Airline goes to the dogs

First flight of all-pet airline flew from New York to Chicago yesterday

First flight of all-pet airline flew from New York to Chicago yesterday

One trip for their Jack Russell terrier in a plane's cargo hold was enough to convince Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel that owners needed a better option to get their pets from one city to another.

Yesterday, the first flight for the husband-and-wife team's Pet Airways, the first-ever all-pet airline, took off from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York.

All commercial airlines allow a limited number of small pets to fly in the cabin.
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Others must travel as checked bags or in the cargo hold a dark and sometimes dangerous place where temperatures can vary wildly.

Binder and Wiesel used their consulting backgrounds to start Pet Airways in 2005.

The last four years have been spent designing the fleet of five planes as per the four-legged requirements, dealing with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and setting up airport schedules.

Service with a smile

Flights on Pet Airways are already booked up for the next two months. Pet Airways will fly a pet between five major cities New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles.

The $250 (Rs 12,200) one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest US airlines.

For owners, the big difference is service. Dogs and cats will fly in the main cabin of a Suburban Air Freight plane, retooled and lined with carriers in place of seats.
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Pets (about 50 on each flight) will be escorted to the plane by attendants that will check on the animals every 15 minutes during flight. The pets are also given pre-boarding walks and bathroom breaks.

And at each of the five airports, the company has created a Pet Lounge for future fliers to wait and sniff.

Amanda Hickey ofu00a0 Oregon is one of the airline's first customers. Her seven-year-old terrier-pinscher mix Mardi and two-year-old puggle Penny are taking their first flight soon.

Hickey said the service was a welcome alternative to flying her dogs in cargo when she transplants them from her Denver home to Chicago.

How It Started

It was a stressful experience in a cargo hold that spurred Binder and Wiesel to start their airline.

Their Jack Russell terrier, Zoe, flew once in cargo and Binder said they worried about how the dog was doing, but were unable to check on her or get information. The couple soon started looking for a better solution.

"One time in cargo was enough for us," Binder said, walking through an airplane hangar as Zoe trotted in front of her.
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"We wanted to do something better," he added.