Inside the luxury private airline for dogs — where human needs come second

From plush cabins to gourmet meals, one airline is offering pets luxury plane travel that most passengers can only dream of. 

Bark Air is a first-of-its-kind travel experience designed specifically for dogs, where humans come second.

The company aims to replicate the first-class experience for humans by pampering pooches throughout the flight. Dogs don’t fly cargo here; they ride in a Gulfstream private jet. 

The jet has room for 10 dogs on board – with the Bark Air team treating them like VIPs at every single stage of the journey. 

Upon booking, pet owners are contacted by a Bark Air concierge to collect information about their dog and travel plans, which they hope will ‘provide you with the best travel experience possible’. 

Then on the day, passengers are asked to arrive at the airport 45 minutes before boarding for a ‘simple, efficient check-in process and security screening’. 

The airline claims customers can avoid the usual chaos of the airport and be onboard ‘minutes after arriving at the airport’, which is a definite bonus.

Ahead of the departure, pups are welcomed through socialisation at the gate, where they can get to know the other dogs and give each other a good sniff.

At the plane door, guests are urged to ‘watch their paws’, before they’re greeted with warm lavender towels, soothing music and calming aids such as pheromones. 

Plenty of thought has also gone in to takeoff and landing, as all dogs will be served a beverage of choice during these times – water or bone broth, for example – to prevent ear discomfort caused by changes in cabin pressure. 

And any particularly distressed pups can take advantage of noise-cancelling ear muffs.

If that weren’t enough, a variety of in-flight treats will be served, and the concierge will have a ‘just in case’ bag filled with calming treats and leashes.

The planes are also stocked full of other Bark-branded goodies and snacks. 

Bark, a pet company founded in 2011 that sells dog food and other goodies, launched Bark Air last year after recognising a lack of efficient travel options for pets. 

CEO Matt Meeker said that the airline was inspired by his late Great Dane Hugo, who often had to be left behind on overseas trips due to the limited travel options for dogs his size. 

He told Metro: ‘Too often, dogs like Hugo are denied travel or endure the stress of flying in cargo.

‘Recognising these challenges and increasing demand for an accessible solution, Bark Air is a more fun – and humane – option for dogs travelling with their two-legged human companions.’

Matt knows all too well how unpleasant the travelling experience for pets can be. In a bold marketing stunt, he flew for over three hours in cargo from South Florida to New York City in a dog crate and was even loaded onto the plane via a conveyor belt.

‘I can confirm it was an absolute horror show – loud, disorienting, and uncomfortable. Bouncing around with little to do, the experience was unsettling even as a fully aware human. I can only imagine how terrifying and confusing it must be for a dog,’ he said.

Although it’s certainly more enjoyable to travel with pets – tickets aboard the plane won’t come cheap. It is a private jet, after all. 

A one-way flight from London to New York, for example, will set you back £6,500 ($8,000). Even domestic flights come pricey, with tickets from Los Angeles to New York set at £4,900 ($6,000).

Despite its hefty price tag, Matt hopes the airline will help to set a new industry standard for pet travel, ‘where dogs are treated as valued passengers, not just cargo’. 

He continued to say: ‘Our dream is to bring dog-centric air travel to even more families across the world at more affordable prices.’