pets on planes

Pets are fetching their piece of the travel boom

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(This is a slightly different version of a story we wrote for NBC News online).

Travelers have been crowding into airports in record numbers this year — including on four legs and leashes.

Tom Carpenter and his wife travel with their Havanese dog whenever they can. “His daycare would be $350 for a 10-day trip, so paying hotel fees and $100 each way to take him on a plane is worth it,” the 67-year-old Anacortes, Washington, resident said. “Plus, Mori hates being left alone.”

The Carpenters are among the many pet owners who are getting more comfortable bringing their animals on their journeys, adding to the broader demand for pet-related services far afield of veterinarian offices.

“I saw an uptick in people traveling with their pets early in 2024,” said Heather Eisenstadt, founder of Top Dog Pet Travel, a central Florida agency specializing in pet-friendly bookings.

She recently helped a client bring her dog on a trip to Europe for a Taylor Swift concert by landing in Paris and taking Le Pet Express — a minibus for those traveling with pets — through the Channel Tunnel to the U.K. (A second Swiftie was interested but balked at the cost, Eisenstadt said.)

Twenty-two percent of cat and dog owners reported taking their animals on at least three flights over the past year, up from 13% for dogs and 14% for cats in 2022, according to an August report from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), an industry group. Rates were up sharply for both types of animals tagging along on road trips too.

Young people are driving the trend. Thirty-eight percent of consumers ages 18-34 told Morgan Stanley researchers this year that they often travel with pets; 30% of those 35-54 and 13% of people 55 and older said the same.

“There is no product segment that has, or had, the growth of the pet market,” said Simeon Gutman, a retail analyst at Morgan Stanley. “It’s a telling indication of the prioritization that people have for their pets.”

The APPA estimates that pet ownership spiked during the pandemic and is returning to normal, with one or more pets now residing in 63% of U.S. households. And while many consumers have been getting more budget-conscious, they’re not holding back on spending on their animals.

Last year, Americans dropped more than $183 billion on pets, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, for everything from pet food and toys to vet visits and grooming. Even after stripping out the effects of inflation, pet spending rose by nearly a third from 2017 to 2023.

“We expect the industry to bark back by the end of 2025 and into 2026, after temporarily soft post-COVID demand,” the Morgan Stanley researchers said in their June report. The bank forecasts the pet industry to grow “faster than nearly all retail sub-segments” by the end of this decade, with spending on pet services set to more than double.

While analysts don’t track pet travel outlays specifically, some airlines and hotels appear eager to welcome more furry guests — aware that many visitors will pay a premium for it.

For one thing, arranging kennels or pet sitters can be a costly hassle for those leaving animals behind. “There’s also less stress,” said Patrick O’Brien, the APPA’s chief digital officer. “You’re not worrying if your pet is being taken care of the way you would.”

“I will always travel with my new pet, and I won’t spare any expense for accommodations,” said Annette Sacks, a 69-year-old retiree in Blairstown, New Jersey, who recently adopted a 5-year-old Chihuahua-mix rescue named Alonza.

U.S. airlines typically charge $95 to $150 per flight for small pets to fly in cabins, but some are hiking those rates. In February, American Airlines raised its carry-on pet fee from $125 to $150 each way; United Airlines followed suit in April.

Airlines don’t share how many pets fly each year in cabins, but the U.S. Department of Transportation said 188,223 animals flew as cargo in 2022, the latest year with complete data. That was less than half the number it was in 2019, though both United and Delta Air Lines have since discontinued the option, except for some military and foreign service personnel.

Some pet owners say they wouldn’t make use of it anyway. “I’d worry about the conditions in the cargo hold, the possibility of careless treatment and the fact that Mori would be out of my sight,” Carpenter said.

For dog owners who rule out cargo and can’t, or would rather not, squeeze their animals into under-seat carriers, Bark Air runs charter flights between New York’s Westchester County Airport and airports near Los Angeles, London and Paris. The service, offered by dog-centric company Bark, debuted in May with $6,000 domestic and $8,000 international one-way fares for each pet and their person.

