Pet Airways Will Get Your Pet There Safely and in Style

I can't even begin to tell you the problems we've had trying to move our pets across long distances. While dogs may like car trips, cats, on the other hand, are nothing but stressed. Our cats have flown more times than I can count and it's always a problem to find an airline that won't keep them in the cargo hold (where temperatures are freezing). So, it's exciting to learn that a new airline dedicated to pets has taken flight in the continental US.

PetAirways: Quick Facts

Before we begin, please note that I have yet to use their services so the information provided below comes from the company's website and from other organizations who support their efforts.

· What do they offer? Service to and from New York, Washington DC/Baltimore Area, Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, and Atlanta.

· What does it cost? According to their website, flights start at $149. I tried to see if I could book a flight, but there were no dates available. I've contacted the company to check on reservations and how many flights they have operating on any given day.

· How does PetAirways differ from a regular airline? Most airlines process pets as cargo, meaning that they're placed in a part of the plane dedicated to packages and parcels. Often, these areas are not heated, not regulated and the animals are never checked during the flight. Changes in temperature are frequent and depending on the season, your pet may suffer from heat exhaustion or from freezing cold temperatures. In addition, when pets fly cargo, you often have to check them in between 3-4 hours prior to departure. On the arrival end, pets can sometimes sit in cargo for 1-2 hours after landing. This means that if your pet's flight time is 4 hours, they could be constrained to their carrier for up to 10 hours. On PetAirways, your pet is always monitored and given pee breaks/walks during the flight. They're treated as "pawsengers" as the company likes to say, not cargo.

· What are the planes like? The company uses turbo-prop 19-passenger planes. The seats and overhead storage bins have been removed and replaced by a restraint system that keeps your pet's carrier in place during the flight. Pets are monitored by in-flight attendants so someone is there to ensure your pet's safety.

· Can I fly with my pet? No. Unfortunately, humans aren't allowed to travel with their pets. Pets who fly with PetAirways arrive at local airports and can be picked up from PetAirways' locations that are usually close to major airports (for LAX, for instance, pets are picked up at the company location just 1 mile from the airport).

· Where can I find more information? First, check out the company website atpetairways.com. Also, check back at Moving with Pets at moving.about.com for updates to this article. Hopefully, we'll be posting an interview with the company owners soon.