permit to travel for dogs

How to Apply for a CDC Dog Import Permit

CDC is extending its temporary suspension of dog importation from high-risk dog rabies countries until July 31, 2024. This suspension includes dogs arriving from countries without high risk of rabies if the dogs have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months. Learn about the current rules: What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States

Plan ahead: The current wait time to receive a permit is less than 4 weeks, but submitting an incomplete application will result in additional delays.

CDC has the authority to issue a CDC Dog Import Permit to bring in 1 or 2 dogs from a high-risk country for dog rabies . Permits will be issued only for dogs that were vaccinated against rabies in a foreign country. Dogs with current valid US issued rabies vaccination certificates do not need a permit.

STOP! Did you verify that your dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months? If not, go back to High-Risk Countries .

Permit Application Requirements:

• Each person may be granted approval (permits) to bring in a maximum of 2 dogs for one trip during the temporary suspension. People wishing to import dogs for science, education, exhibition, or bona fide law enforcement purposes may be granted approval to import more than 2 dogs.
• be at least 6 months old, as verified by submission of current photos of the dog’s teeth
• have an ISO-compatible microchip
• have a valid CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record [PDF – 1 page]
• have a valid rabies serologic titer from an approved laboratory . For dogs older than 15 months with booster vaccinations, make sure the CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record [PDF – 1 page]   shows the current rabies vaccination and at least one previous rabies vaccination given when the dog was 12 weeks old or older if your dog’s titer was collected less than 30 days from the date of the current rabies vaccination.
• Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA), and Washington DC (IAD).

See more details about these requirements below.

If you don’t meet the requirements above, STOP! Go back to Determining if You Can Bring a Dog into the United States .

Before You Apply: What You Must Know

Start the process early before you travel. Give yourself plenty of time to apply for the permit—especially to gather all the required documents and photos. Also, because of the high volume of applications CDC receives, it can take up to 40 business days or 8 weeks for CDC to process a complete and valid permit application. However, if required information is missing from the application, the process can take longer . CDC will respond to you within 8 weeks.

If you are granted a permit, the validity dates of the permit may be from 14 days before planned entry up to 90 days after planned entry, provided the dog meets all entry requirements during that time frame. The dog may only travel to the United States during the period of validity listed on the permit. If your arrival date changes to outside the period your issued permit is valid, please submit a new application and note in the additional comments section that you are requesting changes to a current permit.

The permit can only be used once before the expiration date.

The permit will only be issued to a single person, known as the Applicant. The Applicant must be at least 18 years old to apply. You, as the Applicant, may designate someone (for example, a family member or friend), known as the Permit Holder, to travel with the dog to the United States. If this is the case, then you must make sure the Permit Holder receives the permit so the Permit Holder can present it to a US Customs and Border Protection officer upon arrival.

At the Port of Entry

Once the dog is within the United States, the applicant (or Permit Holder) of the dog listed on the permit must confine the dog at the address listed on the permit. The dog may not be placed at any other location or with any other person until the confinement period has ended. Ownership of the dog can’t be transferred to another person while the dog is in confinement. The confinement period for permitted dogs ends once the dog is revaccinated against rabies in the United States, which must occur within 10 days of arrival.

Don’t forget: In addition to CDC regulations, you must comply with US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and your US destination’s regulations . Regulations of US states or territories may be more strict than federal regulations.

Read through the required documents below as soon as you can. You can also read the Application Instructions  on how to fill out the permit application form line by line. Be sure you understand all that is required and what decisions you may need to make before filling out and submitting the permit application form.

An incomplete application will delay the time to process the permit.

Collect the Documents You Must Submit with the Permit Application Form

Gather the documents for the permit application. You will upload these documents as part of the application. It may take several weeks to over a month to obtain some items, so give yourself plenty of time.

Documents must be submitted in English or be accompanied by a certified English translation. A certified translation is a signed statement on professional letterhead issued by a licensed translator declaring that the translation is an accurate and true representation of the original document. The translation must include the name, address and contact information of the translator and have a signatory stamp or elevated seal with the translator’s license number included. A certified translation service provider can be found online.