When it comes to lodging, Airbnb said pet-friendly listings grew by 14% between June 2023 and June 2024, and 1 in 4 properties on its rental marketplace now welcome pets. About 30% of Vrbo properties are pet friendly, a spokesperson said, holding steady over the last couple years. Hosts on both platforms set their own pet fees.

Many hotels that accommodate pets charge nonrefundable fees, typically of up to $150 per stay. Most that do so provide food and water bowls, waste bags, treats, toys and bedding. Some brands, such as Motel 6 and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, have welcomed pets at no extra charge for decades.

Sonesta International Hotels hosts about 30,000 pets annually with flat fees starting at $75, a spokesperson said, adding that searches for pet-friendly bookings across its properties have surged 400% this year.

Nine of Hilton’s 24 brands are pet-friendly, including Hampton, Embassy Suites and Hilton Garden Inn. Pet fees vary by property but start at $50 and come with a perk that started rolling out in January 2022: Guests get online or phone access to pet behaviorists, nutritionists and vet techs at Mars Petcare who can offer advice about traveling with cats or dogs.

Some hotels hope to entice pet owners with splashier packages.

In May, the Bellyard Hotel in Atlanta introduced a “Very Important Pet (VIP)” package starting at $400 a night, not including the $150 pet fee. It includes a pet photo shoot, a welcome kit with organic treats, pet props and outfits, a round of drinks (cocktails for people, “dog beer” for dogs) and a day pass to a nearby dog park with ramps, tunnels and a sprinkler.

At Conrad Washington D.C., guests who check in with pets get dog beds, water bowls, branded scarves and pet bag dispensers. But the hotel is also offering a new “Lab of Luxury” package for a two-night stay in a “Bark View Suite.” It includes an Hermès pet collar and leash, a Tiffany & Co. water bowl, a pet photo session and an afternoon picnic with car service to several dog-friendly wineries in northern Virginia. The price is $5,999 and covers both a $500 donation to the Humane Society and the standard pet fee.

So far, there have been no takers for either hotel’s high-end offering.

Avery Price doesn’t want to break the bank to take her two German terriers, Brave and Bashful, on vacation. But the 41-year-old warehouse supervisor from Allentown, Pennsylvania, sees hotel pet fees of up to $200 as reasonable.

“I find it very difficult to leave them behind,” she said. “My girls are definitely my family.”

New rules for service and emotional support animals on airplanes now in effect

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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new rules regarding service animals and emotional support animals on airplanes goes into effect January 11, 2021.

You can read all the details here, but here are some key points to keep in mind if you’re planning on flying on a commercial flight with a service animal, emotional support animal, or pet.

The new rules define a service animal as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.”

If you are planning on flying with service dog, you will be required to submit a standardized federal form to your airline attesting to the health and training of the animal and comply with other rules.

The big change is that DOT no longer considers emotional support animals to be service animals and has given airlines permission to stop giving those animals free rides.

To no surprise, many airlines are rolling out “no emotional support animals” policies. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines have already posted policies or issued statements stating that emotional support animals, be they pigs, dogs, birds, or possums, will no longer be allowed on flights after January 11. We expect other airlines to follow suit.

Pets still good to go. For a fee

Of course, airlines are happy to take pets on flights if they meet the requirements and have a paid ticket. Here are the current fees for buying a ticket for a pet to fly in the cabin on a domestic flight.

Alaska Airlines: $100 each way in the cabin; Pets allowed in the passenger cabin are dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds.

American Airlines: $125 each way.

Delta Air Lines: $125 each way. Pets allowed: small dogs, cats, and household birds.

Frontier: $99 each way. Pets allowed: dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and small household birds.

Hawaiian Airlines: $35 within Hawaii; $125 between Hawaii and mainland. Pets allowed: cats and dogs.

JetBlue: $125 each way.

Southwest: $95 each way. Pets allowed: small cats and dogs.

United Airlines: $125. Pets allowed: cats and dogs.

