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Tags: Pet Airways / Animals / Pets / New Airlines / Green Travel / → All Tags

Is Pet Airways A 'Frivolous' And Eco-Unfriendly Idea?

Although we've already covered the fact that Pet Airways will be the only new airline launching this month, and actually has planes unlike a certain other airline which will remain nameless (cough-JetAmerica-cough), we haven't considered the eco-impact of such a seemingly frivolous carrier.

And "frivolous" is exactly the stance that green blog Treehugger adopted earlier this week when they covered the airline. In response, Treehugger's readers surprisingly rose up in support of the idea and proved themselves to be not only eco-conscious, but pet-friendly as well.

To cover their bums in this matter, Treehugger has left the decision of whether Pet Airways is worthwhile use of a new airline or not up to a poll, currently being conducted here. "Frivolous" is winning thus far, but we're going to wait until the airline actually gets off the ground before making any judgments.

Related Stories:
· Is Pet Airways Un-TreeHugger? [Treehugger]
· UnTreeHugger: Pet Airways [TreeHugger]
· Pet Airways Will Be The Only New Airline Launching This Month [Jaunted]
· Pet Airways Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Pet Airways]

Tags: Pet Airways / Animals / Pets / New Airlines / → All Tags

Pet Airways Will Be The Only New Airline Launching This Month

The most exciting new airline of the year is Pet Airways, and unlike Jet America, they appear ready to fly starting next week. Suburban Air Freight operates their service, so we’re unsure if the pet planes will be covered in a unique pet-inspired livery, but they're worth looking out for anyway. The planes look like they’ll be Beech or Cessna aircraft, so the propeller noise may disturb Fido and Whiskers’ slumber during their trip.

According to their website, the first flights will start up next week on July 14, with service on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We tried booking a trip for our fictional office dog, and had no problem getting our puppy a seat aboard the airplane from New York to Los Angeles. We were even encouraged to upgrade his carrier size for an extra $50 or $100, and to purchase some insurance. Upselling—they even sound like a real airline.

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Tags: Airline Fees / Southwest Airlines / Pets / Unaccompanied Minors / → All Tags

Southwest Luvs Your Pets; 3rd Bags and Unaccompanied Minors Not So Much

Southwest Airlines doesn't charge any frivolous fees for checking online, or checking-in at the airport or even for checking a first or second bag which means we have a whole lot of LUV for them. But we knew the time would come when they would have to tack on some fees where they could.

That's why the airline has announced that it will charge a $25 fee for any unaccompanied minor traveling on its flights. A UM is a child aged give through 11 traveling without an adult. CEO Gary Kelley writes on the Nuts About Southwest Blog:

Up to this point, we’ve been fortunate enough to offer this added service without a charge—even though we carry increasing numbers of Unaccompanied Minors each year—but we simply cannot afford to continue down this same path. There is a substantive cost associated with the extra care needed to safely transport unaccompanied children, including Employee time and administrative work, and these costs can not be ignored any longer, not in today’s economic environment.

The UM fee will start for folks booking tickets on June 1 and for travel starting June 17.

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Tags: Pet Airways / Videos / Pets / Animals / New Airlines / → All Tags

How Pet Airways Plans To Keep Your Pet Happy In-Flight

We've been extremely curious about the offerings aboard Pet Airways which plans to make its first flight on July 14 for the introductory one-way fare of $149.

As all overprotective pet parents know, flying our babies in cargo is a painful decision to make. What if they freeze? What if they get dehydrated? What if they get shipped off to another destination? Will someone sing them lullabyes to help them sleep?

Most vets and animal experts (i.e. pet store owners and the people you meet at dog parks) will tell you that flying your animal in cargo is a bad idea. It stresses the pet out and it's just too risky.

Well, judging from this Pet Airways video, those painful decisions might be over. Pets on Pet Airways fly in the main cabin, not in cargo. There's a dedicated pet flight attendant walking throughout the cabin (every 15 minutes) making sure the pets are happy in their crates and the temperature control is "just right." Your pets can even walk on a red carpet up into the plane!

This all sounds so wonderful but we still worry a little. What if this is just a long-running April Fool's joke? What if Pet Airways is just bluffing about their personal attention to your loved ones? What if, thanks to the economy, the airline will shut down right quick like Skybus?

We won't be the first ones to put our pet on the Pet Airways flight but if things go well, we will seriously consider it. That and a doggie or kitty valium too. For them, not for us. Well...maybe for us too.