• front view of upper and lower teeth
• side view of upper and lower teeth

Photo credit: Zoonoses Team, CDC

• Dogs need to be at least 6 months of age at the time you submit the application to CDC
• For dogs vaccinated for the first time and for dogs younger than 15 months old : Submit a current CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record showing the rabies vaccine was given on or after 12 weeks of age and at least 28 days before the arrival date.
• For dogs older than 15 months with booster vaccinations: Submit a CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record [PDF – 1 page]  that shows the current rabies vaccination and at least one previous rabies vaccination given when the dog was 12 weeks old or older if your dog’s titer was collected less than 30 days from the date of the current rabies vaccination. Enter the date of the most recent rabies booster into the application and submit a CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record showing both rabies vaccinations with the application.
• Titers must be drawn at least 30 days after your dog’s first rabies vaccine was administered.
• Dogs over 15 months of age with at least one vaccine administered previously after 12 weeks of age may have a titer drawn at any time. For dogs older than 15 months with booster vaccinations, make sure the CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record  [PDF – 1 page] shows the current rabies vaccination and at least one previous rabies vaccination given when the dog was 12 weeks old or older if your dog’s titer was collected less than 30 days from the date of the current rabies vaccination.
• Dogs must wait 45 days from the date their titer is collected before they can enter the United States.
• Titers are valid for entry for one year (365 days) from the date of collection.
• Passport photo: Obtain a clear photo of the identification page of the applicant’s and permit holder’s passports.

After all items are complete, Click here to apply.

If you need to request a change to a permit that CDC has already issued, please submit a new application by clicking the blue button above and note in the additional comments section that you are requesting changes to a current permit.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact CDC-INFO at (800) 232-4636.

• Travelers' Health
• Healthy Pets Healthy People
• Southern Border Health and Migration
• Port Health
• Division of Global Migration Health

To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address:

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

• Mandates and Legal Basis
• Vision and Mission
• Director's Messages
• Key Officials/Telephone Directory
• Organizational Structure
• Citizen's Charter
• Quality Management System (QMS)
• BAI Administrative Circular
• BAI Administrative Order
• BAI Memorandum Circular
• BAI Memorandum Order
• Joint Memorandum Order
• Joint Memorandum Circular
• DA Administrative Circular
• DA Memorandum Order
• DA Memorandum Circular
• DA Administrative Order
• Proclamation
• Republic Act
• Accredited Breeder Farms
• Registered Animal Facilities
• Good Animal Husbandry Practices Accredited Farms
• List of Licensed Livestock and Poultry Handlers
• List of Registered Livestock and Poultry Transport Carriers
• List of Valid Animal Disease Monitoring Compliance Certificate
• BAI Accredited Testing Laboratories
• Registered Feed Establishment
• Registered Veterinary Drugs and Products Establishments
• Registered Feed Products
• Registered Veterinary Drugs and Products
• Accredited Countries
• Accredited EXPORTERS
• Accredited IMPORTERS
• Banned Countries
• Importation Data
• Avian Influenza
• African Swine Fever
• Weekly Livestock Poultry and Feed Ingredients Information
• Livestock Poultry and Feed Ingredients Prices
• Chicken Price and Volume Profile
• Pork Price and Volume Profile
• Client Satisfaction Survey (Online)
• Customer Satisfaction Report Online
• Customer Satisfaction Report On-site
• Procurement Monitoring Report
• Annual Procurement Plan
• Bid Bulletin
• Invitation to Bid
• Approved Documents(Public Bidding & Alternative)
• Notice of Award (NOA)
• Request for Quotation
• Invitation to Bid Culled Animal and PPEs
• Notice to Proceed (NTP)
• Job Opportunities
• Animal Health and Welfare Forms
• Animal Health and Welfare Publications
• ANIMAL DISEASE DIAGNOSIS AND REFERENCE LABORATORY (ADDRL)
• JAPOHR Manual (Rabies/RaDSS)
• JAPOHR IEC Materials (Rabies)
• BAI ISO Forms
• AFVDBCD Service Forms
• Video Tutorials
• User Manual

Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry

NATIONAL VETERINARY QUARANTINE SERVICES DIVISION

Bureau of animal industry, local shipping permit for dog/s and/or cat/s, frequently ask questions.

• Search here:

Veterinary Quarantine Stations Contact Info

Process and Requirements for Local Shipment of Dogs and Cats

Process and requirements for issuance of one-time / pet owner import permit for dogs and cats.

