Survey finds 78% of people would fly private with their pets if they could, and almost as many, 77%, have dreaded flying with their kids at some point.
VANCOUVER, WASH. – Digital platform KinectAir announced that dogs and cats fly free aboard their flights anywhere. KinectAir’s recent survey of 1,000 Americans across the country discovered that 78% would fly their animals on a private plane for safer transportation if they had the opportunity to do so and that more than half, 53%, were not comfortable putting their pet in a cargo hold. The survey also revealed data about family air travel, including that 77% of respondents have dreaded flying with their kids at some point.
“We give people incredible flying experiences, whether that’s families traveling together, friends on a weekend trip, or teams on business,” said Jonathan Evans, CEO of KinectAir. “When it comes to families, nobody should dread flying with their own children or feel like they have no choice but to leave their pet behind. Our ‘Dogs & Cats Fly Free’ policy for pets that are medically able to fly keeps the whole family together for a breathtaking experience that’s safe and comfortable. And having your pet on the plane can keep the kids entertained too!”
Fido and Fluffy are less stressed in the cabin
KinectAir’s private flights are the perfect, accessible solution for people who need or want to travel with their pets. For free, dogs of any size can sit with their owners in the cabin on suitable aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 and Beechcraft King Air and cats can sit comfortably in the cabin in their carriers, and never have to leave their humans’ side or travel in a cargo hold, something a majority of passengers are uncomfortable with.
By contrast, when flying commercial with a pet, rules are extensive and strict, and costs add up fast. In the cabin, airlines often require the combined weight of the carrier and pet not to exceed 20 pounds and they always require that a pet must be in a carrier that fits under the seat in front of the passenger and that the animal must be able to stand up and turn around while inside. Otherwise, the pet must fly in the cargo hold, if that option is available. It isn’t on many routes. Bags might fly free on some airlines, but the fees for both airline cabin and cargo pet travel are substantial, generally exceeding $100 and charged each way, and even per leg, if the layover is more than four hours.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, The Humane Society of the United States and major airlines themselves cite the stressors pets can experience when transported as cargo, including excessive hot and cold temperatures, poor ventilation, rough handling and exposure to unfamiliar environments and movements. There have been many cases where medium-sized and larger dogs required to travel as cargo unfortunately suffered greatly. “With our ‘Dogs & Cats Fly Free’ policy, our aim is to keep the family fully together on a beautiful flight and try to reduce the chances of a pet suffering or experiencing high stress, separation anxiety and other issues possible with cargo travel,” added Evans.
Flying with your kids should be enjoyable
The KinectAir survey sought to understand more about Americans’ feelings regarding travel companions, discovering that, while 78% would like to fly private with their pets, a whopping 77% have at some point dreaded plane travel with their own kids, for reasons many parents understand. More respondents cited that “it’s hard to keep kids occupied” (48%) than any other reason. Half of those surveyed (50%) agreed travel by car was their most preferred way to travel with kids.
But they also revealed that, on other occasions, they have enjoyed flying with their kids for multiple reasons, including that the family gets to their destination faster (55%), the kids enjoy flying (54%), and that they want their kids to be well traveled (46%).
Tailoring convenient, trusted charter flight to people’s needs—anywhere
KinectAir is challenging the status quo in aviation and offering its free-to-all, point-to-point flight booking app nationwide at Fly.KinectAir.com. The AI-backed app transforms the way air travel works by making private flying, with all of its flexibility, fun, comfort and profound hassle-free advantages, much more accessible to the general public. The company’s unique and powerful software puts partner Part 135 operators into a cooperative network that brings private charter—that’s capable of leveraging most of the 5,000 underutilized public airports in the U.S.—to a wider demographic than ever before at a price point that often beats commercial first and business class pricing.
The app gives people real-time choices on personalized routes, tailored to passengers’ schedules, far beyond what’s available at big, crowded airports, where cancellations and delays are the norm. Families can have brilliant experiences with their children and their furry friends, the latter at no additional cost.
“The air travel industry is on the edge of a seismic technological shift where poor airline and airport experiences and ever-increasing prices will become a thing of the past as private flight becomes more and more accessible to Americans,” said Evans.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
