Pet Airways, a startup airline that takes dogs and cats out of the cargo hold and considers them "passengers" has inaugurated service to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (formerly Jefferson County Airport) to serve metro Denver pets and the folks who pay their bills. Other airports include Republic Airport on Long Island (Farmingdale, New York); Baltimore/Washington International Airport; Chicago's Midway Airport; and Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles.
In this recessionary time, it seemed extravagant to fly an animal for $149 to $299 one way, but people seem to be willing to pay it. That seemed like a lot of money to me (having only flown a pet once, in 1988, for $35) until I checked Pet Airways fare comparison chart. It turns out that in addition to charging for checked bags, food, seat choice and anything else they can toss into the revenue stream, other airlines are charging a pretty penny to transport pets. United, of course, is the high-fee champion, charging $175 to transport a small animal under the seat and a whopping $250 as baggage. With today's fare wars, humans might be flying for less than their pets.
Pets are dropped off at the Pet Lounge to await boarding time. I presume they do not have to go through a metal detector, empty their pockets or remove their shoes. In the air, they fly "in safety and comfort" on Beech 1900 aircraft. Normally configured as 19-seaters, they can accommodate 50 pet carriers affixed to an interior wall. A pet attendant monitors the "pawsengers" and passes out inflight snacks, presumably for no additional charge. Like in the old days of aviation, Pet Airways puddle jumps eastbound and westbound, with potty breaks at each stop. And pet owners can check online to find out where their pets are.
Pet Airways hopes to have up to 24 cities in the U.S. and Canada on their route system within two years. Heaven help them if they encounter major weather delays or, worse, an accident. Meanwhile, it's either an idea whose time has come or one whose trajectory will echo the Clear security shortcut that recently tanked spectacularly.
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