CNN
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It does not seem that private airplanes were considered completely out of reach of anyone who was not obscenely rich or famous, both in some cases.
But private aviation has become much more accessible over the years, and there has been a particularly large change since 2019.
The use has not only shot as a result of travel chaos caused by the pandemic, with numerous companies that report an increase in new travelers reserves in the private world of the plane, they are increasingly taken to their pets.
The Global Vistajet Aviation Company has reported an 86% increase in the number of animals that has flown in the last two years, and they are not just cats and dogs we are talking about.
According to Matteo Atti, executive vice president of marketing and innovation for the company, one in four of its members now flies with a four -legged partner, while the amount of birds that are being taken are also increasing.
“Rabbits are a new recent breed of blown pets, and while dogs continue to invent most animal passengers, the number of cats increased by 357% from 2019 to 2020,” says Atti.
Meanwhile, the private Jet company of the United States. Uu. Netjets adopts the significant increase of hairy partners aboard their flights by launching the hashtag #netpets to show some of its prettiest hairy flyers.
So what caused this sudden increase in animals that receive private jet treatment?
Vistajet suggests that the “rapid increase in pet adoptions” during pandemic apogee: the number of parenting pets in US households. UU. Increased 8% between March and September 2020 according to Petpoint, a program of Software with more than 1,200 shelters in your database, you may have played a role.
However, Daniel Hirschhorn, Co -founder of Private Boutique Jet Charter Company Luxury Aircraft Solutions and the monthly membership program Jetmembereship.com believe that this trend is largely due to the general change of lifestyle that many have experienced due to the impact of Covid -19.
“We are seeing an increase in the leisure travel level versus business trips,” he tells CNN Travel. “You are not going to take your dog to your meeting, but you will certainly take it to your other house, if that is convenient for you.
“We are also seeing people who have much more flexible work schedules, so they can travel with their pets more frequent weeks
Hirschhorn, who says that his company based in New York has experienced a 74% leap in passengers flying with pets since 2019, also indicates an increase in reserves for entire families, instead of only one or two people traveling together .
“Let’s say you have a plane with eight seats,” he explains. “You may have seen two or three people traveling (before), now you are seeing an average of five or six people.
“Therefore, it is a kind of changing dynamic who travels and why, what is leading to the increase in pets. “I don’t think (the increase) is because more people have pets. I think they are just finding more time to be with their pets. ”
Katelynn Stege of Texas has found himself taking more private flights with his australian carved -hall in the pandemic, and says that the comfort and comfort provided is incomparable.
“Flying in private allows your pet to be just at your side and the people with whom they are familiar and with whom they feel comfortable, while on a commercial flight you can not always sit next to the people you know,” he tells him Stege A CNN Travel by email.
“They (animals) are free to stretch their legs and wander a little instead of being full on a commercial flight.”
Stege, who spends an average of $ 30,000 per flight and always uses netjets, says he has never flown commercially with any of his dogs because he feels that the process is simply too stressful for large animals.
At present, many commercial airlines will allow travelers to transport a cat or a small dog that weighs less than 25 pounds in the passenger cabin, provided that the animal is placed in a carrier that fits under the seat on the front.
However, the largest dogs are required to fly in a box in the loading cellar, which finally implies a certain level of risk.
In January, a new regulation of the Department of Transportation led to a series of different airlines, including Jetblue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, prohibiting owners who bring pets such as emotional support animals, , a practice that allowed larger pets to travel in the cabin.
It is likely that this significant change of rules has caused some of those who trust their pets as emotional support animals and private aviation can be allowed to step.
“Certainly, there are some people who fly privately to avoid having to put their pet in the loading cellar, or simply address their pet elsewhere and not bring it,” adds Hirschhorn. “So we are also seeing an upward trend in that.”
However, due to the considerable difference in the price between commercially flying and taking a private plane, it believes that this is unlikely to be a remarkable increase, simply because many pet travelers will not have the money for private plane rates.
“It’s not like (many people say) ‘I can’t take my pet on a regular flight that costs $ 500, so let me spend $ 15,000,” he adds.
“Certainly comes into play, but it is such a big leap in the price that I don’t think it is a key decisive factor for many people.”
The changing travel restrictions and the general uncertainty of the last 18 months have also taken some devotee and rich owners of pets to send private planes to pick up their pets to meet them.
“We just sent two cats in a private jet to Mykonos earlier this summer,” said Ikenna Orders, CEO of the United Kingdom Private Jet Rent This year.
“They had stayed with a babysitter, but the owner wanted to stay out and miss them too much.”
Hirschhororn recently organized a reserve for a customer located in California that had just adopted a Pennsylvania dog, and requested a private plane to pick up his new pet, along with a human partner, and leave it with a cost of an estimated $ 30,000 estimated . .
“I think Covid has normalized that kind of behavior where people are like, bringing (my animal) for me,” he adds.
“Obviously, most people would not want to spend that kind of money to adopt a dog, but this was a situation in which to get the dog there was more important than money.”
For Stege, who works for an oil and gas services company, one of the greatest benefits that comes from traveling by private plane with his Moose dog is to avoid any situation that can be distressing for him.
“It can lead to the plane and continue with its pet without putting it in the stressful situation of going through the security of the airport and being close to many strangers and strong noises that continue in an airport,” he explains.
Hirschhorn shares this feeling, who feels that most private jet flyers bring to their pets just want to make sure the animals are established while traveling, and are less concerned about the luxurious of the experience or the perspective of saving a few thousand thousands of dollars.
“It’s not just that you can take a very pretty photo of your dog for Instagram,” he jokes. “It is more the convenience of being with their animals all the time and not having to worry about who is driving them and what they are doing. Or if your animal is upset or not.
“Once you really break it down, and you take away the dollars and cents, so basically ask ‘Is my family member well?’
“That is what I think many pet owners are thinking. And I have dogs myself, so I understand. ”
(Tagstotranslate) Air transport