NVQSD Memorandums Circulars

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

ABOUT GOVPH

• Open Data Portal
• Official Gazette

GOVERNMENT LINKS

• Office of the President
• Office of the Vice President
• Senate of the Philippines
• House of Representatives
• Supreme Court
• Court of Appeals
• Sandiganbayan

Get in touch

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

• Section 7 - International Adoption
• Section 8 - Air Travel

Traveling with Pets & Service Animals

Cdc yellow book 2024.

Author(s): Emily Pieracci, Kendra Stauffer

International air and cruise travel with pets require advance planning. Travelers taking a companion or service animal to a foreign country must meet the entry requirements of that country and follow transportation guidelines of the airline or cruise company. Additionally, upon reentering the United States, pets that traveled abroad are subject to the same import requirements as animals that never lived in the United States (see Sec. 4, Ch. 9, Bringing Animals & Animal Products into the United States ).

See general information about traveling with a pet . For destination country requirements, travelers should contact the country’s embassy in Washington, DC, or the nearest consulate. The International Air Transportation Association also lists the requirements for pets to enter countries . Airline and cruise companies are another resource for travelers; most have webpages dedicated to traveling with pets.

Traveling With Pets Outside the United States

People planning to travel outside the United States with a pet should contact their local veterinarian well in advance of departure for assistance with completing all necessary paperwork and ensuring animal health and medical requirements are met. Depending on the destination country, pets might be required to have updated vaccinations and parasite treatments, International Standards Organization–compatible microchips implanted, and serologic tests prior to travel. Some countries require a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test for pets prior to importation.

Completing the stringent testing and permit requirements for some countries (e.g., Australia) can take up to 6 months. People who plan to transport animals should consider the animals’ species (e.g., cat, dog); mode of travel (e.g., airplane, cruise ship); season of travel (some carriers will not transport animals during the hottest or coldest parts of the year); and vaccination and testing requirements of the destination country and of transiting countries, if applicable. Transportation carriers might have additional requirements (e.g., breed restrictions for pets traveling in cargo, health certificates), so travelers intending to take pets outside the United States should contact air and cruise lines for information as soon as they are aware of their travel plans.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) lists international export regulations for pets . Pet owners are responsible for making sure requirements of the destination country are met. USDA APHIS often is required to endorse a health certificate prior to an animal leaving the United States; certificates must be accurate, complete, and legible. Failure to meet destination country requirements can cause problems gaining certificate endorsement or difficulties upon arrival in the destination country (e.g., animal quarantine or retesting).

Travelers should be aware that long flights can be hard on pets, particularly older animals, animals with chronic health conditions, very young animals, and short-nosed breeds (e.g., Persian cats, English bulldogs) that can be predisposed to respiratory stress. The US Department of Transportation offers tips for traveling with animals by plane .

Traveling With Service Animals Outside the United States

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including an intellectual, mental, physical, psychiatric, or sensory disability. DOJ does not recognize emotional support animals as service animals, and airline carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals.

Air Travel with Service Animals

The cabins of most commercial airplanes are highly confined spaces; passengers are seated in close quarters with limited opportunities to separate passengers from nearby disturbances. Animals on airplanes can pose a risk to the health, safety, and well-being of passengers and crew, and could disturb the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft. Accommodation of passengers traveling with service animals onboard a commercial airplane must be balanced against these concerns.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018 developed minimum standards for service animals. Airline carriers can require passengers traveling with a service animal to document whether that animal has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks to assist the function of the passenger with a physical or mental disability; has been trained to behave in public; is in good health; and has the ability either not to relieve itself on a long (>8 hours) flight or to do so in a sanitary manner.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) provides 2 forms to document a service animal’s behavior, training, and health: Service Animal Air Transportation Form  [PDF] and Service Animal Relief Attestation Form for Flight Segments Eight Hours or Longer  [PDF].

In addition to the requirements already mentioned, airlines might require health certificates and vaccination records. Although airline carriers cannot restrict service dogs based solely on the breed or generalized type of dog, they might limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability, or require service animals be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless the device interferes with the service animal’s work or the passenger’s disability prevents use of these devices; in which case, the carrier must permit the passenger to use signal, voice, or other effective means to maintain control of the service animal.

