Having a hard time determining which airline takes best care of your pet?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun reporting the loss or death of—or injuries to—animals carried on passenger flights of U.S. airlines. Reports will be monthly.
The first formal statistics are from May 2005, and were released in July.
There were four reported deaths of animals and five injuries. One animal was lost.
Continental reported the most animal deaths—two. Alaska and US Airways reported one each.
Alaska, Comair (Delta Connection), Continental, Frontier, and Northwest each reported one injury.
One pet was reported lost in May, this by US Airways.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals applauds the move by DOT to report, but doesn’t think it goes far enough. "It’s a step in the right direction," Lisa Weisberg, ASPCA’s senior vice president of government affairs and public policy, says.
"Ideally what we wanted was for airlines to change the cargo holds in which animals are transported," she says. Right now, most of those holds are merely pressurized. "The temperature is not regulated, and they’re not ventilated."
It’s that environment that has largely led to death or injury, she says. Weisberg says some 2 million animals travel annually aboard U.S. commercial airliners. Industry estimates are that 1 percent of them have died, are hurt, or lost. "That’s 20,000 animals," Weisberg says. "And that’s too many."
Who does the best job of transporting pets? We won’t know for sure until DOT releases figures. ASPCA hopes with these numbers, the public will put pressure on airlines with higher injury and mortality rates to improve safety. For now, consider the approaches of these five carriers:
Continental…Consistently rated among the best people movers, Continental would probably get a paw print of approval from Fluffy or Fido. Under Continental’s PetSafe® program, animals are not accepted as checked baggage. Instead, pets traveling in the cargo hold do so via Quickpak, the airline’s same-day delivery service. Small pets can also travel in the passenger cabin, in appropriate containers. Continental operates a 24-hour live animal desk (800-575-3335) to keep owners informed.
What makes the airline’s program interesting is that you can rack up OnePass frequent-flyer miles when using PetSafe’s Quickpak service.
America West…Virtually all airlines impose some sort of summertime restrictions on transporting pets as cargo. Temperatures soar out on the tarmac. With hubs in Phoenix and Las Vegas, America West nixes pets as cargo year round. They’ll transport small animals aboard aircraft, but only in the passenger cabin.
JetBlue…JetBlue’s vaunted on-time performance depends on turning around flights fast. That’s one of the main reasons it too doesn’t accept pets in cargo. They’ve got to fly in the main cabin.
Southwest…The nation’s leading low-fare carrier neatly skirts the whole issue by refusing to let most pets on board its 737s—either in the belly or the cabin. The only exception: service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs.
American…Then there’s this: Two years ago, on a Dallas/Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. flight, a puppy was traveling in the cargo hold as checked baggage. Just after takeoff, the captain got an indication there was a problem with the cargo compartment’s environmental system. Instead of flying on, he returned to DFW, removed the animal from the belly of the airplane, and upgraded him to the first class cabin.
Lucky dog.
A tip: Don’t just show up at the airport with your pooch in a portable pen and expect to carry him on the airplane. Carriers limit the number of animals permitted on each flight—and you’ve got to pay extra, anywhere from $50 to $100. Call ahead for a reservation, even if the animal is going to be under the seat in front of you.
Stay!—10 Great Places to Bring Your Dog
“A Dog’s Life” at hotels these days might include a special welcome, homemade meals, and spa treatments. With so many people traveling with their pets, especially dogs, hotels have gone all out to welcome them.
Chains like Loews (which took pet friendliness to a new level) and Kimpton have chain-wide programs that require a minimum standard for pets. And W Hotels boasts Pets Are Welcome (P.A.W.) that features puppy psychic readings and doggie birthday cakes.
In picking some of the best places to bring a dog, several considerations were employed, including:
* The goodies that your best friend will receive
* The overall environment of the place
* Nearby attractions that human and canine might enjoy together
There are now thousands of places that will welcome your pooch, but the following were chosen for variety of geography, style and appeal.
(Canine caveat: Some of these places do have weight restrictions and/or extra fees, so check.)
1) Cypress Inn (Carmel, California): Nobody loves animals more than Doris Day. In 1986, the actress and her partners bought this hotel and made it very pet friendly—providing doggie blankets, beds, bowls and biscuits. As part of evening turndown, owners get chocolate and dogs get biscuits.
