Earning miles with your pet
 

Greetings,

They say its a dogs world and perhaps that has never been so true.
As frequency traveling pets can now earn in their own airline program.
And I've noticed my collie never barks at the agent when they tell them that award seat is just not available. Good manners boy.

Here is a site I came across that some of you may already be familiar with www.bringyourpet.com Some hotels earn miles some don't.Hopefully in time they will understand pets as well as their owners need this information displayed ;) Keep those doggie miles coming all :D
A woof or a meow to your favorite travel partner!

Once on a UA flight, I sat next to a celebrity who had a small dog with her. She said she takes him everywhere when she travels and that he's a "Premier Executive!" But she obviously was kidding since the dog flew "under" a seat and not sitting in one. ;)

"See Spot Fly.
 

See Spot Fly.
Fly, Spot, Fly.
Earn Miles, Spot! in United Pet Class

Now pets are eligible for top-notch travel perks, just like their owners: United Mileage Plus® members can earn miles for flying with companions who bark, meow and chirp.

To serve the needs of United customers who are pet owners and committed animal lovers, United introduces United Pet Class. The program offers Mileage Plus members the chance to earn 1,200 bonus miles when their pets fly with them.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51201,00.html

Continental, Virgin, and El Al have pet programs of one kind or another. JAL does too.

Frommer's has a nice summary of airline pet policies.

Midwest Airlines has a program that allows pets to earn free flights faster than people.

http://www.midwestairlines.com/MAWeb...spx?itemId=202

One free flight after ever three... ^

Better to be a pet ? ;)
Mine never will pay up for his ticket :(
other then a lick here or there :D

One of my favorite Airline pet stories of all time
 

Say does anyone remember the famous pot bellied pig that flew US Air First Class ?
Do pigs Fly ?


When Pigs Fly
Illustration of pig with wings

US Air Flight 107 seemed like a routine flight on Oct. 17, 2000; that is, until the first class passengers boarded the aircraft. That's when two women, accompanied by a 300 pound pig, boarded the flight. Well, it wasn't exactly that simple, as one witness claims, "It took four people to wheel it in, past security and to the gate. And they were struggling."

According to US Air officials, the women claimed that the animal was a therapeutic service animal. Apparently US Air bought this story, as the plane took off with porky sitting at the passenger's feet, in the first class cabin. Well, to be technically correct, I'm told the pig actually overflowed into the aisle.

OK, let's get this straight, I have nothing against pigs. In fact, I understand they make wonderful pets. However, I just find this whole incident incredulous. I know people who have been ejected from fast food restaurants because of their service dogs; yet these women managed to get a 300 pound porker on board an airplane, in the first class cabin, no less!

Unfortunately the community at large is pretty ignorant when it comes to service animals. The general assumption is that, only people who are blind have service animals (ie: "seeing eye dogs"). Of course we know that's not true, as many service dogs help their owners pick up objects, pull wheelchairs, and turn lights on and off (among other things). These animals are not pets, and they are highly trained to perform their duties. They are also very obedient. Even when the world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket, a properly trained service animal sits obediently at his owner's side.

Contrast that to the behavior of the flying pig that reportedly "ran loose through the aircraft, squealed loudly and tried to enter the cockpit." Apparently this happened after landing, while the Boeing 757 was taxing to the gate at Seattle-Tacoma airport. According to first hand reports, the pig took refuge in the food galley, where it refused to budge. Finally, someone lured the pig from the galley with food. The two female owners could not control the beast, and it reportedly defecated on the jetway after exiting the aircraft. Not exactly what I would consider a highly trained service animal!!

Now, it's not that I don't understand the owner's sentimental attachment to her pig; however I would hardly classify it as a service animal. Under the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA), service animals are defined as "being trained to perform specific functions". True, the woman did have a statement form her doctor stating that the pig was a "therapeutic animal"; however, according to the ACAA, the animal is still required to behave appropriately on board the aircraft Obviously it did not.

Furthermore, incidents like this tend to take away from the credibility of people who do travel with properly trained service animals, and who do need appropriate accommodations. So for future reference, I'd like to remind US Air (and other airlines) that a 300 pound pig will probably not behave appropriately on board your aircraft. Do not board it!! And for those of you who are thinking of flying with your 300 pound pigs, well, don't do it. It only makes things harder for the rest of the community. As it is, thanks to this incident, travelers with service animals will most likely face tighter scrutiny by the airlines. And believe me, that's a scrutiny they really don't need!!

Gotta love it ;)
The final insult to injury US Air refused to allow the pig to earn miles in its program.Shameful :D

Fabulous frommer's link. We just bought a Havanese, and my darling wife has decided that said pooch should start traveling with us.

my question is this:
can the dog sign up for promos, get the mc or visa (and if not, isnt that discrimination?) and do dining? Does ALPO participate in idine, and can I eat it if they happen to have 2x promos??

:D :D :D

Also, who does the dog complain to if some miles fail to post? Can I call on my pooch's behalf? What's his account number anyway?

Ruff ruff ruff rrrrrrr

Sorry but due to heightened security your pooch will have to authorize you as one of the authorized spokepersons on their account.
Without his or her consent it will most likely be a no go.
Be sure to have them bark their requests in their best growl by phone.
As you know they say its a dogs world :D
bark/ woof /ruff ruff to mans greatest friend

:)
fine, I will just get ANOTHER DOG with a similar voice to call in for him!
ha There!

oh I could see it now...

If we bust your canine we will confiscate his biscuits err dog miles up to one full year. :D

oh dont tell me, the security holding area for unrully passengers is called the DOG POUND while the lounge is called the KENNEL?

my mutt mylez are safe seeing as how my dog is lifetime GOLDen Retriever and he has been liking the food on planes because hey, dogs will eat anything!

...please press or BARK your Amecican advantage account number after the tone.

arf arf arf arf bark bark bark!

did I get that right?

Thanks for the link. I was contemplating taking the pet with me for the next trip to the relatives, but not as those prices (Independence and JetBlue are the only reasonable airlines)! Unless I was moving, that's some serious $$$ for the right to carry the kitty onboard.