Why do more and more travelers take their pets in private Jet?

(CNN) - It seems that it was not long ago when private jets were considered completely unattainable for anyone who was not obscenely rich or famous, or both in some cases in some cases.

But private aviation has become much more accessible over the years, and there has been a particularly large change since 2019.

Not only did the use of the chaos of the trips caused by the pandemic shot (with numerous companies that report an increase in the reserves of new travelers in the world of private jets), but more and more are those that lead toYour pets on board.

The World Aviation CompanyJet reported an 86% increase in the number of animals that transported in the last two years, and it is not just about dogs and cats.

According to Matteo Atti, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Innovation of the company, one in four of its members now flies with a four -legged partner, while the amount of birds that are carried on board is also increasing.

"Rabbits are a new type of pet that has recently flown in Vistajet.And, although dogs are still most passengers with animals, the number of cats shot 357% from 2019 to 2020, "says Atti.

For its part, the American private Jets company Netjets has joined the significant increase of hairy partners aboard their flights by launching the hashtag #netpets to show some of their most adorable hairy travelers.

So what has caused this sudden increase in pets in private jets?

Vistajet suggests that the "rapid increase in pet adoptions" during the high point of the pandemic - the number of pets received in American homes shot 8% between March and September 2020, according to Petpoint, a computer program that hasmore than 1.200 shelters in your database - may have had something to do.

However, Daniel Hirschhorn, co -founder of the private charter flight company Luxury Aircraft Solutions and the monthly membership program Jetmembership.com, believe that this trend is largely due to the general lifestyle change that many have experienced due to the impact of COVID-19.

"We are seeing an increase in the level of leisure trips compared to business trips," he tells CNN Travel."You are not going to take your dog to your meeting, but you will undoubtedly take it to your other house, if that is convenient for you,".

"We are also seeing people who have much more flexible work schedules, so they are able to travel with their pets more often, or use that vacation house that could have only been for a weekend and stay for aweek or two weeks or one month ".

Hirschhorn, who says that his company based in New York took a 74% leap in passengers who fly with pets since 2019, also observe an increase in reserves for entire families, as opposed to only one or two people traveling together.

"Let's say you have a plane with eight seats," he explains."You may have seen two or three people traveling (before), now you are seeing an average of five or six people".

Changing dynamics

"Therefore, it is a kind of changing dynamics, in who travels and why, what is causing the increase in pets.I don't think (the increase) is because there are more people with pets.I think they are simply finding more time to be with their pets ".

Katelynn Stege, from Texas, says that during the pandemic he has taken more private flights with his Australian farmer Moose, and states that the comfort and comfort they offer are incomparable.

"Flying privately allows your pet to be with you and people with whom he is familiar and feel comfortable, while on a commercial flight you can not always sit alongside people you know," Stege tells CNN Travel by email by email.

"They (animals) are free to stretch their legs and wander a little instead of being encased on a commercial flight".

Stege, who spends an average of US $ 30.000 per flight and always uses netjets, says he has never flown by commercial plane with any of his dogs because he considers that the process is simply too stressful for large animals.

At present, many commercial airlines allow travelers to transport a cat or a small dog that weighs less than 11 kilograms in the passenger cabin, provided that the animal goes in a transporter that fits under the front seat.

However, larger dogs should fly in a cage in the load cellar, which ultimately implies a certain level of risk.

The convenience factor

In January, a new regulation of the Department of Transportation entered into force that made several airlines, including Jetblue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, prohibited their owners from taking pets on board as emotional support animals,A practice that allowed larger animals to travel in the cabin.

It is likely that this important change of norm has driven some of those who depend on their pets as emotional support animals and private aviation can be allowed to take the step.

"Without a doubt, there are people who fly by private plane to avoid having to put their pet in the loading cellar or embark on their pet elsewhere and not carry it," adds Hirschhorn."So we are also seeing an upward trend in this regard".

However, due to the considerable price difference between flying by commercial plane and private plane, Hirschhorn believes that it is unlikely that this involves a remarkable increase, simply because many pets with pets will not have the money to pay the fees of airplanesprivate.

"It's not that (many people say) 'I can't take my pet on a normal flight that costs US $ 500, so let me spend US $ 15.000 '", adds.

"Certainly comes into play, but it is such a big leap in the price that I don't think it is a real decisive factor for many people".

The changing travel restrictions and the general uncertainty of the last 18 months have also taken some devotees - and wealthy - pet owners to send private planes to collect them and meet them.

"We just sent two cats on a private plane to Mykonos earlier this summer," said Ikenna Ordor, general director of the British rental company of private planes Starr Luxury Jets, to the British newspaper Daily Telegraph earlier this year.

"They had left them with a babysitter, but the owner wanted to stay more time and missed them very much".

Free of stress

Recently, Hirschhororn organized a reservation for a customer located in California that had just adopted a Penchavania dog, and requested a private plane to pick up his new pet, along with a human companion, and leave it, with an estimated cost of US $ 30.000.

"I think the pandemic has normalized that kind of behavior in which people say: 'bring it (to my animal)'", he adds.

"Obviously, most people would not want to spend that kind of money to adopt a dog, but this was a situation in which to get the dog was more important than money".

For Stege, who works in a gas and oil services company, one of the greatest advantages of traveling by private plane with his Moose dog is to avoid any situation that may be distressing for him.

"You can drive to the plane and climb with your pet without putting it in the stressful situation of going through the safety of the airport and being surrounded by a lot of strangers and strong noises that occur in an airport," he explains.

Hirschhorn shares this opinion, since he considers that most of the passengers of private airplanes that take their pets just want to be sure that the animals are calm while traveling, and they are not so worried about the luxury of the experience or the possibility of savingA few thousand dollars.

"It's not just about you can take a very beautiful photo of your dog for Instagram," he jokes."It is rather the comfort of being with your animals all the time and not having to worry about who drives them and what they are doing.Or if your animal is upset or not ".

"Once you really break down, and take away the dollars and cents, so it is basically asking 'Is the member of my family well?'"

"That is what I think many pet owners think.And I have dogs myself, so I understand ".