Jetsetting With Your Pup

Jetsetting With Your Pup
Journiest Staff
Journiest Staff May 08 | 2024

Fans of Charles Schulz’s beloved comic strip Peanuts will remember Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s beloved beagle who has a vivid fantasy life. A dog for all seasons, the Snoopster was a writer, a hockey player and, in perhaps his most famous incarnation, a World War I fighter pilot who battled Manfred Von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, Germany’s greatest – and deadliest – flying ace. There was even a 1966 hit recordSnoopy vs. the Red Baron.

Snoopy used his doghouse as his plane – he imagined it into being – and he flew at will. For years, dogs the world over were super envious of Snoopy and his doghouse-flying machine until Bark Air radically altered the playing field when it comes to puppy travel.

Photo by Charles Deluvio (Unsplash)

There’s no disputing the fact that dogs have had a pretty ruff time flying. It’s no fun to be stuffed in a crate, chucked in the baggage compartment, and separated from your forever-human. Until, nervous and shaking, you’re joyously reunited at the end of the journey. Even if Fido’s in the cabin with you, it’s still not a piece of cake, as pointed out by Nerd Wallet’s Gregory Karp and Elina Geller. Lotza hoops to jump through. 🐕🐩🐕🦺🐶

But Condé Nast Traveler offers a helpful guide to pet-friendly airlines. Of course, the American Kennel Club is – as always – a valuable resource for traveling with dogs. But if you’ve got the dough for an alternative, Bark Air just may be a must. What a terrific way for our beloved pets to fly in comfort. It’s spendy, but if you have the inclination and the resources, Bark Air makes sure your jetsetting pet flies in style.

As of now, their destinations are limited. According to the Quartz website: “The planes and the pups aboard will only be flying between small private airports in New York, Los Angeles, and London. And the flights cost $12,000 round trip, or $6,000 one-way ($8,000 between New York and London).

For that kind of money, we expect a lot – and Bark Air delivers. Quartz details the pre-flight prep which includes “calming pheromones, music, and dog-friendly colors.” Throw in snacks, noise-canceling earmuffs, a private check-in process, and other amenities, and it’s easy to see that a dog’s life is sometimes pretty darned nice. The best thing is there’s a private check-in process that allows dogs to show up 45 minutes before takeoff with no need to go through TSA checkpoints.

At the more affordable end of the spectrum, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest, and United Airlines charge $125 each way for an in-cabin pet, though fees can be somewhat less on other airlines such as Frontier ($99). Generally, the fee’s payable when you get to the airport. In-cabin pets count as a carry-on, so you might have to pay to check your bag. Also, check out these hotels where your beloved pup can stay for free.

Photo By Patrick Hendry Unsplash