While cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages remain readily available, traveling with pets can be costly. Most airlines charge $200 and up to fly a pet one way domestically as checked baggage. Sixty one percent of pet owners traveled with their pets in 09, according to a TripAdvisor survey.
Fourteen percent of people traveling with pets said that it was more cost effective to bring them along than board them in kennels.
Many hotels have become pet friendly and offer pet services that include pet sitting, pet walking, grooming and even massages. However, it is rare to find a hotel that will allow a pet to stay for free. Daily pet surcharges typically run between $25 to $100.
Although only one percent of the pet survey respondents thought that air travel was the most pet friendly form of travel, 15 percent traveled with their pets on planes last year. Many experts advise against flying with pets. Extreme temperatures, noise, and changing air pressure can make such travel difficult for animals, particularly older or easily stressed pets.
A pet-only airline, called Pet Airways, has started running. It flies Beechcraft 1900 planes rebuilt so all animals fly in the climate controlled main cabin. They can fly up to 50 pets on each flight and promise to always have a pet attendant on board.
Think this is too small of a niche business? Initially Pet Airways served five U.S. cities but has expanded to nine as demand for its business has grown.
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