Doggies will like Carmel because they can walk unleashed on Carmel Beach; and the local mall, Carmel Plaza, has a new dog fountain called The Fountain of Woof (get it?). (800-443-7443; www.cypress-inn.com)
2) Don CeSar (St. Pete Beach, Florida): This resort prides itself on its dog friendliness and even offers a lavish Pampered Pets Package that includes: a trip to dog-friendly Ft. DeSoto Park; dog owner massage; dog massage; pet owner lesson to massage dog; gourmet dog biscuits; Bow Wow Beef Stew with Evian water via room service; pet body shampoo/manicure; breakfast buffet for two adults per day (the package starts at $769 weeknights; $869 on weekends. (866-728-2206; www.doncesar.com)
3) W Hotel Los Angeles: At check-in dogs receive a pet toy and a treat, a W pet tag, clean-up bags, and a welcome letter about special pet services. In the room is a custom W pet bed, food and water bowl with floor mat, pet-in-room door sign, and special treat at turndown. Through the concierge, guests can arrange dog sitting, dog walking, locations of the nearest dog parks and dog runs, grooming services, pet stores and birthday cake. Available are leashes, toys, food, treats, “wee wee” pads, and first aid kits. (888-625-4988; www.starwood.com)
4) Tenaya Lodge: Located in Yosemite National Park, this property has a “Canine Companion” package that is aimed at pleasing dog and owner. For a nightly fee of $75, in addition to the nightly room rate, guests receive a complimentary chew stick, biscuits, “poop scoop” disposable mitts, use of a water bowl and plush dog bed, and Tenaya’s Canine Concierge guide. Sightseeing dogs staying at this classic mountain resort will enjoy the torrents of Yosemite Falls, the grandeur of El Capitan Peak, the majesty of Hall Dome (and there’s more about the sights in the concierge guide. (800-635-5807; www.tenayalodge.com)
5) Hotel Indigo Atlanta: Yes, there’s a Canine Cocktail Hour every Tuesday through the summer; it runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the hotel donates a dollar from every Indigo Martini toward the Piedmont Park Dog Park (a local park). The events feature complimentary treats and water bar; pet “photo ops” in the signature Hotel Indigo chair, and a menu that includes sirloin steak and grilled chicken.
In addition, the hotel’s “innkeeper” Gabrielle is a dog lover who keeps treats in her office and has a bulletin board with photos of dogs who have visited the hotel. And pups love the patio overlooking Peachtree Street. (877-8-INDIGO; www.hotelindigo.com)
6) Loews Philadelphia: A gourmet pet room service menu includes the same food that human guests would eat; recipes were developed with a vet to ensure nutritional value. Puppy pagers allow guests to be contacted if there is an emergency with their pet; also here are pet walking and sitting services, videos for pets, pet beds, leashes and other pet items. On check-in, four-legged guests receive a special amenity, a bag of goodies with a water bowl, mat, biscuits and more. Recently, the hotel hosted a Must Love Dogs (a new movie) Mutt Mingle where singles and their dogs met up to drink Mutt-inis and Bark-eritas. (800-23-LOEWS; www.loewshotels.com)
7) Las Ventanas al Paraiso (Los Cabos, Mexico): Here, dogs can enjoy dinners of Rin Tin Tin (shredded braised beef and steamed rice) on their private patio or gaze through a personal telescope. The day’s activities may include lounging on a private beach and napping in a private dog cabana where Doggie Delights are served. And chefs will prepare made-to-order meals anytime of day; dogs can enjoy neck massages, full body massages or grooming. (888-ROSEWOOD; www.lasventanas.com)
8) Wyndham Peaks Resort & Golden Door Spa: Guestrooms are appointed with adjustable food and water bowls to accommodate different sized dogs; and plush doggy beds. In the Golden Door Spa, there is a specially outfitted, dog-friendly wet treatment room where licensed therapists can treat canines to a 25-minute massage. Prior to departure, guests can visit the canine consignment boutique to purchase reminders of their stays, including fleece sweaters, mittens, fancy leashes, collars and toys; spa robes can be custom-made for pooches. There is access to 250 hiking trails and a river right in front of the resort. The entire town is geared toward pedestrians and has designated “puppy parking” areas as well as special cars for pets on the free gondola. (800-WYNDHAM; www.wyndham.com)
9) The Chesterfield (Palm Beach): This hotel in ritzy Palm Beach offers beds for cats and dogs in guestrooms, a pet sitter, a gift basket, pooper scoopers, and referrals to a top groomer or vet. The property even welcomes leashed pups in their outdoor dining facilities and pool area. (877-955-1515; www.chesterfieldpb.com)
10) Delamar (Greenwich, Connecticut): A “Sophisticated Pet” program at this hotel in upscale Greenwich provides a comfy doggie bed, personalized ID tag, food and water bowls, and a bottle of VOSS Artesian water. The pet receives a personalized welcome note from the general manager and a copy of the Pet Services Menu that lists special services such as walking, grooming and local area pet activities. The hotel has four “pet friendly” rooms reserved specifically for animal lovers. (866-335-2627; www.thedelamar.com)
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