From plush cabins to gourmet meals, one airline is offering pets the kind of luxury most humans only dream of.
Bark Air is the first-of-its-kind travel experience designed for dogs — people are an afterthought.
Dogs don’t fly cargo here; they ride in a Gulfstream private jet. Pooches are given free rein to roam the plane, with a cabin crew on hand to provide lavish treats every step of the way.
So elite is the service that concierges will get to know your dog before the flight. There’ll never be more than 10 pets on board at any one time, and your dog (and you) will also get fast-tracked through airport security.
On the day, you’ll be asked to arrive a mere 45 minutes before boarding for a ‘simple, efficient check-in process and security screening’. Where do we book?
Before take-off, pups are welcomed at the gate where they can get to know the other dogs and give each other a good sniff.
At the plane door, guests are urged to ‘watch their paws’, before they’re greeted with warm lavender towels, soothing music and calming aids such as pheromones.
Dogs are served a water or bone broth before take-off and landing to prevent discomfort caused by changes in cabin pressure.
Any particularly distressed pups will be given noise-cancelling ear muffs.
And if that wasn’t enough, a variety of in-flight treats are offered, from a ‘just in case’ bag filled with treats and leashes.
The planes are also stocked full of other airline-branded goodies and snacks.
Bark, a pet company founded in 2011 that sells dog food and other goodies, launched Bark Air last year in response to a lack of efficient travel options for pets.
CEO Matt Meeker said the airline was inspired by his late Great Dane Hugo, who was often left behind on overseas trips due to the limited options for dogs his size.
He told Metro: ‘Too often, dogs like Hugo are denied travel or endure the stress of flying in cargo.
‘Recognising these challenges and increasing demand for an accessible solution, Bark Air is a more fun – and humane – option for dogs travelling with their two-legged human companions.’
Matt knows all too well how unpleasant the travelling experience for pets can be. In a bold marketing stunt, he flew for over three hours in cargo from South Florida to New York City in a dog crate and was even loaded onto the plane via a conveyor belt.
‘I can confirm it was an absolute horror show – loud, disorienting, and uncomfortable. Bouncing around with little to do, the experience was unsettling even as a fully aware human. I can only imagine how terrifying and confusing it must be for a dog,’ he said.
Although it’s certainly more enjoyable to travel with pets – tickets aboard the plane won’t come cheap. It is a private jet, after all.
A one-way flight from London to New York, for example, will set you back £6,500 ($8,000). Even domestic flights come pricey, with tickets from Los Angeles to New York set at £4,900 ($6,000).
Despite its hefty price tag, Matt hopes the airline will help to set a new industry standard for pet travel, ‘where dogs are treated as valued passengers, not just cargo’.
He continued to say: ‘Our dream is to bring dog-centric air travel to even more families across the world at more affordable prices.’
This February, the airline is trialling flights between New York City and Fort Lauderdale in Miami on larger aircraft with double the capacity.
Travellers can get their hands on the reduced ticket prices for under $1,000 for flights between February 13 and 17.
Matt explained: ‘This expansion helps us reduce fares to below $1,000, providing dogs and their families with a convenient and comfortable travel experience.’
He added: ‘The overwhelming response to Bark Air’s offerings, with consistently sold-out flights and increasing customer demand for additional routes, clearly reflects a growing shift where dog families are no longer willing to leave their dogs at home.’
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