BarkBox launching ultra-luxe private jet for people and their pets

• Bark Air is set to launch flights between NYC and LA and NYC and London in May
• A one-way ticket, for one passenger plus one animal, costs up to $8,000
• The service was inspired by Bark CEO Mark Meeker’s late Great Dane, Hugo, whose adventures were limited thanks to commercial airline regulations

Pet-product brand Bark has decided to expand its offerings to air travel, with the experience specifically designed around the comfort of four-legged companions.

The company, known for the BarkBox – a monthly subscription that ships toys, treats and even experiences catered to your pet – is launching flights on the dog-friendly private jet service in May 23rd, rolling out flights between NYC and LA, and between NYC and London the following week.

One-way tickets for one passenger and one pet on the NYC / LA service start at $6,000, while seats between London and NYC go for $8,000 each.

Bark’s co-founder and CEO Mark Meeker explained to The Washington Post that the inspiration for the specialized private air transport service arose from his struggles traveling with his own late Great Dane, Hugo, who passed away in December 2021.

Bark has launched Bark Air, a chartered private-jet service catering to canines with wealthy-enough owners to shell out up to $8,000 per one-way ticket

On its May 2024 launch, Bark Air will offer service between NYC and LA, and NYC and London

Hugo had traversed the United States and Canada in his 12-year lifetime, but had never been able to accompany Meeker to the West Coast or to Europe, thanks in large part due to commercial travel challenges around his large size.

What’s more, taking any pet on a standard commercial airplane is a risky prospect. For 2022, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics received reports of seven animal deaths, one injury, and one lost animal that took place in the course of commercial air travel.

(Though that’s still a vast improvement from years past: Back in 2010, the number of pets injured, lost or killed amid commercial air travel annually was estimated to be in the thousands.)

Meeker took things even farther to investigate how pets are treated on planes, arranging to himself be put in a crate that was rolled across a tarmac and loaded into a plane’s cargo, where he stayed for just shy of an hour.

‘It was very cramped, very dark. Loud noises. Disorienting. No food or water. Nowhere to go to the bathroom,’ Meeker told The Post.

‘It was very, very terrible.’

But Bark Air is offering more than just basic, common-sense safety measures for the pets of the well-to-do – pushing an ultra-luxe experience for on-board animals.

Pet-ssengers aboard the chartered flights can sip on ‘dog champagne’ – which is actually just chicken broth – or cozy up in ‘pheromone-scented’ blankets during the flights.

The service was in part inspired by Bark CEO Mark Meeker’s late Great Dane, Hugo, whose travels were limited due to strict regulations around large dogs being on commercial airlines

Any particularly high-strung pups can also take advantage of noise-cancelling ear muffs.

Prior to take off, the pups can get to know one another in a private area of the Bark Air terminals.

Meanwhile, private chefs will be stationed at the Bark Air terminals to cook ‘custom meals’ for the human passengers prior to take off – though complimentary drinks and snacks will also be available during the flights.

While in the air, dogs are free to roam about the cabin, so long as they stay on good behavior.

High-quality treats and snacks for the dogs are of course available throughout.

Upon their arrival at their destination, a car service will be arranged to whisk the pampered pup and their owner to any location of their choice within a 30-mile distance of the airport.

Meeker told The Post of the dogs piled on board together during a test run of Bark Air that there weren’t any concerning canine clashes.

‘They would say hello to the other dogs and say hello to the other people. Everyone was very calm about it,’ said Meeker.

‘For dogs who were a little more nervous, or people who were more nervous for their dogs, we have a place on the plane for them to sit without anyone bothering them.’

Still, Meeker acknowledges that the price point is daunting one for even the most doting dog owners.

On May 23rd – the day Bark Air launches – comparable one-way, nonstop business-class tickets between NYC and LA start between $700 and $800.

From New York to London the same day, nonstop business-class tickets start at more than $2,200 – though at least one remaining business-class fare from London to New York comes to just below $2,000, as of this writing.

Still, business-class fares on British Airways between NYC and London can easily cost in excess of $10,000, putting the steep prices of Bark Air into perspective in the costly landscape of commercial air travel.

Commercial airlines also generally charge a fee of up to $200 per pet – but only with a shaky guarantee of their safety, and zero promise of a humane environment, for the duration of their itinerary, spanning one or more flights.

And such offerings – of simple safety sand comfort – are no doubt priceless to those who love their animal companions.

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