There are a number of ways human travelers can make use of frequent flyer miles but most don’t know that pets traveling with them can help earn miles too. There aren’t too many programs out there and some have come and gone but if you’re flying with your pets on any of these airlines, you shouldn’t miss out on the added miles.

JetBlue JetPaws Program

You’ll earn 300 points in JetBlue’s TrueBlue Program each time you fly with a pet through the JetPaws travel program. The points are added to those you earn for a given flight and never expire. Although 300 points aren’t much relatively speaking (5,000 is the minimum for a one-way ticket); coupled with the 10,000 point bonus for opening JetBlue Dual Landing Card you’ll have more than enough for a round-trip ticket with your pet.

Virgin Atlantic

Boasting a heated and air-conditioned cargo hold for pets, Virgin Atlantic further rewards your pets for flying with them by giving you an additional 1,000 miles in their Flying Club Program. Add that to the miles you’ll earn for your flight and be well on your way to the (average) 30,000 miles required for a free international ticket. Virgin Atlantic also services many pet friendly international cities within Europe.

Continental PetPass

Pets traveling in cargo, but not the cabin, will earn you a frequent flyer mile for every dollar you spend to transport your cat or dog through Continental’s PetPass. Where it lacks in miles it makes up for in the fact that Continental provides you with real-time tracking of your pet; a good option when traveling with your pet from the US to Europe. Despite the recent merger with United, it seems that this program has yet to be affected.

Pet Airways MyPAWS Club

The airline where only pets fly also has an rewards program with its MyPAWS Club. One-way flights are worth 100 points and round-trips are double that. A pretty generous offering considering that you’ll earn a free ticket with 1,000 points. Members of the MyPAWS Club can also accumulate points by purchasing pet supplies from one of Pet Airways sponsors. If you’re not familiar with the airline, here are some Pet Airways basics.

Few And Far Between

Unfortunately there aren’t too many frequent flyer programs that reward you for flying with your pets. Outside of these 4 programs the only way to earn miles is to choose a bank that rewards you for purchases since you’ll pay and average of $150 extra to book passage for any pet. Pet and frequent flyer policies tend to change often so don’t be shy and ask if you might be able to earn miles for traveling with your pets at check-in.

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Much of Rick’s advice is stuff we’ve covered here before like being aware of airline breed restrictions, traveling with pets as carry on vs. cargo, and other basic tips on pet travel. He does however bring up some good points on seasonal restrictions for certain breeds and letting them know your dog or cat is coming with you as far in advance as possible.

Related posts:

1. Basic Tips On Pet Travel

Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Most of you probably don’t think about your pets as cargo, baggage, or carry on luggage, but this is the way airlines view (and price) your pets when you fly with them. One of the biggest mistakes people make when preparing to fly with their pets is not getting ready far enough in advance or assuming that their pet meets carry on or other requirements without checking them.

If you’re new to flying with your pet, there are some important distinctions you should be aware of as you begin planning out your trip. I’d strongly advise you start at 3 months before your flight to get ready.

Pets As Carry-Ons

All airlines have weight, height, and length limits for pets that will be taken as carry on luggage in the cabin with you. Many of the airlines restrict the type of pets you can fly with as carry on to dogs and cats; if you’ll be traveling internationally there may be other pet restrictions when you land as well so call the appropriate embassy to find out.

• Your pet is also likely to be weighed if they look to be near the weight or size limits. Make sure you measure your pet before making arrangements and give yourself a kilogram (~2 lbs) of leeway. If your pet isn’t full grown (less than a year old) I’d consider checking your pet as baggage.
• If your pet is deemed too large to be taken as a carry on you might be given the opportunity to check them provided your carrier meets the airline requirements.
• Don’t just show up at the airport with your tiny dog – even if your pet does meet the size requirements most airlines only allow 2 pets as carry on per plane. It’s first come, first serve, so if there are already 2 pets booked as carry-ons you’ll be out of luck.

It’s also important to mention your cat or dogs personality as well. Some pets are easy to panic, very hyper, or don’t do well in closed spaces or around groups of people. Make the journey easier on you, your pet, and other passengers by considering checking your pets as baggage (special cargo), or not traveling with them at all depending on how severe their anxiety is.

Pets as Cargo

Some travelers plan to send their pets before they actually fly themselves for a variety of reasons (which usually come down to poor planning). When your pets don’t fly on the same plane as you do, they are considered cargo. It’s like sending a package, which is very expensive. Sending a small dog or cat as cargo can easily cost over $1,000 and there is more paperwork to worry about. You’ll have to deal with customs as you would if you were traveling with your pets but where there are no owners around the process becomes much more cumbersome. The only way to send your pets if you’re not flying with them is domestically in the US using Pet Airways.

Pets As Baggage

This option is basically where your pets fly with you, in the cargo hold beneath the plane. For large dogs and many cats, this is the only way to fly with your pets. The cost is around $200 both domestically and international and you’ll need to talk to the airline and ask if there are any special carrier requirements. Often times the carrier will need to meet certain dimensions as well as have something soft and absorbent inside in case of accidents.

