Will you send your pooch on Pet Airways?
What do you think: Will Fido be OK to fly by himself? Pet Airways is banking on it. They will be the first pet-only airline to take to the skies, starting in July. The first five cities to be served are Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.
London’s TimesOnline points out that Brits don’t think that highly of pets on planes, but they do mention that the Spanish airline Clickair will be the first European airline to accept pets in the cabin for domestic and international flights.
ZooToo PetNews takes a closer look at the service and notes that your pet will get plenty of attention in climate-controlled turboprop airplanes, and even get lounge service before boarding.
“A one-way flight costs around $149, and Pet Airways is now accepting reservations for its first New York to Los Angeles flight, scheduled for July 14,” reported Amy Lieberman in “Nation’s First Pet Airline Takes Off This Summer“.
Right now the website for Pet Airways is over capacity but they are encouraging folks to check out their Facebook Fan Page, follow them on Twitter (@petairways) and inquire about reservations by e-mail at reservations@petairways.com.
Tips: If you want to find out more information about taking your pets on planes before you book on Pet Airways, read the Los Angeles Times’ “Flying with Fluffy and Fido: airlines’ pet policies.” Plus “10 tips for traveling with pets.”
Would you use this service for your cat or dog?
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Image: Marc Boutavant / For the Los Angeles Times]
30 Comments on “Will you send your pooch on Pet Airways?”
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April 18th, 2009 at 7:52 am
I believe its a wonderful idea!!Lets bring some fun back into flying!
April 20th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hell no. I’m not putting my pet unsupervised on a turboprop plane, or unsupervised on any plane. One of those planes goes down, and all those animals die in their cages, not being able to escape the flames or do anything to help themselves.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Hi Ana,
Thought you would find this story interesting!
Love,
Habib
April 20th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Hi Ana,
Thought you would find this story interesting!
Love,
Habi
April 20th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I like this idea for the fun factor, plus it’s probably more practical than putting Fluffy or Fifi in with the people in the passenger cabin, since some people are allergic (not me though!) =^..^=
April 21st, 2009 at 12:59 am
Will it be flown by a couple of monkeys?
April 21st, 2009 at 6:51 am
I am tired of a society that values a pet over a person. I am allergic to dogs and I’ve been on flights where I’m seated next to a dog and it’s owner. The owner is never willing to check in the dog and no one is ever willing to switch seats with me. It doesn’t matter that I can’t breathe or that I instantly break out into a reaction, that dog is obviously worth more than I am. To all those self-entitled pet owners, your dog is not a family member it is an animal. Start treating the people around you with respect and leave fido at the check in.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:36 am
great symbol for a screwed-up culture
April 21st, 2009 at 9:05 am
to mike: take a pill, literally, take a claritin or any other over the counter allergy pill and realize that we pet owners aren’t willing to subject our furry friends to the cold, noisy scarry environment of a luggage hold, just as you wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice someone you love. and with your attitude I might not be willing to move for you either.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
How about “kid-only” flights?
Then we won’t have to put up with screaming brats running up and down the aisles while their parents look on proudly and the rest of us suffer.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Get over yourself, Mike. I would much rather sit next to a dog any day than a huge fat person who takes up my entire seat, or a sick person who coughs all over me, or a kid who cries the whole flight. Take an allergy pill and give us all a break, and you’re posting in the wrong place at any rate, as an airline like this would actually alleviate the very issue you are complaining of!
April 21st, 2009 at 10:03 am
To Mike posted below:
“I am tired of a society that values a pet over a person. ……….. To all those self-entitled pet owners, your dog is not a family member it is an animal. Start treating the people around you with respect and leave fido at the check in.”
You are an animal, a mammal to be exact. Your self entitlement to being the top of the food chain is disgusting. What have you ever done for society but take up space, add pollution to the earth, and grumble at others for their own happiness because of your unfortunate disability? Ask a flight attendant for assistance you nitwit! Don’t just sit there and stew about your own self worth and why the rest of the mainstream world’s culture is not what you expected it to be. You are disgusting with your post of self pity because you can’t fix your own circumstances that someone happened to sit next to you on the same plane with a small pet. Welcome to 2009 you dork, maybe you should get a hyperallergenic pet and your attitude would change, but then again, the love that would flood into your life may be too much for you to handle since you have been digging through your own misery for so many years on life without having a furry companion by your side. Oh yeah Mike, have fun when you get back from your travels and open the door to your empty apartment since their will be plenty of quiet sanctity for you to re-live that wonderful flying experience you just had “reacting” to a 15lb or less pet under the seat next to you because you were to scared to just ask the airline employees to move you due to a medical condition.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:15 am
Mike…You need to look into pet therapy dogs and the incredible documented, scientific medical effects animals have on human beings. And frankly, I have met more *people* on planes who smell of BO or too much bad cologne, don’t bathe often enough, pass gas regularly, pick their teeth, don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom, scream into their cell phones and essentially act MUCH less civilized than most dogs I meet…including my own. I will choose to sit next to one of them anytime over one of *you*.
