Consumers Sign on For Pet Perks in the Sky
United Airlines joins a growing list of competitors that’s reaching out to four-legged or feathered customers in hopes of attracting their two-legged owners to fly its airline.
Under the “United Pet Class” promotion, United Mileage Plus members can earn 1,200 bonus miles when their pets fly with them roundtrip. Pets must accompany their owners on one leg of the same itinerary to qualify for the bonus miles.
United Mileage Plus members can redeem the 1,200 bonus miles for a 52-week subscription to USA Today or to The Wall Street Journal, United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said. With 8,000 miles, members can receive a free flight upgrade or with 10,000 miles, members can receive 100 tracks or 10 albums from Sony Connect, she said.
To qualify, passengers traveling with small dogs, cats, or birds pay $80 one way for their pets’ fare. Travelers who require a small-to-medium-size kennel for larger animals pay $100 one-way and $200 one-way for an extra large kennel.
United initiated the promotion to raise awareness that pets are a welcomed addition on the airline, said Jerry Dow, managing director-worldwide advertising and promotions for United Airlines. The airline has been named the official airline of the American Kennel Club.
“More and more customers are traveling with their pets these,” Dow said. “Pets have become a part of many people’s family. A better way to treat you pet than sticking him in a kennel is taking him with you.”
The airline isn’t restricted to transporting animals that just bark, meow or chirp. The airline has transported a variety of mammals, including silverback gorillas and a beluga whale, Urbanski said. The airline transports about 150,000 animals a year.
The promotion runs through May 27. Direct mail and Internet materials support.
Likewise, Midwest Airlines has extended its own frequent flying program to include pets. Under the airline’s Premier Pet Program, pets can receive one free roundtrip flight after they fly with their owners on three paid roundtrip flights, or six paid one-way trips. Owners who are Midwest Miles members can also earn a free roundtrip flight for their pet by redeeming 15,000 miles.
No other domestic airline offers the flight redemption option to pets, said Susan Kerwin-Hagen, marketing coordinator for Midwest Airlines.
“Pets have evolved over the last few years,” Kerwin-Hagen said. “They’ve gone from being a pet to being part of the family. We want people to know that their pets are being well taken care of.”
The free flight offer for pets is available to owners who accumulate the set travel time within a three-year-time period. All pets, other than service animals, are kept in the airplane’s temperature controlled cargo hold area. A roundtrip flight for a pet costs $150.
The program, which launched last month, is open to all Midwest Airline passengers and is ongoing. The airline accepts any pet that can be transported safely in a kennel under Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, Kerwin-Hagen said. Dogs and cats make up the majority of traveling pets, she said.
Midwest Airlines started the program in response to passenger suggestions. The program coincides well with the airline’s brand identity, “The best care in the air,” Kerwin-Hagen said.
And starting March 1, Midwest Airlines will offer dogs that travel with their owners out of Milwaukee or Kansas City freshly baked carob chip dog cookies. As standard on Midwest flights, owners and other non-pet traveling passengers receive the airline’s signature chocolate chip cookies.
Internet materials support.
