Pets fly first class
Can I come?
They say recession sparks innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. A startup company based in Delray Beach, Fla., has launched an airline whose only passengers will be pets and “Pet Attendants.”
Pet Airways is the first airline of its kind, and gives doting pet owners an attractive alternative to letting their pets be stuck in cargo. And you won’t even need payday loans to afford this news service; it’s pretty reasonably priced.
Getting off the ground
The first Pet Airways flight is scheduled for July 14 and travels from New York to Los Angeles. Flights will be limited for a while. Pet Airways will only service New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. and accepts credit cards.
The company hopes to expand the number of cities it services as well as the types of pets. Pet Airways co-founder Alysa Binder says the airline hopes to expand service to 25 U.S. cities within the next few years. The company also wants to cater to exotic pets in the future.
Cost of comfort for kitty
Keep your cat in comfort.
For now, the airline will fly only dogs and cats. One-way tickets cost $149, according to ZooToo. While a roundtrip will end up costing as much or more than flying a human, some pet owners are more than willing to pay.
TechCrunch.com’s Michael Arrington, who has had bad experiences flying his dog, Laguna, writes:
If they start flying from San Francisco to Seattle, Laguna will be a regular customer. And I’d pay a lot more than $150.
Pet Airways operations
Here’s how it works, according to ZooToo:
Pet owners flying out of major airports drop their animals off at a nearby, smaller facility. The pets spend time in a pet lounge before boarding a seat-free plane, which can hold up to 50 dogs or cats.
Animals will travel in secured pet carriers. Pet Airways advertises:
With Pet Airways your pet will be safe and comfortable, flying in the main cabin, not in cargo. From check-in at our Pet Lounge, and throughout the flight, our Pet Attendants will be caring and catering to all your pet’s needs. You can even monitor how your pet is doing.
If they can keep pet tickets below the cost of human tickets, fair enough. I suppose it’s far safer than having a shaken and agitated Doberman having to be unloaded by a baggage handler.