I would think you would applaud a pet only airline so you don’t have to fly with them? What’s the problem?
April 21st, 2009 at 10:17 am
Hey Mike, get over yourself. It sounds like you think enough of yourself for everyone!
April 21st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Dear Mike,
Too bad we can’t put families with unruly children/adults in the cargo hold. How about a family-free airline?
April 21st, 2009 at 10:26 am
Why not just have a few flights a week where passengers can travel with their dog or dogs in the cabin? I bet they would be booked solid, also fun for dog lovers and the dogs and wouldn’t annoy dog haters. I always end up driving so my dogs are safe and I would much rather fly.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:28 am
Great idea. Many people need to move across the country or to other locations and this is an excellent way to get their pets there too. One gentleman said he was allergic, so this would solve the problem. This is also a good solution for people who go on extended vacations or family visits and want to take their pets, rather than leaving them in a kennel. Great idea! I hope it’s a success.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:35 am
This sounds awesome - I may have to move at the end of the summer and I was dreading having to figure out how to safely move my pup. I would definitely consider using this service.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:44 am
Mike, not every dog causes allergic reactions to humans. You are just high maintenance and a dog hater. I’m allergic to cats, and I always carry allergy pills just in case.
So, you should just buy yourself some allergy pills and shut your pie hole. And yes, a pet is considered part of the family.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Commentators lambast green-minded celebrities for flying on chartered jets, but this takes the carbon footprint cake. Some people obviously have way too much money, even after the financial crisis.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Some people that commented here don’t realize something, Airlines that do accept a pet in the main cabin only do so for about 2 animals per flight. The rest are out in the cargo area. Apparently 1-4 animals placed in Cargo are severely injured or killed as result of being trampled or through suffocation. Sometimes the temperature in Cargo areas can reach 120. I don’t have pets personally but I think it’s a good alternative for people who don’t like the cargo option.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
What about an all-Mike airline. No one but Mike and his approved guests can fly… what’s with all the hostility towards kids and dogs on planes. You were all kids at one point in your life. Should people with kids and dogs just stay at home and not travel so we don’t inconvenience the likes of Mike… c’mon. A bunch of self centered people that can’t see outside their own bubble.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
TBird, what a great idea!
There’s a lot of us out here that would really appreciate kid- and pet-free flights.
And while we’re at it, can we ban fat people who encroach on your space and people with poor personal hygiene who stink up the plane?
I’m getting into this now - any more ideas?…
April 21st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I am allergic to dogs and cats, so I don’t think pets should be allowed on the plane.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
We moved across the country with a 16 year old dog. Our kids flew ahead and a moving van took our things, but we drove for 10 days in a little Honda so we could safely transport our dog. No way we would have put him in cargo where he most likely would have died. We will be moving back soon, and I would think about this service if he weren’t so old.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 am
I love my dogs, but when I travel, especially when I go on vacation, I like to leave them at the kennel or what we like to call “camp.” So our family including the four legged members all get a real vacation.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Don’t worry Mike. Some people will take a bullet for their pets. Those people are idiots.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Mike is just jealous that a dog gets
to do what he can’t reach
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I am an animal lover, with a cat as my significant other, and I even find myself quickly cheered by children. But as important as my cat is to me, he is a “choice”, as are children in our society. Those of us who “choose” to have pets or children, should except that the choice may restrict our lives out of respect for our feloow humans. When I suffer through someones kid’s screaming or dog’s barking (on a recent flight from Tokyo-LA, on deplaning through first class, the stench of cat urine made me feel for those in first class) it is no less selfish of the owners/parents then if I had to suffer for any other “choice” they might make. So YES! You are free to have and love pets/children but NO, that doesn’t mean you can just take them anywhere and that you are free to do what you want as if you didn’t have a pet/child. Take your “true” responsibility.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Maltese dogs LuLu and LoLLy think it is about time a service like this was created! We liked your article so much we posted it on our website under the Shelters/Resources section at http://www.luluandlolly.com