Cruise Ship Travel with Service Animals

Travelers should contact the cruise company they will be traveling with to learn more about each company’s service animal policy. Some cruise lines are unable to accommodate animals onboard. Pets, service dogs in training, and emotional support dogs might not be allowed. People traveling aboard a ship with a service dog should consider rules or requirements at ports of call. For instance, many ports of call have strict entry requirements for animals. Travelers with service animals should visit the USDA’s pet travel website or their service animal’s veterinarian to determine each destination country’s policy regarding admission of service animals. Some locations do not recognize 3-year rabies vaccines, and annual vaccination might be required; consult with the service animal’s veterinarian for more information.

Some locations require that service animals receive parasite treatment prior to arrival, and this information should be included in the service animal’s health records. Some locations require that service animals travel with documentation (e.g., an import license), regardless of whether the service animal will disembark the ship. Check with the cruise company or country of destination for details.

Some locations have breed restrictions per the country’s dog ordinances. Restricted-breed service animals might not be allowed to board the ship due to the destination country’s laws. Travelers should check with the cruise line and country of destination for more information.

Travelers should hand-carry (i.e., not pack in baggage) all of their animals’ required documents, including vaccination records. Service animals traveling without proper documentation might not be permitted to board the ship at embarkation.

Reentering the United States With a Pet or Service Animal

Once a pet or service animal leaves the United States, it must meet all entry requirements to reenter, even if the animal has lived in the United States previously (see Sec. 4, Ch. 9, Bringing Animals & Animal Products into the United States ).

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traveling with your pet. Available from: www.cdc.gov/importation/traveling-with-pets.html .   

FAA reauthorization act of 2018; public law 115–254—Oct 5, 2018. Sec. 437: Harmonization of service animal standards. Available from: https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/115/254.pdf .

Traveling by air with service animals. 85 FR 6448: 6448–76. Available from: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/05/2020-01546/traveling-by-air-with-service-animals .

US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Frequently asked questions about service animals and the ADA; July 20, 2015. Available from: www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.pdf .

File Formats Help:

• Adobe PDF file
• Microsoft PowerPoint file
• Microsoft Word file
• Microsoft Excel file
• Audio/Video file
• Apple Quicktime file
• RealPlayer file
• Zip Archive file

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

My Settings

Florida Department of

Agriculture and Consumer Services

My Settings/Mi Configuración

Need more information?

Share this page

Watch CBS News

Flying with pets? Here's what to know.

By Anne Marie Lee

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 6, 2024 / 10:08 AM EDT / CBS News

Thinking of taking your dog or cat with you the next time you fly? For a growing percentage of the 90.5 million pet owners in the U.S., the answer is yes. But while the notion of boarding a plane with your pet may seem simple, the rules and restrictions around traveling with an animal can be confusing. 

Eight major U.S. airlines allow pets to fly in-cabin as carry-ons. But flying with your pet takes research and planning, as pet policies vary from airline to airline, are steeped in restrictions, and are limited to specific countries and cities. You'll also have to pay an extra fee for your pet ranging from $95 to $200, depending on the airline and where you're flying. And restrictions often change.

For example, American Airlines  recently revised its policies  so passengers flying with pets may also bring one full-size carry-on or personal item. But the carrier prohibits carry-on pets on transatlantic and transpacific flights. Here's what you need to know when considering taking your fur baby with you on a plane.

Cargo, check-in or carry-on?

Most airlines offer three options for transporting animals: cargo, check-in or carry-on. But if your pet is larger than a bread box, your options are limited to the cargo or baggage check-in options, with very few exceptions. 

Given that large canine breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are among the most popular dogs in the country, the size restriction for in-cabin pet travel can be a major frustration for those who would rather not fly at all if that means putting their pet in cargo. 

A 2023 Forbes Adviser survey of 10,000 U.S. dog owners found that 33% of respondents fly with their pets, while 37% listed not being able to bring their dog on a plane as their biggest annoyance. (You can learn more about the differences between cargo, check-in and carry-on options  here , including warnings about the  dangers  involved when pets travel in the cargo hold.) 

Carry-on pets

Even for pet owners whose animals are small enough to fly as a carry-on, traveling is no breeze.

