Annette Sacks’ dog, 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.
Atlanta’s Bellyard Hotel offers a package starting at $400 a night that includes “dog beer” and other amenities.
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.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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Publish date : 2024-09-29 18:30:00
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