Temple cats – 19th to early 20th century

Dog dies after United tells flyer to put carrier in overhead bin

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[UPDATED statements from United at bottom of story]

United Airlines has confirmed the death of a dog on United flight #1284 Monday night from Houston to New York. The dog’s owner was instructed by a flight attendant to place the pet carrier in an overhead bin.

“Tonight I was on a plane where I witnessed a @united flight attendant instruct a passenger to place her dog carrier (with dog) in the overhead compartment. The passenger adamantly refused but the flight attendant went on with the instruction,” tweeted Maggie Gremminger, a passenger who says she seated nearby the dog owner.

Passengers interviewed by The Points Guy heard barking from inside the bin during part of the flight. “By the end of the trip, horrified passengers found the dog had died in-flight,” The Points Guy reported.

https://twitter.com/MaggieGrem/status/973421316253593600

“Immediately after the flight landed, myself and another witness stayed to speak with various United employees,” Gremminger told the One Mile at a Time website, “The flight attendant denied knowing it was a dog, but the man seated next to me said he heard the flight attendant respond to the passenger, ‘You need to put your dog up here.’

United Airlines’ statement on the incident expresses condolence to the dog’s owners and assumes full responsibility for the incident which, the carrier says, is being thoroughly investigated.

“This was a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin. We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them. We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again.” 

For now, United says it has refunded the family’s tickets and the $125 in-cabin pet charge and has offered to fund a necropsy (an animal autopsy) for the dog.

“Incidents like this one are inexcusable, and every member of the flying public should be outraged at United’s callous disregard for the safety of this family’s beloved pet,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League, “United was right to quickly apologize and take responsibility for this shocking event, but more needs to be done to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Placing an animal in an overhead bin – even in an approved pet-carrier – is not part of United Airlines’ (or any airline’s) in-cabin pet policy.

United’s policy states that, “A pet traveling in cabin must be carried in an approved hard-sided or soft-sided kennel. The kennel must fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times.”

Passengers are also required to make advance reservations when taking a pet in the cabin. United places a limit of four pets in the economy cabin of any flight and two pets in the premium cabins of select aircraft.

U.S. carriers are required by law to report the incidents involving the loss, injury or death of animals during air transportation to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

For 2017, 24 incidents were reported by carriers. 18 of those incidents were on United airlines and involved injuries or deaths of animals that had traveled as cargo.

Of the 18 incidents, United reported that several animals injured themselves clawing at the interiors of their shipping containers and that medical exams determined several others died during the journey due to natural causes. An Abyssinian dog named Riko escaped from a shipping container and was hit by a vehicle and Lulu, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, died from heat stroke on a flight to San Francisco although the incident reports notes that two other animals on that flight arrived healthy.

And then there is the case of Simon the 3-foot long prize rabbit that died either during – or after – a United flight from London to Chicago.  

Update 3/14/18: United has issued an updated statement on the dog-in-the-overhead bin incident.

We have spoken to the family, our crew and a number of passengers who were seated nearby. We have learned that the customer did tell the flight attendant that there was a dog in the carrier. However, our flight attendant did not hear or understand her, and did not knowingly place the dog in the overhead bin. As we stated, we take full responsibility and are deeply sorry for this tragic accident. We remain in contact with the family to express our condolences and offer support.

 To prevent this from happening again, by April we will issue bright colored bag tags to customers traveling with in-cabin pets. This visual tag will further help our flight attendants identify pets in-cabin.

 

Taking turkey: Delta changing rules on service animals

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No doubt you know someone, or have set next to someone, or read an outrageous story about someone who has claimed their pet dog or, in some cases, pet turkey, monkey, snake, pig, parrot or miniature pony,  is an emotional support animal that qualifies for a free, uncaged flight inside the cabin.

Sometimes it is true. There are some people whose ability to function depends on an animal. But in more and more cases, people who say they are flying with emotional support animals are simply trying to get around the airline fees for taking a pet on a plane.

Now Delta Airlines – and no doubt other airlines in a second – is saying no more. They’re changing the rules, they say, because all those fake emotional support animals have led to serious safety risks involving untrained animals in flight.

“Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes, spiders and more,” says Delta, “Ignoring the true intent of existing rules governing the transport of service and support animals can be a disservice to customers who have real and documented needs.”