"When I fly with him I have to go to the desk," Margaret Rauch, 44, told CBS MoneyWatch, referring to her 15-pound poodle mix, Soda. The New York City resident has taken Soda on dozens of flights to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Soda, now 4, was being fostered by a friend after being found as a stray puppy in 2021. 

In addition to calling the airline in advance to register her dog for a flight, Rauch has to check in at the counter whenever she's traveling with Soda, so the airline agent can confirm her dog and pet carrier conform to the in-cabin pet requirements and that the flight hasn't already met its pet maximum. 

Rauch, who said she would never consider putting Soda in cargo, applauded American Airlines' new policy, while noting that in her experience the one carry-on rule was rarely enforced. 

"I feel the price is already high for what I get. Even with AA's rule change, I lose the underseat space," she said. "My dog creates no extra work for anyone."

Despite the added preparation, paperwork and hassle involved in flying with Soda — not to mention the unfriendly looks she occasionally detects from fellow passengers at the sight of her pet carrier — Rauch said, "It's absolutely worth it." 

Asked how the experience could be improved, she pointed to early boarding for pet owners as something that would help.

"If you can get in early, get a seat and settle down, that is an accommodation I don't expect to see anytime soon but I think it makes sense," Rauch said.

Safety and comfort

For the many Americans who see their pets practically as family members, one of the most challenging aspects of flying is ensuring their animal's comfort and safety. 

"The increasing humanization of pets, which involves treating them as part of the family rather than as mere animals, has increased the demand for pet travel services that are of high quality and can be customized to meet the specific needs of each pet," LinkedIn reported in December.

Among other tips, the U.S. Department of Transportation  and animal experts recommend that you not feed your pet four to six hours before a flight and limit their water intake. Others also suggest keeping bottled water on hand at all times. Additionally, most airlines require certain vaccination and vet certification that your pet is healthy enough to fly. Individual countries also have their own requirements for pets to enter.  

Not surprisingly, some airlines do better than others at handling pets. One of the best-rated carriers for pet travel is Alaska Airlines, which has repeatedly topped rankings, such as NerdWallet's Most pet-friendly airlines of 2024.  In recent years, the airline also has maintained one of the industry's lowest incident ratings, according to Veterinarians.org. United Airlines and Delta are among the airlines with the highest incident rates, according to the pet information website. 

On Rauch's first plane trip with Soda traveling home to New York, a layover in Miami led to the flight sitting on the tarmac for two hours. Calming treats are something that helps keeps her dog relaxed on flights. She also withholds Soda's food and limits his water intake up to five hours before a flight, which is also helpful given that he doesn't like using pet relief areas, which she said generally smell of urine and can be overwhelming for dogs. Flights between New York City and St. Croix are generally under six hours. 

"I'm not sure how I'd handle a flight to Singapore," Rauch said.

Here's a rundown of U.S. airlines' pet travel policies, along with fees and and restrictions:

Alaska Airlines

Pet fee: $100

Pets allowed: Dogs and cats are the only pets allowed in-cabin on international trips and flights to Hawaii. Domesticated rabbits and small household birds are allowed as carry-on on domestic flights.

Destinations: Domestic and international, with additional requirements and documentation required for  pets traveling to Hawaii  or  internationally .

See Alaska's full pet policy here .

American Airlines

Pet fee: $150

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats

Destinations: 

• Within the 48 contiguous U.S.
• The U.S. and Canada*
• Puerto Rico

*Additional special restrictions may apply. See American's full pet policy  here .

Pet fee: $75-$200, depending on destination

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, household birds

Pet friendly destinations: 

• U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
• International destinations with the exception of Australia, U.K., Republic of Ireland and others .

Pets are not permitted on flights to Hawaii. See Delta's full pet policy here .

Frontier Airlines 

Pet fee: $99

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and household birds

Destinations: Domestic flights and international flights to and from the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

See Frontier's full pet policy here .

Pet fee: $125

Destinations: Domestic and international. See exceptions for international flights here .

See JetBlue's full pet policy here .

Southwest Airlines

Pet fee: $125 per pet carrier on the U.S. mainland; $35 per pet carrier between Hawaiian Islands

Destinations: Domestic U.S. flights only. For travel to Puerto Rico, specific requirements may  apply . For Hawaii travel, see rules and regulations here.

See Southwest's full pet policy here .

