Bark Air officially takes off with its first flight on Thursday, May 23. The flight, which departed from New York to Los Angeles at 4:00 p.m. EST, was sold out.
Back in April, the dog brand BARK first introduced the airlines designed for dogs first, and hooman companions second.
“Too often, dogs are denied travel, confined to a duffle bag, or endure the stress of flying in cargo,” BARK writes in their April announcement.
“Recognizing these challenges, and the increasing demand for an accessible solution, BARK Air presents a more fun – and humane – option for dogs traveling with their two-legged human companions.”
Staying true to the statement about the airline prioritizing the needs of the dogs first and their hoomans second, dogs on board are offered treats, beds, blankets, noise-cancelling ear muffs, a beverage of their choice, an emergency bag filled with essentials like poop bags, and so much more!
CBS News reports that BARK Air will operate as a public charter service, flying on spacious Gulfstream G5 jets that can accommodate at least 10 dogs and their hooman companion.
While each ticket purchased is for a dog and one hooman companion, BARK Air offers a limited amount of additional human tickets that will come with an additional cost.
Furthermore, dogs of all sizes and breeds are welcome in the flights, and there are no separate seating areas for large and small dogs.
BARK Air said, “No other airline lets dogs be dogs.”
BARK Air also reveals that human children under the age of 18 are not allowed to fly. In one of their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), BARK Air explains, “According to a recent national poll, 87% of table scraps are dropped by children. Unfortunately, the same poll shows that children are responsible for 100% of tail pulling.”
The dog airlines also addressed other questions such as the limited routes they offer and the ticket prices.
BARK Air said they’ll be adding more domestic and international routes soon. “Please let us know if there’s a particular part of the world you want to pee on,” their FAQ read.
They also acknowledged the fact that the plane tickets, which starts at $6,000, are indeed pricey. But they gave the assurance that their goal over time is to bring the ticket prices down significantly as they slowly expand.
While the first flight from New York to Los Angeles on May 23 was sold out, there are still a few tickets left for their flights for the rest of May.
You can check out all their available routes and flights here.