Related Stories:
· Pet Airways coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: UK Travel / Shopping / Pets / → All Tags

Shopping in London: It's A Cat And Dog World

We're apparently in the middle of a London love-fest today.

If a dog is man's best friend, he deserves to be treated accordingly, right? Lovers of their furry friends need look no further than Mungo and Maud in South London for a selection of exclusive and original pet products that will have their cats and dogs looking like British royalty.

Husband and wife team Michael and Nicola Sacher started the shop in May 2005, hoping to carry "elegant, well-designed accessories to complement a contemporary home." That they have done, with the shop boasting products from a hand-knitted basset hound cat toy crafted from alpaca wool to a healing dog paw balm made with botanical infusions.

Owners don't miss out altogether either as there's a selection of human products available too. Who could resist the Kitty Book Journal "for recording your kitten's special moments and milestones," or a suede leather passport holder for when you take your beloved pooch or kitty on holiday?

Related Stories:
· Mungo and Maud [Official Site]
· Shopping coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: bixentro]

Tags: Pets / Animals / Airlines / Continental / → All Tags

Continental Wins at Pet Deaths

No one has ever really suspected the experience of being shipped in an airplane's cargo bin to be enjoyable, but until recently, airlines were not required to report the deaths and injuries of pets they handled. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has analyzed the last 16 months of animal incident reports, finding 45 total deaths, 23 injuries, and 11 losses. On the interweb, they call the death of a pet "crossing over the rainbow bridge," which is humorous. It's probably not that fun.

The number of casualties is a tiny percentage of the total number of animals flown in cargo, but 45 too many for the owners of animals like Ginxie (a cat who escaped from United's grip and was hit by a tractor on the tarmac) and Baxter (a Boston terrier who had a heart attack on an American Airlines plane). Continental reported the most deaths (11), and American came in second with 7, while AirTrain refuses to fly pets in cargo altogether.

Veterinarian Melinda Merck recommends either taking your pet in the cabin with you, or simply leaving him or her at home. Most travelers would rather sit next to a German shepherd than a screaming baby, but legislation requiring kennels for children is unlikely to pass.

[Photo: Back in the Pack]

Related Stories:
· Pets and air travel can be a lethal combination [Seattle P-I]

Tags: Jaunted Field Trips / Japan Field Trip / Osaka / Shopping / Pets / → All Tags

Shop 'Til You Drop: Evoke in Osaka

Here's a doozy of a hybrid shopping experience for you: Evoke is an Osaka retail outlet that specializes in furniture, pet supplies AND the cafe experience.

Located on Orange Street, a popular shopping drag known for its furniture stores, Evoke aims to entice window shoppers who might not be in the market for a big, expensive couch. There are water bowls on the sidewalk outside for furry companions, and the ground floor features mostly pet clothing and supplies, plus some furniture for people. Also accessible from the ground floor is a sunken cafe serving coffee and snacks, with options for people and pets.

Of course, if you ARE in the market for some expensive furniture, Evoke's got that too on its upper floor. We're not sure how we'd feel about our mocha if we happened to catch a whiff of a dog treat while dining here, but Evoke is hard to resist if you're a hardcore puppywatcher. It's worth a stop--if only for the novelty factor--if you happen to be strolling down Orange Street, and that is something we highly recommend. One more picture after the jump.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted in Japan coverage [Jaunted]

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Tags: Pets / Restaurants / → All Tags

To Serve Man's Best Friend

Wow, if you're not busy eating dogs or the very intimate parts of a bunch of animals in a Beijing restaurant, then maybe you're just ordering for an animal instead. According to Reuters, the Coolbaby Pet Restaurant is the first restaurant in the city designed specifically for pets. They'll even walk your gluttonous pet when he's done.

Tags: Cats / Pets / Theater / → All Tags

Moscow Cats Tear Up Tribeca

Sometimes, it's best to let the ad take over:

20 CATS! 2 DOGS! 8 CLOWNS! WALKING TIGHTROPES! DEATHDEFYING BALANCING ACTS! JUMPING! DANCING! ACROBATICS!

That's what you'll see, it appears, when you visit the Moscow Cat Theatre, at New York's Tribeca Performing Arts Center, through December 29. So many cats! You couldn't get us here without the use of firearms or perhaps a sharp stick, but we're very glad it's here for all the kitty-lovers in our midst.

 

Related Stories:
·   Moscow Cat's Theatre [Official site, via Fodor's]
·   My Cat Hates You [Official site]
·   Kitten War [Official site]
·   Cats in Sinks [Official site]