This Dogs-First Airline Just Launched a Game-Changer for Pet Travel

As someone who loves dogs but isn’t exactly a fan of flying, I find there’s nothing more comforting than spotting a pup on board. My favorite flight ever was when a large golden doodle sat on its human’s lap the entire time across the aisle from me. For a minute, his sweet face almost made me forget I was in a metal tube 32,000 feet above the earth, and frankly, he was more polite than most of the people I’ve sat next to on planes.

So when I first heard about Bark Air, the first airline for dogs (and their human companions), I was thrilled. Founded in 2024, Bark Air has flown more than 1,000 dogs across 142 flights and nearly 4,000 miles with $6M in revenue in its first year of operation.

And why wouldn’t it be so successful? People are devoted to their canine companions on a whole different level than even 10 years ago. ​​In 2024, Americans spent over $183 billion on their pets, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That same year, 22% of both cat and dog owners reported taking their animals on at least three flights that year, according to a report from the American Pet Products Association. With more and more hotels launching dog packages and perks, the pet-friendly hotel market is expected to grow to $3.32B in 2029. In short, traveling with your pet has never been easier.

Plus, some of these hotel packages for dogs are fancy. At the Conrad Washington in D.C., their Lab of Luxury package—priced at $5,999—includes a two-night stay in a Bark View Suite, as well as a Hermès pet collar and leash and a Tiffany & Co. water bowl. Not too shabby! Some of these packages also allow you to give back. The Harbor Court Hotel in San Francisco Bay welcomes four-legged travelers of all sizes, and guests who opt out of housekeeping can feel good knowing that a portion of revenue from their stay will be donated to Muttville, a local senior dog rescue.

Even without a Hermès collar, traveling with your dog is almost easier than setting up care for them and having to turn away from those puppy dog eyes when they sit in your suitcase. They deserve to be on a BARK Air plane, lying down on the aisle, eating a platter of Beefy Meat Hunks with a brown leather loafer centerpiece and drinking (well, slurping) bone-broth “champagne”.

Beyond the Plane: BARK Air’s Next Big Move

And now BARK Air is taking it a step further and completely changing the pet travel game with their newly launched Companion Concierge. When you travel with The Companion Concierge, dogs and their humans have access to custom on-the-ground itineraries, city guides, and more support in every aspect of the dog’s journey—whether flying commercial or private, they’ll help with paperwork, dog-first ground transport, managing animal regulations, etc.

The best part? You don’t even need to fly BARK Air to get this access, as this will now be available to all travelers as part of the company’s strategic shift toward becoming a true holistic dog hospitality brand. While concierge services have been a pillar of BARK Air since its inception with the company’s “Happy Team,” with the debut of a standalone concierge service designed to handle the logistics, The Companion Concierge service builds on this momentum of pet travel, providing a low barrier entry point for those eager to seamlessly explore the world with their dogs.

Companion Concierge services start at $500, and for those who book the Companion Concierge and choose to fly BARK Air, they will receive $500 back as credit for their flight.

So now, when you are planning your next trip, you know you have a great option for bringing along the family pet.