, New York, Chicago, Denver, Washington, and Los Angeles. They are currently booked two months ahead. The fare is $250 one-way that is comparable to that charged by the large US airlines. The airplanes also carry cargo.

But for the owners of these pets, the big difference between large airlines and Pet Airways is the service. Dogs and cats fly in the main cabin, which has been retooled and lined with carriers instead of seats. Attendants check their passengers (max 50) every 15 minutes during the flight and given pre-boarding walks and bathroom breaks. At each of the five airports the company has set up a "Pet Lounge" for future fliers to wait and sniff before flights.

The company operates out of smaller regional airports in the five launch cities (not O'Hare or Kennedy) and the flights are generally not non-stop so they take longer. For example, LA to New York takes about 24 hours.

The company hopes to offer service to 25 locations within the next 3 years.

For Pet breaders and those who have show dogs this makes perfect sense.

Many major airlines offer pets to fly in the cabin with their owners at a fee ranging from $69 (AirTran) to $150 (Delta and Northwest). Fees for pet travel in the checked-baggage or cargo hold is greater ($275 for Delta and Northwest, $100 for Alaska, and between $100 and $200 fro Frontier).

But check the major carrier's track record before booking Fido in the cargo hold - surprising many tragic occurances happen The Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report tracks these animal incidents on a month-to-month basis.

Anne Banas, executive editor of Smart Travel.com, says, "I don't know how sustainable it is …if people go for first class service…it could make sense.

All I know, it's a dog's life.

For More Information About Traveling with your Pet view our Pet Check List Page and our Pet-Care Instruction Sheet.

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Please let me know how I can assist you with your travel needs.

Cheers,

Annette & Rob



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