JetBlue Airways recently unveiled JetPaws–a program being marketed as an exclusive new in-cabin program that is designed to provide pet owners with helpful travel guidelines and rules for jetting with small dogs and cats.
As part of the new program, customers will receive two bonus award points for each flight through JetBlue’s TrueBlue customer loyalty program.
The idea behind this is that it may benefit human customers since they will earn free travel faster when traveling with Fido or Fluffy.
The group is giving away a Pet Travel Guide along with a Pet Travel Checklist. I’ve seen better information online but it is still early in the program and I imagine they will add more to these products in the future.
As part of this new program, JetBlue has partnered with Cindy Adams, a New York Post columnist, who incidentally has designed a pet carrier kit.
There is also a pet travel kit which includes a pet blanket, rubber bone and travel dish. Both are available for sale online.
An estimated 80,000 pets travel on JetBlue each year and the JetPaws program is designed to make traveling with pets a smoother experience.
Other JetPaws program elements include a special welcome email for pet owners within one week of their booking and complimentary access to the downloadable e-booklets (links above) highlighting pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, parks and animal hospitals in some of JetBlue’s top cities, including: Boston; Fort Lauderdale; Las Vegas; Long Beach/L.A.; New York; Orlando; San Francisco; and Washington, D.C.
One of the reasons I thought I would mention this new program is that until December 30, 2008 you can participate in the JetBlue Pet Look-Alike photo contest.
To enter just email the photo to jetpaws@jetblue.com. Some restrictions apply so click here for official rules or to enter online.
Only one photo per email address may be submitted and be sure to include your first and last name along with your pet’s name.
JetBlue will post the top submissions during the contest and judging will be done by the airline’s crew members from December 31, 2008 to January 9, 2009.
The grand prize winner will receive roundtrip travel for two to any of the airline’s 51 destinations, and four runner-ups will receive a JetPaws Pet Carrier and Pet Travel Kit.
Now if you have traveled with pets before you know that pet airline travel is far from ideal.
Here are some of the JetBlue limitations:
- JetBlue accepts up to four small cats or dogs in the cabin of the aircraft on both domestic and international flights.
- The combined weight of the pet and carrier may not exceed 20 pounds.
- Only one pet is allowed per customer and the pet carrier does count as one personal carry-on item.
- For the safety and comfort of all customers, pets must remain in the closed carrier at the airport and in-flight for the entire duration of the trip.
- To book a pet, customers must call the reservations team at 1-800-JETBLUE.
In the next part of this series I’ll talk about a new pet airline where pets travel in the cabins of the planes with fewer restrictions than is currently offered from any other carriers.
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My experience with Jet Blue’s Pet Paw Program was awful. They charged $100 to $150 to put my pet under a seat which is space where passengers are entitled to put carry on luggage for free!
I do not believe the Pet Paw Program is friendly to animals. In my experience the crew treats baggage better than a living animal.
The crew was not inclined to be helpful when I was tried to place the animal carrier under the seat. In fact, on two flights I recently took, they were absolutely rude.
In my opinion, JET BLUE would be better labeled JET RUDE and TV sets do not make up for rude insensitive flight attendants, and gate personnel.
@Jim: Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the Jet Paws program but we have nothing to do with it.
Airline travel with pets has been a nightmare
for many, many years. We suggest you direct your
frustration in a direct letter of complaint to the
Jet Paws program. Be sure to list the names of the flight
attendants and gate personnel in question.
Consider trying the new Pet Airways program which will
lauch shortly–the estimated price is $150 per pet. Let us
know how that goes for you.