BARK Air Makes Flying With Dogs a Little Less Ruff

BARK is a new airline that launched in May, and it was created specifically for dogs. Your precious pup will no longer have to ride in a carrier beneath a seat or, worse, in a crate in the cargo hold. With BARK Air, your dog has its own seat, free reign of the plane and snacks and drinks tailored to a dog’s palate. There’s a whole canapé menu, including treats named Lucky Duckies, Frosted Socks and Fruity Toot Loops. And for dessert? Doggie donuts or chicken-flavored Barkaccinos.

You likely already know the overarching company that runs the airline. BARK Air is a subsidiary of BARK, known for the subscription service BarkBox and other dog-centric products. They act as an indirect air carrier, partnering with charter flight company Talon Air to run the day-to-day. Talon provides the crew, pilots and the plane itself—a 14-seater Gulfstream V. To give your dog plenty of space to move around, BARK caps the flights at nine seats. In case of an emergency, there’s a vet tech onboard the flights as well.

BARK Air is not exactly cheap—not just yet, at least. Routes are limited and currently cover New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Chicago, San Francisco Bay, Phoenix and Miami and Fort Lauderdale metro areas. More routes are in progress, and there’s a spot on the website for travelers to suggest additional routes. Prices range from $6,000 to $8,000 one way. That cost includes your dog, you and possibly a cat (if your pup approves of the interloper). Co-founder and CEO Matt Meeker hopes the price will decrease alongside innovations in aviation.

The airline caters to your dog’s needs. And for peace of mind that your furry friend won’t be injured in the cargo hold or freaking out in their carrier, it’s unbeatable. Your dog is a family member, and family should be able to fly together, no matter the species.

Meeker, in previous interviews, acknowledged the high price, especially for families with small dogs. Because the airline is in its infancy, rules can still be changed, and the team is open to working with customers to find a solution that works, including cost-wise.

Customers are already raving about the airline on social media, which is filled with pictures of pups staring out the window at a sea of clouds, posing with their pup passports and enjoying blankets and toys—both of which BARK Air provides. In addition to your own carry-on and checked bag, you can bring your pup’s favorite things from home. BARK supplies beds, blankets, treats and toys.

If you’re anything like most pet owners, you’re probably wondering where exactly your pup will relieve themselves. And the answer is basically anywhere. Pets aren’t restricted in movement around the plane (though they will have to ask nicely to play with other pups), so they go wherever they go—and the flight team is there to clean it up immediately. The plane is also thoroughly cleaned after each flight, so no nasty smells stick around.

The flight process also reduces stress on your pets as soon as you get to the airport. You don’t have to worry about struggling through a crowded terminal—instead, you walk to the plane and get right on, bypassing all the TSA madness and pet relief areas that come with traveling with your dog.

“Before today, the options available for dogs and their families to travel long distances together were inconvenient, terrifying, impractical and prohibitively expensive,” Meeker said in a letter announcing the airline. “BARK Air will change that for the hundreds of millions of dog families around the world. Our vision is that no family will ever again be forced to stow their dog in the cargo hold of an airplane and those uncomfortable, unsafe, scary and sometimes fatal conditions.”