VIP Service for Dogs

Traveling with a dog can be quite challenging. People may be confused about the various things that need to be prepared. This situation has become an opportunity for businesses. One brand that provides services for dogs called Bark helps solve this problem.

In mid-April, Bark launched a new travel service, namely Bark Air. Working with jet charter companies, Bark Air is designed to prioritize four-legged travelers, followed by their owners, so they can travel together comfortably and safely.

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During the launch, the airline stated that they will serve flights from New York through Westchester County Airport (HPN) to Los Angeles via Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and to London, England through Stansted Airport (STN). Bark Air's first flight will take off from New York on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Many people leave their dogs behind when they board a plane to go somewhere. Meanwhile, flying experience can be frightening for dogs.

The Business Recorder report states that the airline is dedicated to dogs and their owners. They will begin offering flights with a Gulfstream 550 private jet. The company aims to revolutionize air travel services for dogs. Rates will start at $6,000 US dollars one-way for domestic flights in the US and $8,000 US dollars for transatlantic flights. This price includes one seat for one person plus one dog.

"The current price is still expensive because we have to spend a large amount of money to operate this flight," said CEO Bark and one of the founders, Matt Meeker. If demand increases, they will lower the price. On the Bark Air website, the promotion "Finally Dog Can Fly" is written.

How did Bark come up with this idea? Many people leave their dogs when they take a plane to go somewhere. While the experience of flying can be frightening for dogs. There is a possibility that the animals could be injured or have even worse problems. They also have to prepare adequate pet carriers. On the other hand, sometimes there are flying restrictions in some cases. Bark Air wants to solve this problem amidst the increasing love for dogs.

"Allowing dogs to travel too often is often prohibited, confined to backpacks, or subjected to pressure while flying in cargo," the company said in a press release. Realizing these challenges, and the increasing demand for easily accessible solutions, Bark Air offers a more enjoyable and better option for dogs when traveling with their owners. With Bark Air, dogs are side by side and close to their owners and are in the same cabin.

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It doesn't take long to prepare a dog to enter a plane. They estimate 45 minutes for the owner and the dog to enter the airport. Simple reporting and inspections are done, and then the officers will take the dog to the cabin equipped with calming aids such as music, warm lavender-scented towels, and pheromones, which mimic the natural chemical substances emitted by animals that help them communicate, as well as other comforts.

In addition, the officers on the plane will also provide snacks, earplugs to muffle noise, and calming jackets. All of this is provided to ensure that every dog feels comfortable when taking off. It is understandable that dogs will experience stress when the journey begins. The airline crew will do their best to ensure that the dogs are comfortable.

All of this is provided to ensure each dog is comfortable when off-leash.

Even though their idea succeeded in attracting attention from various groups, there was criticism of this innovation VIP service for dogs. Some people argue that the market is too small, ticket prices are too expensive, and handling dogs during flights is very difficult. Chances are, people won't want to buy this service again.

However, despite facing these assumptions, they began with various preparations. In addition to technical preparations, they also made promotional plans. Adweek reported on how the agency created promotional material for this service. They faced a public who assumed that this service was just a sensation.

"The hardest part is convincing people that this airline is real," said CEO Tombras, the agency handling the promotion of Bark Air, Jeff Benjamin. Therefore, they acknowledge that when designing this material, they experienced tension related to the "strange" service.

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