Features

Flying with Fido – from Guessing to Guaranteed

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Sherpa Pet Group and American Airlines Cooperate to make Flying with Fido Easier

By Claudine J. Randazzo

It’s been 20 years since Sherpa Pet Group created a soft-sided carrier for air travel. So much has changed with air travel in those two decades, that travelers are often left confused as to what airlines allow in terms of carry on baggage, checked baggage and how, when or if their pets can fly with them. Security is such an issue these days that any standardized luggage or procedures are welcome.

Enter the Guaranteed On Board Program, a cooperative endeavor created by Sherpa Pet Group and American Airlines. The program revolves around three pet carriers (two new ones) that have been approved by American Airlines for all U.S. domestic air travel. The second component to the program is the Guarantee On Board form that is easily accessed on Sherpa Pet Group’s website www.flygob.com. When a pet travels on American Airlines using one of the approved Sherpa carriers, this form must be filled out accurately, printed off of the website and brought to the airport for check-in. With these two components accompanying each other, boarding the plane for both human and animal passengers is guaranteed.

The carriers are available in three sizes, and they all have the American Airline’s signature red and blue pattern. The three sizes are the medium-size classic Sherpa Original and small- and medium-size Sherpa Sport carrier. They are available at Petco stores for $60 or online at www.petco.com.

If, for any reason excluding a damaged carrier or inaccurate information on the form, you and/or your pet are refused by the airline from boarding the plane, Sherpa Pet Group will refund your airfare. So from now on when you want to fly the Fido-friendly skies, using the Guaranteed On Board Program with American Airlines will take the guesswork out of the trip.

Other airlines that also participate in similar programs are:

• Airtran
• Alaska
• American
• Continental
• Delta
• Midwest
• Northwest
• Southwest

For complete information, visit www.sherpapetgroup.com

Sidebar:

To kick-off this new program that guarantees boarding for pets, Sherpa, American Airlines, Kimptom Resorts, Petco, AKC and CFC raffled off two trips for two people and one cabin-size pet. The winners traveled respectively to Miami and San Francisco. The Miami contingent included Lauren Burniac, Noel Trejo and Olive. The San Francisco contingent included Christine Traina, Roberta Panos and Shuga Pi.  All had time to play at the JFK airport’s grassy outdoor area before boarding the plane that was headed for pampering at Epic Hotel (the Kimptom hotel in Biscayne Bay) and Hotel Palomoar (the Kimptom hotel in San Francisco) and shopping sprees and Fido-friendly eating and romping.

Tipbits:

The Guaranteed On Board Program is simple: buy a Sherpa carrier from Petco or www.petco.com, fill out the information form at www.flygob.com, and head to the airport! As long as you did not forget to buy airplane tickets for you and Fido, you will all be airborne with no worries!

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Continued from the November/December 2009 issue of FIDO Friendly magazine.

To read this article in its entirety Subscribe to the November/December issue of FIDO Friendly magazine.

Issue 40 November/December 2009

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 8:16 pm and is filed under Features. You can leave a response by clicking here.