A British airline is targeting a growing market in pet travel by launching a special frequent flyer scheme for jet-setting dogs, cats and other animals.
Thus far, four dogs and a cat have been signed up to Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Paws reward scheme since it was launched earlier this month, a spokesperson for the airline said on Friday.
Despite the cost — flying a pet from London to New York in the hold of a plane can cost around $730 — Virgin carried 1 250 animals last year, twice the number of the year before.
In a bid to tempt fussy pets onto their flights, dogs taking their first Virgin trip will be given a T-shirt and dog tag, while cats receive a toy mouse, and ferrets — a surprisingly popular animal companion for Britons — get a flying jacket and collar tag.
Once pets have notched up five ”paw prints” in their frequent flyer book they can acquire other goodies such as hand-made food bowls, while yet more trips win pedicures or Burberry, Prada and Gucci pet clothing.
Perhaps more likely in practice, the animals can instead donate their bonuses to their owners in the form of air miles. – Sapa-AFP