Pet Airways: An Airline for Pets
#1
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,502
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
An interesting concept, to be sure... but this is basically just FedEx for Pets. It would be nicer if they could transport humans, too, although I'm sure that would basically make it prohibitively expensive as it would require more than just a cargo license.
#3
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,502
From this description, it doesn't sound like FEDEX. They even have flight attendants.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
I read the description, and you're absolutely right that they offer actual animal care services (dog walking, boarding, and care during the flight). What I meant was that it only for shipping pets and the owner could not travel with the pet. Of course, without being on the flight, it's impossible to know whether they live up to their claims of services... there's no way to know what kind of care they receive during the flight, if any. One would know only if the pet arrives safely.
Nevertheless, if I had to ship a pet, I'd very likely pick these guys, at least based on this description alone... I wasn't disparaging the service more than wishing that they allowed owners to travel with the pets, as well.
Nevertheless, if I had to ship a pet, I'd very likely pick these guys, at least based on this description alone... I wasn't disparaging the service more than wishing that they allowed owners to travel with the pets, as well.
#5
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,502
It is an intriguing concept. The website claims that the service will begin in Spring/Summer 2009. It's hard to imagine that a new speciality airline in this economy will survive. If they can pull this off and the fares are reasonable than kudos to them. As a pug owner, this would be perfect, as pugs are not well-designed for travel in cargo holds. (Indeed, some airlines won't even accept them).
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 50,968
If they can make it work, I'd probably consider using it for Cobaka if we were flying somewhere and we were taking her with us. I like that we could track the progress, etc.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
Well, given that the minimum cost is $150, I don't really think is is that much cheaper than taking your pet in-cabin or as checked baggage. Although they claim they give the pet more personal attention than baggage would get, obviously we have no way of knowing whether that's true, and if the price ends up being comparable to or greater than taking the pet on your own flight, it's not really worth the hassle of dropping off and picking up at a separate location, methinks. I can see it as being quite useful if you have to make multiple stops, are simply shipping your pet (to someone else), or there is no more pet space on your flight... but otherwise, I'm not sure it's actually any better in terms of value or convenience.
Oh well, all this is speculation anyway, since they're not even open for business. Right now this seems to be a thinly-veiled scheme to get people to sign up for their annual memberships (which are not free, I might add).
Oh well, all this is speculation anyway, since they're not even open for business. Right now this seems to be a thinly-veiled scheme to get people to sign up for their annual memberships (which are not free, I might add).
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 50,968
Well, given that the minimum cost is $150, I don't really think is is that much cheaper than taking your pet in-cabin or as checked baggage. Although they claim they give the pet more personal attention than baggage would get, obviously we have no way of knowing whether that's true, and if the price ends up being comparable to or greater than taking the pet on your own flight, it's not really worth the hassle of dropping off and picking up at a separate location, methinks. I can see it as being quite useful if you have to make multiple stops, are simply shipping your pet (to someone else), or there is no more pet space on your flight... but otherwise, I'm not sure it's actually any better in terms of value or convenience.
Oh well, all this is speculation anyway, since they're not even open for business. Right now this seems to be a thinly-veiled scheme to get people to sign up for their annual memberships (which are not free, I might add).
Oh well, all this is speculation anyway, since they're not even open for business. Right now this seems to be a thinly-veiled scheme to get people to sign up for their annual memberships (which are not free, I might add).
#10
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 147
Actually this is not vaporware. A coworker of mine is one of the founders of the airline, and it definitely is going through getting certification to operate. If anyone is interested i can definitely prod him for some details.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, NW, DL, Marriott
Posts: 354
Pet Airways will begin service between five U.S. cities this summer.
I think this is a great idea......
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Pet Airways will begin service between five U.S. cities this summer.
Mar 27, 2009 1:51 pm US/Pacific - New Airline Offers Service Exclusively To Pets
The first animal-only airline will begin service between five U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, this summer.
Florida-based Pet Airways, which promises "four-leg room," will soon begin flying pets, or "pawsengers," as they're called on the airline's Web site, between Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City for a base fee of about $150.
Pet Airways will fly pets in the main cabin, never in cargo, and a flight attendant will be on board to take care of them.
Other airlines charge a fee for a small pet to fit under the seat and require larger pets to ride as baggage, unless they are classified as service animals.
Pet owners will be able to track their pet's flight status online and meet their pet in its arrival city.
Pet Airways co-founders Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder said on their Web site that they got the idea for the airline from Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier, who was too big to fit under the seat when they flew....Click here for the full story.
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Pet Airways will begin service between five U.S. cities this summer.
Mar 27, 2009 1:51 pm US/Pacific - New Airline Offers Service Exclusively To Pets
The first animal-only airline will begin service between five U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, this summer.
Florida-based Pet Airways, which promises "four-leg room," will soon begin flying pets, or "pawsengers," as they're called on the airline's Web site, between Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City for a base fee of about $150.
Pet Airways will fly pets in the main cabin, never in cargo, and a flight attendant will be on board to take care of them.
Other airlines charge a fee for a small pet to fit under the seat and require larger pets to ride as baggage, unless they are classified as service animals.
Pet owners will be able to track their pet's flight status online and meet their pet in its arrival city.
Pet Airways co-founders Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder said on their Web site that they got the idea for the airline from Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier, who was too big to fit under the seat when they flew....Click here for the full story.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: NW Florida
Posts: 283
I don't buy it...
Regardless of major news sources picking the story up, its gotta be a hoax.
Look at their fleet....
"Our air operations group consists of a 20 plane fleet of Falcon 20, Convair 580 and 5800 and B- 727-100 aircraft. Our planes are operated under part 121 and part 135 of the FAA regulations and have had an exemplary record of safety for over 30 years, with experience flying throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and South America."
Wasn't the last Convair 580 produced in the mid 50s?
The pictures of their fleet on their website are quite noticeable photoshopped at best, MS painted at worst. Can anyone find their application for a certificate of any other legal mumbo jumbo in public record????
I declare shenanigans.
Regardless of major news sources picking the story up, its gotta be a hoax.
Look at their fleet....
"Our air operations group consists of a 20 plane fleet of Falcon 20, Convair 580 and 5800 and B- 727-100 aircraft. Our planes are operated under part 121 and part 135 of the FAA regulations and have had an exemplary record of safety for over 30 years, with experience flying throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and South America."
Wasn't the last Convair 580 produced in the mid 50s?
The pictures of their fleet on their website are quite noticeable photoshopped at best, MS painted at worst. Can anyone find their application for a certificate of any other legal mumbo jumbo in public record????
I declare shenanigans.