NEW YORK --- 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.
On Tuesday, the first flight for the husband-and-wife team's Pet Airways, the first all-pet airline, took off from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y.
All commercial airlines allow a limited number of small pets to fly in the cabin. Others must travel as checked bags or in the cargo hold -- a dark and sometimes dangerous place where temperatures can vary wildly.
Ms. Binder and Mr. Wiesel used their consulting backgrounds and business savvy to start Pet Airways in 2005. The last four years have been spent designing their fleet of five planes according to new four-legged requirements, dealing with FAA regulations and setting up airport schedules.
The two say they're overwhelmed with the response. Flights 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 one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest U.S. 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. Pets (about 50 on each flight) will be escorted to the plane by attendants who will check on the animals every 15 minutes during flight. The pets are also given pre-boarding walks and bathroom breaks. At each of the five airports it serves, the company has created a "Pet Lounge" for future fliers to wait before flights.
The company will operate out of smaller, regional airports in the five launch cities, which will mean an extra trip for most owners dropping off their pets if they are flying, too.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
The owners of this airline are sick. This is a another example of the mental sickness that is prevelant in our modern age. The way humans cater to animals and treat their fellow man like feces is appalling. These so-called pet lovers will pay $250 to fly a dog across the country instead of spending $250 to feed starving children. We in this country deserve all the wrath God has visited upon this country and that will come upon this country. We Americans are sexually immoral, perverted, self-aborbed, over weight, selfish, hypocritical and a no good bunch of SOBs. Any country that cares more for their animals than their children deserves the full measure of the wrath of God. Children are abused and molested. Yet, animals are worshipped. Sick, sick, sick! A President cares more for his animal than the young men and women he orders into into a senseless war to be killed and wounded for life. Animal lovers are not good Samaritans. Good Samaritans love their fellow man.
peace...Are you nuts? There are times when it is necessary. Dog breeders, shows etc. There is a need they are filling it. It is called capitalism! You have serious issues!
It is called capitalism, peace4784. If you don't like the way it works here you can move to Cuba, or North Korea.
whatever!!.. I love animals.. Children have their parents that need to be responsible for them and if not the state can take over and be responsible for them but for the animals what.. they get abused too by primates with no heads and no heart.. so this is good thing..
I gotta agree -- peace4784, you're wrong. When my wife and I were putting our dog to sleep, I commented to the Vet that we treat our animals with more compassion, dignity, and respect than we treat our own family members. And you're also wrong about animals being worshipped -- hundreds are abused and/or tortured, each and every day. Lastly, you're wrong again, when you think that each and every President just flippantly goes to war. Each one of them over the years has thought long and hard about what war means. You probably will like France.
peace4784
What you need is a LIFE, Maybe God will help one day, Untill then do not spend your money on the Internet, Save it a buy food for your kids.
woof woof woof grrrrrrr
I love this idea, though the price does seem high. Then again I haven't flown with my to dogs in a few years so the prices might have changed. And if peace thinks the US worships their dogs, I guess he/she has never been to Europe where they are allowed pretty much anywhere....stores, restaurants, etc...
Obviously Peace has no peace or love in his little heart. Did God not charge humans with taking care of his animals? Peace, I will pray for God to remove the hatred from your little heart.
Just like the dope addict and alcoholic you people are in denial.
The dope pusher and the liquor store owner are filling a need as well. It's called capitalism feeding a sick habit. Man's best friend is supposed to be man. Not an animal. Maybe God is doG. Or maybe dog is God. I guess it depends on where your mind is.
You advocate for animals, capitalism, and greed. I advocate for starving babies and children who are made in God's image. Now, who has the love and peace in their heart.
Hey Peace, put your money where your mouth is and lead by example. For every pet this airline transports, let's see you donate $250 for "the starving babies and children"...or are you only willing preach your intolerance if it doesn't cost you any money?
P.S. I love how you assume that the people who pay to have their animals flown on this service don't make charitable contributions. For all you know, they donate more time and money to the needy than you do, certainly they seem more humane and intelligent.
Peace, my husband and I both worked to feed our children and did not have more than we could feed. And we feed many of their friends at times........................
MJDW you are a typical self-righteous whitwashed tomb. Your attitude is your kids are well fed to hell with the rest. You probably sit in church and sing about how much you love Jesus. Have you ever heard of the song, Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world. Don't be so freaking selfish. The next time your are feeding your four legged buddy remember there is 1000 starving babies in this world who are just as hungry. God is watching you.
Peace - "Don't be so freaking selfish"...hmmm... interesting, does that mean you're going to sell your computer and donate the money from it to feed the hungry children? How about your tv? Your car? Your house? After all, they are just things and certainly less important than feeding all the children in the world. If you must drag religion into this, consider that God created the animals but man created your computer, tv, car, etc., yet you seem to hold them in higher regard than you do God's creations. Says a little something about your piety, don't you think?
emergencyfan do you eat your fair share or are you like the average American , obese, selfish and self absorbed.
Peace, I hope you find PEACE! Man, you surely need it. I'll pray for you. Living as a bitter, cynical, judgemental human is a sad way to live out your life here on Earth.
Peace, I donate both money and time to a variety of causes (including some that benefit children) and if I want to use some of my hard-earned income on my pets, rather than some vague nameless starving children you advocate (yet apparently aren't willing to support by giving up you own hard-earned things) then at least I'm not the hypocrite in this conversation. You called me obese, selfish or self-absorbed. I guess your mother never taught you not to throw stones at glass houses, eh? Such an ironic username for someone so sad and angry. I hope you do find "peace" some day. Goodbye, little one.
Hey Peace, tell me this, dont you think it's more your problem to worry about the people in this country than other countries? I bet if you even give money to any cause, it's one to feed kids in Africa or something. I am in the military, so I give my time to do whats right for this country, and I say it's the job of other countries to worry about their own people. It's one thing when we give our lives to help other people be able to make their own decions, it's another if we have to give our money too. I mean come on, if they want something bad enough they can find ways to farm or hunt, we did. And our nation did fine. to an extent. Anyways, I think I could rely on my dog for more than i could one of my friends, at least my dog wouldn't betrey me. My dog would protect me or my wife in a heart beat, and not think twice. That's real companionship.