Spirit Airlines

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, birds (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) or rabbits (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Destinations: Domestic flights including Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

See Spirit's full pet policy here .

United Airlines

Destinations: Domestic and international flights with a list of exceptions. United does not allow pets to fly to, from or through certain states and countries. View the list here .

See United's full pet policy here .

More from CBS News

Delta is changing how it boards passengers starting May 1

Why you should open a high-yield savings account with inflation increasing again

How to find the best tax relief company

3 investments to consider with inflation rising

BarkBox’s next big delivery: Charter flights for dogs

Starting in may, bark air will fly dogs and their owners from new york to l.a. or london.

BarkBox, the service that assembles and ships care packages for dogs to millions of subscribers each month, is expanding into a new market: pet-friendly charter flights. This spring, the company will begin transporting dogs (and their owners) on private planes via Bark Air.

Starting on May 23, Bark Air will fly weekly between Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., and Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. The following week, it will kick off bimonthly service between Westchester and London Stansted Airport. Reservations at dogsflyfirst.com will go live Thursday, on National Pet Day. The one-way cross-country flight costs $6,000 for one dog and one owner; the transatlantic flight goes for $8,000.

By comparison, for the same date as the launch, nonstop air on a major carrier starts at $220 one way from New York to Los Angeles and from $525 to London. Adding a dog would cost more.

Bark chief executive and co-founder Matt Meeker said the inspiration for Bark Air came from his Great Dane. Hugo visited nearly two dozen states and Canada during his 12-year lifetime, but he never pranced around the West Coast or Europe because of the challenges of flying pets, especially of his size.

Options are limited for pets too large for the cabin. Depending on the season, destination and airline, owners can transport their dogs as checked luggage or cargo, an arrangement that comes with risks. According to Transportation Department data, U.S. carriers reported nine incidents involving animals, including seven deaths, in 2022. (The agency has not published its annual 2023 numbers for these incidents).

To understand the experience of traveling as baggage, Meeker packed himself into a crate and was rolled across the tarmac and loaded onto a plane, where he stayed in his enclosure for 45 minutes to an hour. His experiment confirmed his suspicions: Flying in the belly of a plane can be traumatizing.

“It was very cramped, very dark. Loud noises. Disorienting. No food or water. Nowhere to go to the bathroom,” said Meeker. “It was very, very terrible.”

Moneyed travelers can book a private or charter plane. However, noncommercial air can be prohibitively expensive or unpredictable. K9 Jets , a private charter operator that started offering pet-friendly flights last year, flies to 13 destinations, including Dallas, Paris and West Palm Beach, Fla. It has similar prices to BarkAir — $6,650 from New Jersey to Los Angeles — but will cancel the flight if it is not at least 75 percent full.

“There’s a huge amount of interest and demand, and really frustration,” Meeker said. “People are looking for a reasonable solution to transport their dog if they’re moving or taking a summer vacation or weekend trip.”

Meeker said the company partnered with Talon Air , a New York-based charter company that will fly two Gulfstream G550s under the Bark Air banner. The plane can accommodate 14 passengers, but the company will cap the number at 10.

After the traveler books the flight, a concierge will contact the family to learn about the dog’s temperament and to help with logistics, including the documents required to enter England. The fare includes complimentary car service within a 30-mile radius of the arrival destination.

Meeker recommends passengers arrive 45 minutes to an hour before departure. Guests will wait in a private area inside the terminal, where a chef will prepare a hot meal for the human travelers to avoid any in-flight tray-table surfing. Before boarding, the dogs will have a chance to sniff each other out.

Onboard, pets can fly without a leash as long as they behave. During a test run, Meeker said the dogs were very courteous, with no unruly outbursts.

“They would say hello to the other dogs and say hello to the other people. Everyone was very calm about it,” he said. “For dogs who were a little more nervous, or people who were more nervous for their dogs, we have a place on the plane for them to sit without anyone bothering them.”

Since the pups are the top dogs onboard, the carrier will cater to their tastes. The menu will feature “Doggie Champagne” (actually chicken broth), doughnuts made for dogs and meaty snacks served on a silver tray. The flight crew will include professionals trained in veterinary care and dog behavior. At the end of the trip, the four-legged fliers will earn their wings, which they can proudly pin to their collar or harness.

