PET AIRLINES: Airline Just For Animals

DENVER AP – A new airline for pets is taking off with weekly flights to five airports across the country. Beginning July 14, Pet Airways is flying pets to and from Baltimore/Washington International; Midway in Chicago; Rocky Mountain Airport in Broomfield, Colo., near Denver; Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles; and Republic Airport on Long Island serving the New York City metro area.

The airline allows cats and dogs to travel in carriers in the main cabin of the plane, rather than the cargo hold. While some airlines allow small animals to fly in the cabin as long as their carriers fit under the seats, Pet Airways has no limit on size.

The carrier will not transport human passengers other than crew and attendants to care for the animals during flights. Pet owners will have to fly separately.

One-way fares start at $149. Many of the flights on the airline's limited initial itinerary are already booked full with a waiting list depending on the animal's size.

To prevent pets from getting sick, there won't be any beverage or snack service.

Comments

[uzume]

This would be great it it flew to the UK.

I am in a panic about transferring my dog to the UK when I move there, I have heard such horror stories about them when they go cargo.

At the moment, I am looking at securing one of the few kennels onboard a ship.

[mikenbondi-blogspot-com]

I've flown my dogs from US - Australia - UK - Australia without any hitch through the cargo process. The journey's quick and the animals will get through the experience much faster than putting them on a boat for a very long journey. The boys just sleep in their crates for most of the journey. Pet travel is very highly regulated by IAATA and stories of all these deaths are unsubstantiated.

The only real problem is with dogs with flat faces who have breathing problems at any altitude. I I believe they are now no longer to travel by air in many cases.

On a ship, the dog will be cramped, not get exercised and runs risks of breaking quarantine conditions that would allow you to enter another country. I believe the only approved sea routes for dogs into the UK are ferries from other EU countries - fairly short routes. My dog simply stayed in the car where he was comfortable on these trips.

If your dog is a bad traveller then making the travel experience so much longer will not help.

You should check approved routes and required vaccinatio­ns/documen­tation for an international trip at least 6-7 months ahead of a journey, unless you're travelling within a special zone like the EU. Ignore this and your pet may be rejected or put into very long quarantine at your expense.

My last dog travelled with me through 3 continents, over 30 countries by air/sea/ road. I know what I'm talking

[hrf]

What is so strange about arranging for a pet to fly? If I have children living in California and want to visit for two months, I can't leave my dog in NY for all that time. I have no choice but to fly him. My dog is my companion, a wonderful thing esp as you age.

Now the question is: I take my dog to Pet Airways on Long Island. How do I arrange my flight at JFK to coincide with the timing of my pet's arrival in LA? It's just an extra step. It would be easier if I could travel with my dog in the cabin with me. Can't the major airlines arrange for one weekly flight for pets with their owners? Or arrange a special section one day a week for pets and owners?

It would be great if that ever happened!

[caryberry]

Wow - can not believe all the hateful and mean comments. Obviously, if you think this company is ill-suited to your core beliefs - then don't do business with them. But for the millions of families with pets a service such as this can be a blessing.

If for no other reason than to cheer and support a small start-up company in this piss-poor economy...­maybe words of encouragement would be more productive. Or perhaps all the mean commentators would like to share the story of their new start up businesses.

BTW - according to ABC News the pet airline is sold out - SOLD OUT - for the next two months. That's more than the people carriers can claim.

[unlikelyconservative]

Let's see, drive for hours in car with big dog, or let him take a nap and be there already... This is a great idea, I just with we could be together. I honestly don't know if I'd trust them to take care of my pooch but it is better than the cargo hold.

[SusanStoHelit]

They've got an obvious gap in their business plan - the owners should be able to fly with the pets - even the owner's entire family - heck, even regular passengers who want to. Easier on the owner, easier on the pet, and they'll make a ton more money.

An entertaining business idea. I had to relocate my pets - fortunately they fit under seats. Unfortunately there was one more of them than there was of us, and we were only allowed to carry one each, so we had to make an extra flight back and forth. Had they been too big for that - it would have been awful. I wouldn't have flown them cargo - too many animals die that way.

[Kim Welborn]

That's a GORGEOUS Yorkie!!!!

[XCITIZEN]

That's not a dog, that's Chewbacca.

[machivellianX]

this has success written all over it......NO­T....

[MyVesta]

They would make A LOT more money if they provided the same service WITH the owners being able to fly w/their pets/on the same flight. I know that I would pay extra if that were possible.

BTW, as others have mentioned, just how some believe that it's a case of either/or some kid's health care vs. my pets flying on plane. Not logical at all.

The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I am pretty certain that most pet owners would say that, Yes, in addition to having their pets fly in a safe environment, we should also have health care for all.

[CR46]

I agree, if there was a service to fly my dogs WITH me, it would be great. Though my Chi flies with me now and the last time I paid about the same rate(to have her be in a small crate by my feet). Usually we drive because if my husband and I both go, we travel with one doggie that is too large to fly in the cabin and I would NEVER put a dog in a cargo hold.

[Horatio]

Great idea. Let's create more pollution, more demand for oil, more air traffic. Hooray for reality!

[october2009]

You should sell your car tomorrow. I don't think you should drive at all because you'll create more pollution, more demand for oil, and more road traffic.

Think about the amount of pollution you'll emit with one year of driving... You'll kill the earth.

[SusanStoHelit]

The pets have to travel no matter what. This way, they have a better chance of surviving the flight.

[lazercat2008]

And yet we cannot afford to get health care for all Americans.

[october2009]

This is a for profit private company that started this airline... Not our bankrupted government.

Maybe, if our politicians spent less of our tax dollars, they'd be able to afford their healthcare program.

Don't forget our foreign empire costs us $1 Trillion per year...

[SusanStoHelit]

This is running the same as our current health care - as a for-profit business. If it was a government run airline, your non sequitur might just have a point.

[caryberry]

What an awesome idea - hope this business is a great success!

[lazercat2008]

I hope your spaying has complications.

[Imago]

That's just nasty and rude. Why would you say such a thing?

If you don't like the idea, fine. Don't put your pets on the plane.

I can tell you, though, as someone who has elderly animals and is facing a cross country trip with them when we move back home to be with aging parents, I think this is a fabulous idea. It's terrifying to put an animal in the cargo hold -- too many horror stories. And the week long trip (in a rented vehicle large enough to hold two cats and two dogs, one of whom has trouble going up steps) is really stressful on everyone -- and guzzles gas in its own right.

[stmu]

I wonder if the canine air marshals on board are going to bust Larry Craig's dog for his Mile High Club activities in the lavatory.

[benyayvilla]

This is why the terrorists hate us.

[WonderWomanGoddess]

Yay! This is great, although I will still fly regular so I can be in the cabin with my pets. A difficult process because most airlines have this dumb rule about ONE pet per cabin. So, having three small pets I will have to book three separate flights with myself and two family members being the guardian on board.

This is nice to have as a back up though in case of emergency, or lack of funds to do that. Also, if I ever have a larger pet, this would be a lifesaver.