• For those of you flying internationally, there is a lot of work you need to do beforehand. Start by calling the embassies (Embassy World has all the contact information) of all the countries you’ll be landing in (even for layovers) to get all of the pet requirements. Most embassy websites will also have this information.
• Get to the airport an hour in advance of what you normally would. There will be some additional paperwork and security screening for your pets.
• Carry copies of all the appropriate vet medical records, identification (i.e. microchip numbers), and consider a picture too if you’ll be traveling internationally.

The Best Option Is A Well-Prepared One

Whatever option you choose, you’ll save yourself time and money by preparing early – approximately 3 months in advance of any flights. The airport is the worst place to have to alter your plans when traveling with pets as often the left hand of the airline doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. Call, confirm, and have all of your papers with you and don’t forget to travel in the easiest way for your pet!

[photos by: comedy_nose, Scorpions and Centaurs, bravoinsd]

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Chrissy Lyons goes over some good basic advice that’s important to emphasize especially if you’re new to flying with your pet or haven’t done it in a while.

How to Travel with Pets — powered by eHow.com

The most important tip I can’t stress enough, especially if you’re going on international travel, is to check and confirm the airline and import regulations you fall under. Getting the medical requirements and paperwork completed is the most difficult step of most trips with pets. Another good piece of advice Chrissy offers is to leave your pets’ collar on in case they need to be held on to or gotten a hold of by staff. She also shows a pretty good toy trick to keeping you cat or dog’s attention in the crate or carrier.

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1. Rick Seaney’s Tips On Flying With Pets

Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Many airlines have restrictions against certain breeds of dogs for various reasons and don’t want to take on the heightened risk associated with them. You should call and ask the airline or check out their website to see if you can take your dog with you. Airline breed restrictions might alter your flight plans, cost you more in fees and routes, and require longer layovers for inspection by airline staff.

Small Enough But Can’t Fly With You

Most airlines will allow dogs and cats to fly with you in the cabin, provided they can fit into one of the airline’s approved carriers. Almost all cats and dogs under 20lbs (or 9kg) will fit but if you have a breed with a reduced snout like bulldogs and pugs, they may not be allowed to fly – no matter their size.

Certain breeds (like the above mentioned bulldogs and pugs) have respiratory issues due to the structure of their face making breathing at sea level difficult at times. The pressurized cabin of an airplane isn’t the ideal breathing environment which can be taxing or lethal for some dogs.

Many airlines also won’t accept some breeds, like pugs, if the outside temperature is above 22 C (72 F) since the dogs can overheat easily even in slightly warm conditions.

Call To Confirm

I recommend always calling the airlines directly to let them know exactly what breed, size, and weight dog you have to find out if there are any breed restrictions or exceptions for letting your specific pet fly with you. Some breeds are restricted from flying with you in the cabin regardless of their size but may be checked in as luggage while other breeds won’t be allowed on the plane at all.

Know Your Breed

There’s a reason that airlines are cautious about flying various breeds. There is an increased risk of dehydration, coughing, wheezing, and severe problems that can harm your dog in flight. Switching airlines might solve the immediate problem of finding an airline to fly on but could become a disaster at 30,000 feet.

Don’t leave it up to the airlines to be the experts about your dog’s breed. Be proactive and learn everything you can about the possible complications and adjustments you need to make to ensure a safe flight for your pet.

Some recommended books are:

• Pugs For Dummies
• A New Owner’s Guide to Bulldogs
• Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds

If there simply are no options due to existing medical conditions or based on your research, find an alternate mode of transportation and don’t rule out travel by boat.

Just be careful, pugs for one have sensitive stomachs and gets seasick easily.

[photos  by: pchch, brykmantra, Sebastian Bulldog]

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets

Pet Airways is the first airline in the world that caters to animals, not people. In fact, people are not allowed to fly on Pet Airways and all of the animals fly in the cabin, not the cargo hold. Pet Airways is a new experiment in air travel and presents many pet owners with more options for getting their pets to fly comfortably in the friendly skies.

There are a few basic things to know about Pet Airlines so below I’ve complied a list of the very first questions you may be asking.

How Do The Owners Get To Their Destinations?

The Pet Airways website has a search engine you can use to book flights for yourself from other airlines.

What Is The Process – How Is Pet Airways Different?

Pet Airways is very different from traditional airlines that cater to human beings. The simplified process starts by you taking your pet to the airport. A special pet lounge is available at all of the airports that Pet Airways flies to and from (see next question).

These specially trained staff walk your dogs and give them the opportunity to go to the bathroom. Pets are not crated for the duration of the flights and given sections of the airplane cabin to rest in. Airline staff check and monitor the pets and come around every 15 minutes to make sure they are doing alright.

Pets are taken off the plane and housed in pet lounges on overnight flights.

Where Does Pet Airways Fly To and From?

Currently Pet Airways flies between New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles.

What Animals Can Fly?

Pet Airways accepts dogs and cats with reptiles, fish, birds, pigs, and others to be added soon.

How Much Does It Cost?

Flights start from $149 and up.

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Copyright @2012 How To Travel With Pets