If Bark Air does well, Meeker hopes to add larger planes to the fleet, which could help lower the fare. He also dreams of building the world’s first in-flight dog park.

“The dogs for those longer journeys will have a park where they can play with other dogs while their humans enjoy a drink at the bar around the edge of the park,” he said.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with the Atmosphere Research Group, said pet airlines are more apt to fail than succeed. (RIP, Pet Airways.) However, Bark Air has a few advantages. It is not building an airline from scratch. It has brand recognition. And it oversees a mailing list with the names of millions of pet lovers willing to drop a small fortune on their pooches.

“Some people will absolutely do this,” Harteveldt said. “The question is: Will there be a enough people who love their pets enough to pay $6,000 or more to transport them coast-to-coast or from New York to London?”

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

Frequent flying: Airline status isn’t what it used to be, but at least there are some good movies and TV shows to watch in the air. And somewhere out there, experts are trying to make airline food taste good.

The world's first doggy jet service will cost you $6K for a one-way ticket

Dogs will soon be able to experience their own “ fur st” class flight with the launch of the world’s first jet charter company specifically designed for man’s best friend. 

BARK, the dog toy company that coordinates the popular treat subscription BarkBox, is partnering with a jet charter service to take away the challenges of long-distance traveling with dogs, according to a press release. BARK Air, as the company calls it, offers the “white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches.”

Taking dogs on airplanes is, typically, a stressful endeavor with different airlines having different policies for pet travel. For example, American Airlines allows small dogs in a carrier to be placed under the seat in front, but larger dogs are put in the cargo space, which has been found to be stressful for the pet. For United Airlines , pets can fly in the cabin if there’s enough space, but they must fit in a carrier under the seat in front.

“We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies,” said Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at BARK, in a statement. 

First-time Fido's taking to the sky? Here are tips from my flight with a dog

Learn more: Best travel insurance

However, you’ll need to pay a hefty fee for the dog-friendly flight. For now, a ticket for just one dog and one human will run you at least $6,000 one way. 

The first BARK Air flights will take off on May 23, and so far, there are only two flight routes available, both from New York’s Westchester County Airport. From New York to London’s Stansted Airport, it’ll cost $8,000 one-way and to Los Angeles’s Van Nuys Airport will cost $6,000 one-way. Tickets are available for purchase on April 11.

Not only does BARK Air allow dogs, it also focuses on the furry friends by treating them like VIPs, the press release said. BARK Air passengers can skip TSA checkpoints and screenings and instead experience a simple check-in process where they can meet the other dogs on the flight and the humans are served a meal cooked by on-site chefs. 

When boarding, a BARK Air concierge is on-hand to ensure the dogs are socializing and adjusting to the environment well. 

Each flight will undergo “Dogs Fly First” flight prep that includes “calming pheromones, music, and colors that pups prefer.” To make the flying experience easier and more enjoyable, dogs have access to various aids such as calming treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, and calming jackets.

During takeoff and descent, dogs are given a beverage of their choice to help their ears adjust to cabin pressurization. Of course, there will be plenty of treats on the flight.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

Picnic permits for Philly parks are no longer available online

T he Phillies are back at Citizens Bank Park and the weather is warming up, which means picnic season is upon us, but Philadelphia residents have noticed one major but quietly introduced change in the permit reservation system used for city parks: It’s been moved offline.

“No online permits and you have to pay with a check? What year is it?” one person commented on a Friends of FDR Park Instagram post answering questions about the permits ahead of the 2024 season.

Most picnickers, especially if only a handful of people, can usually plop a blanket and a basket at a park lawn and call it a day. But dozens of Philly parks have designated picnic areas with “at least three tables and a trashcan,” according to the Parks and Recreation website.

By the department’s count, these spaces can serve up to 50 people. For the cost of a $35 picnic permit, residents can call dibs and make reservations for these spaces. South Philly resident Nathan Fried, 38, said these areas are perfect for birthday parties or modest family gatherings.

The online system debuted in 2019 in an effort to raise the profile of underused picnic sites across the city.

Fried was one of the many people who lamented the online permitting system going dark. He said the system made planning easier, letting users know when a particular site was available and how much it would cost — all from the comfort of his home.

The change also affects permits for pavilions that cost $140 and can accommodate up to 150 people.

