Fly Fur-st Class with BARK Air: Luxury Travel for Dogs and Humans!" 🐾✈️
We’ve never taken our dog on an airliner, although some people do. There are certainly pluses for taking our pampered pooches along with us, but there are minuses, too. BARK Air started up last year to remove the minuses. Yes, luxury air travel for dogs (and their humans) is here.
The dog toy company BARK, in partnership with a jet charter service, now offers air travel for our canine friends “in comfort and in style,” CEO Matt Meeker told USA Today when the company launched in May 2024. Its website says, “We’re here to revolutionize flying for dogs.” And just to make sure nobody thinks it’s a joke, right underneath that line is this one: “A 100% totally real airline for dogs.”
The first flight, from New York to Los Angeles, sold out, and the company has been doing brisk business ever since. Fares are not cheap; pet owners can expect to pay $8,000 for a one-way international flight and $6,000 for a domestic flight. The fare covers both the dog and its human, thankfully. The company offers routes to and from New York, London, LA, Paris and Ft. Lauderdale. Making it even easier, the dog and its human won’t even have to deal with the notoriously busy (and not-necessarily dog-friendly) big airports like JFK, LAX or Heathrow. BARK Air is flying out of nearby smaller, regional airports like Westchester County and Van Nuys.
All of the “white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience” is redirected toward the dogs on these flights. This pampering helps to lower the dogs’ anxiety and stress, so they can have a comfortable, fear-free experience. Food and water are provided, and there’s even a mid-air spa treatment available.
Before the flight, a concierge evaluates a dog’s temperament and sensitivities before assigning it to a seat. Dogs aren’t caged on leashed, but are free to sit on a seat, on their human’s lap, a bed or wherever comfortable. Before boarding, there are designated areas where the dogs can relieve themselves, and emergency pads are available during the flight.
These aren’t large flights, like the ones humans are subjected to regularly when we travel. Each of the BARK Air flights seats 15 dogs and their humans, but it never sells more than 10 tickets per flight, so the dogs can have a little room to roam around the cabin. Plus, all the human passengers must be at least 18 years old. They must also provide their dogs’ up-to-date vaccination records. BARK Air’s website says that humans can bring a small carry-on but can also have a standard wheeled suitcase (50-pound maximum) and a small duffle bag that are stowed during travel. “Under no circumstances should they bring squirrels or mailmen,” the site warns.
What are customers saying? One human passenger last month posted a glowing 5-star review: “We love sitting at the conference table and Freya so enjoyed her own seat where she slept comfortably, only to wake up for a barkaccino or salmon treat.” Another said, “The entire experience is well organized, efficient and fun! Who says that about airline travel these days?”
If you’re ready to really pamper your canine bestie—and yourself—give us a call!
The dog toy company BARK, in partnership with a jet charter service, now offers air travel for our canine friends “in comfort and in style,” CEO Matt Meeker told USA Today when the company launched in May 2024. Its website says, “We’re here to revolutionize flying for dogs.” And just to make sure nobody thinks it’s a joke, right underneath that line is this one: “A 100% totally real airline for dogs.”
The first flight, from New York to Los Angeles, sold out, and the company has been doing brisk business ever since. Fares are not cheap; pet owners can expect to pay $8,000 for a one-way international flight and $6,000 for a domestic flight. The fare covers both the dog and its human, thankfully. The company offers routes to and from New York, London, LA, Paris and Ft. Lauderdale. Making it even easier, the dog and its human won’t even have to deal with the notoriously busy (and not-necessarily dog-friendly) big airports like JFK, LAX or Heathrow. BARK Air is flying out of nearby smaller, regional airports like Westchester County and Van Nuys.
All of the “white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience” is redirected toward the dogs on these flights. This pampering helps to lower the dogs’ anxiety and stress, so they can have a comfortable, fear-free experience. Food and water are provided, and there’s even a mid-air spa treatment available.
Before the flight, a concierge evaluates a dog’s temperament and sensitivities before assigning it to a seat. Dogs aren’t caged on leashed, but are free to sit on a seat, on their human’s lap, a bed or wherever comfortable. Before boarding, there are designated areas where the dogs can relieve themselves, and emergency pads are available during the flight.
These aren’t large flights, like the ones humans are subjected to regularly when we travel. Each of the BARK Air flights seats 15 dogs and their humans, but it never sells more than 10 tickets per flight, so the dogs can have a little room to roam around the cabin. Plus, all the human passengers must be at least 18 years old. They must also provide their dogs’ up-to-date vaccination records. BARK Air’s website says that humans can bring a small carry-on but can also have a standard wheeled suitcase (50-pound maximum) and a small duffle bag that are stowed during travel. “Under no circumstances should they bring squirrels or mailmen,” the site warns.
What are customers saying? One human passenger last month posted a glowing 5-star review: “We love sitting at the conference table and Freya so enjoyed her own seat where she slept comfortably, only to wake up for a barkaccino or salmon treat.” Another said, “The entire experience is well organized, efficient and fun! Who says that about airline travel these days?”
If you’re ready to really pamper your canine bestie—and yourself—give us a call!
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