Delta report an 84 percent increase in animal incidents since 2016, including urination/defecation, biting and even a widely reported attack by a 70-pound dog.

“In 2017, Delta employees reported increased acts of aggression (barking, growling, lunging and biting) from service and support animals, behavior not typically seen in these animals when properly trained and working,” said Delta.

Here’s what’s changing as of March 1 on Delta. Expect other airlines to follow the herd.

In compliance with the Air Carrier Access Act, Delta provides in-cabin travel for service and support animals without charge.

The new guidelines, effective March 1, require that all customers traveling with a service or support animal show proof of health or vaccinations 48 hours in advance.

In addition to the current requirement of a letter prepared and signed by a doctor or licensed mental health professional, those with psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals will also need to provide a signed document confirming that their animal can behave to prevent untrained, sometimes aggressive household pets from traveling without a kennel in the cabin.

“The rise in serious incidents involving animals in flight leads us to believe that the lack of regulation in both health and training screening for these animals is creating unsafe conditions across U.S. air travel,” said John Laughter, Delta’s Senior Vice President — Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance in a statement. “As a leader in safety, we worked with our Advisory Board on Disability to find a solution that supports those customers with a legitimate need for these animals, while prioritizing a safe and consistent travel experience.

Delta is setting up a Service Animal Support Desk for customers traveling with service and support animals. The desk will be where customers go to  verify that the new documentation is received and confirm the customer’s reservation to travel with the animal, prior to arrival at the airport.

The carrier also made it clear that is will no longer accept exotic or unusual service or support animals, including:

  • Hedgehogs
  • Ferrets
  • Insects
  • Rodents
  • Snakes
  • Spiders
  • Sugar gliders
  • Reptiles
  • Amphibians
  • Goats
  • Non-household birds (farm poultry, waterfowl, game bird, & birds of prey)
  • Animals improperly cleaned and/or with a foul odor
  • Animals with tusks, horns or hooves.

Look for the full details of the Delta’s new regulations on service and emotional support animals here.

About time, right??

Pets on planes

Pets,

Each week on msnbc.com’s Overhead Bin, I have the opportunity to answer a reader’s question. This week the topic was pets on planes.. A reader wanted to know if she could take her small dog in the cabin.

The good news is that, yes, on most airlines small pets may travel in the cabin.

The bad news: There are plenty of restrictions. And, in some cases, the ticket for your tabby or toy poodle may end up costing more than your own.

“The cost runs anywhere from $50 all the way to $125. And that’s each way,” says Kim Saunders of Petfinder.com.

“Pets will also need a recent health certificate, while will require a veterinary office visit that can cost from $35 to $100. You’ll also need to be sure your pet is in an approved pet carrier that can fit underneath the seat.”

Passengers taking a pet on a plane should also keep these tips in mind:

Make your reservation well in advance. Frontier Airlines allows up to 10 ticketed pets in the cabin, but most airlines only allow one or two. “You and your pet may not be able to take the flight you want,” said Saunders. And all pets need to remain in their carrier under the seat for the duration of the flight.

Give your pet food and water far ahead of the flight so that your pet can visit the relief area before going through security. (A few airports have relief areas post-security; but every airport has a spot for Spot outside). “Even then, it’s a good idea to put something soft and absorbent in the carrier. Just in case,” said Saunders.

Make sure your pet is social. Your pet must stay inside the carrier at all times, but at the security checkpoint, you’ll be required to take the pet out and either walk it or carry it through the metal detector. “If there’s an alarm because of the leash or a metal collar, the pet will be checked physically, in a sort of pet pat-down, by an agent to resolve any kind of issue,” said TSA spokesperson Nico Melendez.

Some people have tried to put their pets − and sometime their babies − through X-ray machines. “That won’t harm a pet or a baby, but we prefer they don’t do that,” said Melendez.

For more information about taking your pet on a plane, check your airline’s website or the resource section of a website such as Petfinder.com, which recently issued its 2011 list of the most pet-friendly airlines in the United States and Canada.