The Parks and Recreation website has a note letting users know of the change but offered no explanation, which made some users worry it was permanent. The department told The Inquirer “technical difficulties” were to blame for the switch, which arose as the season opened.

The department said it is working on the online system and a timeline for how long the fix could take. The department offered no specifics on the technical issues.

The department said for the time being, those seeking picnic permits must go to the Winter Street Building at 2130 Winter St. (use the entrance at rear), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (The building is about a block west of the Franklin Institute.)

Should applicants have questions, they can call the Special Events Office at 215-685-0060. Applications can also be mailed, according to the department’s website.

“We have been accepting in-person permit applications for many years, and have a system in place to accommodate more applicants,” said the department in a statement.

On Thursday afternoon, however, no one answered the number for the Special Events Office, and the voicemail was full.

For now, park users continue to rail against the in-person or by-mail application process, fearing that picnic areas are becoming less accessible as many people work during posted office hours.

Picnic sites have to be booked 14 days in advance. Unless you go in person, Fried said, you run the risk of missing the deadline and are left wondering if you got the spot you wanted.

Then there’s the question of payment. The Special Events Office accepts only checks or money orders.

“I’m sure that when it’s inconvenient like that, people just don’t do these things and then they do these things without permits,” said Fried, who worries either people will forego using the picnic areas or use them without permits, which brings about its own form of chaos.

Some residents worry it’ll be harder to trace unaddressed litter or damage to picnic-area tables if reservations are harder to come by and follow.

©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Recommended

Bark air launches first luxury airlines for dogs — but charges $16k for ‘white paw service’.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Dog toy company BARK will launch a jet charter service that promises “white paw service” — though it will cost as much as $16,000 for a round-trip ticket for just one pooch and its doting owner.

Dubbed BARK Air, the company best known for its subscription BarkBoxes filled with pet toys and treats, seeks to solve the problems that typically arise when humans travel with their fur babies.

Though smaller dogs can typically ride in a carrier placed under the seat in front of them, larger dogs must undergo what’s known to be the stressful experience of being put in crates in a plane’s cargo space.

“We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs — from the ground to the skies,” Matt Meeker, the co-founder and chief executive at BARK, said in a press release Thursday.

BARK Air’s first flight departs from New York’s Westchester County Airport to Los Angeles’s Van Nuys Airport on May 23.

Currently, there are only two flight routes available, both from Westchester County Airport to either Van Nuys Airport — which costs $6,000 one way for one dog and one human — or to London’s Stansted Airport — which goes for $8,000 one way.

Following booking, humans are connected with a BARK concierge assigned to collect information about their four-legged passengers to ensure the best possible experience during the long-haul flight.

But BARK Air won’t just be pet friendly — it will treat its four-legged passengers like first-class passengers, the New York-based company said.

On travel day, dogs and their owners are only required to show up at the airport 45 minutes ahead of their scheduled flight time “for a simple, efficient check-in process — no crates, no stressful TSA checkpoints,” per BARK Air’s website .

From there, concierges will bring the dogs aboard to a cabin prepared with calming aids such as music, warm lavender-scented refreshment towels, and pheromones — scents that mimic the natural chemicals released by animals that help them communicate — among other comforts.

Treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, and calming jackets will also be on hand as part of BARK’s “Dogs Fly First” flight prep, which ensures that each pooch is comfortable upon takeoff.

The dogs are offered a beverage at takeoff and descent to help their ears adjust to cabin pressurization.

“We believe this initiative will raise awareness of BARK’s mission in a cost-effective manner,” said Zahir Ibrahim, BARK’s Chief Financial Officer. “Given we are not committed to booking flights far in advance, we have a lot of flexibility to opportunistically charter flights during times of high demand.”

Users on social media, however, panned the sky-high fares.

“Was so excited for this but am mind blown at the $6k price tag. Hopefully y’all can make this much more affordable in the future,” one user commented on BARK Air’s Instagram post introducing the luxe airline.

“I would genuinely love to see the data that convinced you to believe $12K round trip tickets are a viable business model and one worth marketing to the general public,” another said.

A third said a $6,000 to $8,000 fare for just one way “is ridiculous.”

It wasn’t immediately clear which jet charter company BARK is partnering with for its pet-friendly trips.

The Post has sought comment from BARK.

Share this article:

Advertisement