Dog owners are fed up with commercial airline travel. Instead, those who can afford it are opting for private jets when traveling with their pups. According to the New York Times, there is a “growing desire among pet owners to travel with their animals and mounting frustration at the increasingly challenging process of flying with them.” Pet owners are turning to private jet charter companies, like K9 Jets, based in Birmingham, England when they travel with their dogs.
Challenges of traveling with dogs on commercial flights
The challenges of traveling on commercial airlines with dogs are myriad. First, the rules and regulations vary by airline. Additionally, airlines have dog breed restrictions. Finally, not all pets are treated equally. While service animals are allowed in the cabin unconfined, all other pets – including emotional support animals – must travel as cargo. Dog owners fear for their canine companions’ safety in these situations, as their pups may experience improper handling, poor ventilation, and inconsistent temperatures.
In the worst-case scenarios, dogs die while traveling on commercial airplanes. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 200 pets, primarily dogs, died on flights over the last 10 years. Short-faced dog breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs are at higher risk for death when flying as cargo due to breathing difficulties.
More dog owners opting for private jet travel
This is where private jet companies come in. They offer a gentler, more compassionate form of air travel for dogs. Gone are crate or carrier requirements. Some private jet companies even treat dogs to meat, toys, and sleeping mats.
Generally, these companies permit dogs under 150 pounds to lounge on seats as long as they wear a seatbelt or go in a crate during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Additionally, many private jet companies only charge for human passengers. One more perk: these companies assist with the necessary documentation for pets traveling internationally.
Of course, none of this comes cheap. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fly private with a pet, even just from coast to coast in the U.S. K9 Jets charges around $9,000 per seat for a one-way ticket from New York to Europe. In that scenario, a dog would sit on the floor for free. If a dog owner wants their pet to have a seat, too, they have to pay for an additional ticket.
And yet, K9 Jets’ founder, Adam Golder, says the company is adding more flights this summer just to keep up with the increase in demand.
“There are hundreds of people that are waiting for a flight,” Golder told the New York Times. “I think people don’t want to put them in a crate and wave goodbye to them.”
Satisfied customers
So far, those who can afford to travel in this luxurious fashion seem to be pleased with the service. Dee McLaughlin, the owner of two English Cream Golden Retrievers, Bentley and Murphy, flew on K9 Jets from Los Angeles to Ireland with her pups and her partner recently.
“We feel really good because the dogs will be by our sides,” McLaughlin said.
Another pair of dog owners, the Borzabdis, flew to London on a K9 Jets flight with their dog Jasmine, who has heart disease.
“We don’t have children. All we’ve got is one dog,” the Borzabdis told the New York Times. “You try everything and hopefully it works out.”
One thing’s for sure: there is a market for dog owners looking for alternative forms of airline travel.
“I just don’t understand why the airlines don’t recognize the business opportunity,” Rusty Rueff, a 62-year-old investor and start-up adviser told the New York Times. “We’ll do anything for our pets, just like we’ll do anything for our children.”
