Tuesday was the first day of actual flights for a new airline, Pet Airways. Pet Airways started weekly flights for pets to five destinations across the country. Pet Airways is offering flights to and from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Republic Airport (FRG) (serving New York City), Rocky Mountain Airport (near Denver) and Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) (near Los Angeles).
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Dogs and cats can fly in the cabin as long as they are in carriers; however, owners will have to fly separately, as the only people on board will be the crew and some pet attendants. There is no limit on the pet size, and one-way fares start at $149. The initial offering of flights has sold out, and there is a short waiting list for some cities.
I am sure studies were done, but I could not find out the reasoning behind selecting these specific airports. I guess New York, Chicago and Los Angeles were chosen because of their population. I wonder if Denver was chosen as a sort of midway point between Chicago and Los Angeles.
I also wonder if this is a huge deal for pet owners. Some airlines already allow small pets in small carriers to travel in the cabin as long as they fit under the seat. Pets are also allowed to ride in the cargo hold areas. As I said, I am sure market research was done (at least I would hope so), but I am extremely interested to see how Pet Airways does in the upcoming months.
Is the timing right? Are there enough choices of destinations? Are people willing to pay the price? Is there enough continual demand? As a pet owner, would you like your pet to fly in the cabin with you on a different flight? Is this a much more desirable option than simply having your pet fly in the cargo area?
I’ll be keeping my eyes on Pet Airways. I’ll report back here in a few months. Check out GT‘s eFlyer report on pet travel.
–John Wroblewski, distribution specialist Global Traveler has joined the world of social marketing. For breaking news, special offers and much more, fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @Gtmag!
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