American Airlines may have just made it easier and cheaper to fly with your pet, but this airline’s main focus is solely on the dogs.
BARK Air is a new airline designed specifically for canine passengers, and it just recently embarked on its first trip from New York to Los Angeles! The flight carried six dogs, including both a Chihuahua and a Golden Retriever, and 11 humans, including passengers and crew.
And just like any good airline the dogs were treated to in-flight snacks including chicken-flavored puppuccinos and special canine cupcakes.
BARK Chief of Staff Katharine Enos told NPR:
Brooklyn (dachshund) and Eddy (golden) [were] friends and played and the little dogs took nice long naps most of the way. After lunch it was nap time for everyone. No potty accidents on board or stolen food either! Everyone felt connected in the way we were obsessed with our dogs.
But those aren’t the only first-class amenities these flying pups were treated to–BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches. To ensure a stress-free and enjoyable flight, dogs are provided with:
- Calming pheromones, music, and colors that pups prefer while boarding
- Calming treats
- Noise-canceling ear muffs
- Calming jackets
- Their beverage of choice during ascent and descent to prevent ear discomfort
- Other BARK-branded treats, snacks, and surprises
Described as the “world’s first air travel experience designed specifically for dogs first, and their human companions second,” BARK Air comes from BARK, Inc., the leading global company behind dog-focused brands such as subscription service BarkBox.
According to Co-Founder and CEO Matt Meeker, the airline has been in the works for over a decade and was inspired by his late Great Dane Hugo who often traveled with him but had to fly in the cargo area due to his size. BARK Air presents a more fun–and humane–option for dogs traveling with their human companions.
Meeker stated:
When we started BARK in 2011, we were on a mission to disrupt the dog space and create products designed for dogs and their humans. We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies.
Currently, flights are serving the NYC metro area via Westchester County Airport (HPN) with flights to Los Angeles, London, and eventually Paris.
The flights are pricey though–a one-way June flight from NY to LA costs $6,000 for one dog and one human, and a flight to London ticket costs $8,000. You can learn more and book your flight here.