But now pets in the cabin are subject to the same kind of strict entry requirements (and paperwork) as pets in cargo holds, with particular attention to vaccination records. Countries with high risk of canine rabiesincluding China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico.
For Kimberly Graner, Director of Operations for Pet Boarding and Shipping Companies Los Angeles Kennel Club and Tailwind World MascotThe rule changes have meant that much more time is spent negotiating with foreign representatives over vaccination records. The new rule changes are important, he says, but it has taken some time for airlines, passengers and global government workers to adjust. “I foresee even more changes next year,” he says.
Airlines play cat (and dog)
More changes are saying something. In 2020, the U.S. federal government began taking a tougher stance on pets in the passenger cabin when it started cracking down on passengers who used improperly obtained “emotional support” status to transport their pets on airlines. The rules were prompted by a surge of complaints about pet misbehavior in the air and by media reports about untraditional support animals taking to the skies. You may remember the Emotional Support Peacockor the emotional support squirrelor the (Truly tragic!) story of the emotional support hamsterThese guidelines restrict free access to the cabin to Properly trained support animalsand require specific forms to be completed days before the flight.
Many U.S. airlines now allow smaller pets to travel in carriers in the cabin for a fee, though those fees have also changed. In April, United Airlines raised its pet prices in the cabin by $25, to $150.
A United spokesman, Charlie Hobart, declined to answer questions about the fee change but wrote in an email that “our in-cabin pet fees are fairly typical for the industry” (fees typically range from $95 to $150 per flight).
Meanwhile, American Airlines has changed its policy to allow pet travelers to bring more baggage on their flights. In a written statement, Timothy Wetzel, a spokesman for American Airlines, wrote that the company “made the change to provide a more convenient and comfortable experience for customers whose pets fly with American.”
Amid the chaos of flying pets, dog-products company Bark has spotted a business opportunity. In May, the company launched Bark Air, a dog airline that uses charter flights to transport dogs (and sometimes their owners) on two routes, between New York and Los Angeles and New York and London. So far, the service has transported about 266 dogs on 33 flights, with trips costing $6,000 for the Los Angeles route and $8,500 to travel to the U.K.
Bark Air trips are “dogs first,” says Dave Stangle, Bark’s vice president of brand marketing, with dog-friendly touches including treats, custom “calming” dog blankets and pheromone-sprayed pillows, an onboard “just in case bag” (with pee pads and cleaning supplies, just in case), and a complimentary doggie spa service, complete with warm towel and nose balm (it’s drying up there!) at the conclusion of each trip.
Despite all the changes, Stangle says Bark expects interest in flying with pets to increase. “We see a future where traveling with your dog will be the same as traveling with your child,” he says.
