The Dog-First Airline For VIPs (Very Important Pups)

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: best friends don’t let best friends fly in the hold. Something the folks over at BARK Air — a first-of-its-kind jet charter company — understand all too well.

This newly launched tailored travel service isn’t just a canine-dedicated carrier: it’s the whole package. A subsidiary of the New York Stock Exchange-listed omnichannel dog brand BARK Inc., it eschews the very notion of cages and cargo spaces for something far more… luxe.

Prior to boarding, a BARK Air concierge contacts the passengers/pawssengers to collect all the relevant details (size, temperament, preferred treats, etc.).

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After some very necessary canine socialisation and a streamlined check-in/security screening process at the airport, guests are ushered into the anxiety-free cabin of a Gulfstream G5. From soothing music, lavender-scented towels, and adorable toys to an inflight drink (chicken broth-based “champagne”; “barkaccinos”) and an assortment of BARK’s treats, virtually every single need is met with an elevated response.

By all accounts, it’s the pinnacle of white paw treatment.

“BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches,” the company stated in an announcement last month.

“From booking to arrival, to in-flight services and disembarkation, dogs will truly be the VIPs and treated to a positively luxurious, curated experience.”

“When we started BARK in 2011, we were on a mission to disrupt the dog space and create products designed for dogs and their humans,” explained Matt Meeker, Co-Founder & CEO at BARK.

“We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs: from the ground to the skies.”

“We believe this initiative will elevate awareness of our brand’s mission and values, introduce more dog lovers to the BARK family, and help enrich the lives of dogs and their people around the world.”

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, BARK Air are running rather limited routes: from New York to London and Los Angeles with plans to expand later this year (Paris, Chicago, Florida, according to Meeker). But assuming everything goes smoothly — and assuming there’s sufficient demand — perhaps it’ll make its way down to our sunburnt corner of the Southern Hemisphere.

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Each flight accommodates 10 dogs of all sizes along with their human companions and crew; airfares start from US$6,000 or AU$9,000 (New York City-Los Angeles), and top out at US$8,000 or AU$12,000 (New York City-London) — both one way. And despite the pricing, BARK Air has already received over 15,000 requests for additional routes.

The company also has its eye on adding a Boeing 747 to its fleet, which would be fitted out with private cabins featuring lay-flat beds, a central “dog park,” plus a bar for dogs and humans alike as depicted in the early promo video above.

Find out more below.