Pets travel in style as owners pony up for private jets with pricey comforts
When a traveler on VistaJet wanted to bring their Sulcata tortoise along, the private flyer was ready to serve.
The animal, native to the Sahara Desert, is accustomed to warm, dry, climates and VistaJet—befitting an outfit with rates starting around $15,000 an hour—was able to offer it heated floors so it would feel more at home.
Airlines are already fighting to attract high-end travelers, and there’s increasing demand to fly their pets as well.
Companies are offering gourmet treats, meals made with prime cuts of meat, and water mixed with calming natural flower essences. As sleep hits, there are plush organic sleep mats on which to curl up.
Industry watchers said younger pet parents are routinely taking pets on their daily shopping runs, to pet-friendly workplaces, and on vacations.
🐶 Pool pawty! Now you can book a pool for your pooch, too
This summer, Fido can have his own time in a rented pool to splash around and beat the summer heat.
“Many Millennials and Gen Z refuse to travel without their pets, who they see as true family members,” said industry expert Phillip Cooper. (Some, he said, also find it economical to bring pets along after considering the cost of boarding them while away.)
Charter flight operator RetrievAir launched service to nine U.S. cities in May with "pet-centric" amenities including free treats, water bowls and room to roam, according to the company, with per-segment prices averaging around $800. (Commercial airlines charge pet carry-on fees of around $150 per flight.)
“Pet owners are either not willing to go on trips, or they are willing to go on trips if they are able to take their pets,” said RetrievAir cofounder Benton Miller. He sees demand from younger owners, but also empty nester Baby Boomers with lots of cash on hand.
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