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I’m torn about “Bark Air.” The folks behind the Bark Box dog toy subscriptions (which are brilliant, especially for pooches who go through toys rapidly) have launched an “airline.” By “airline” they mean they are chartering private airplanes for dog owners to book a pair of seats: one for them, and one for their best friend.

Bark Air’s motto is “no dog should fly in a crate.” And they stand behind it. On the airline’s inaugural flight, the CEO spent the entire three hour, 27 minute trip packed into a crate in the hold.

I completely agree with this. It seems cruel to make a dog spend a long flight in a dark, loud hold. But here’s where my mixed feelings come from: It is also irresponsible overkill to charter a private jet for ten dogs. And that’s exactly what Bark Air is doing.

I’ll be honest, as a dog person I’m a sucker for Bark Air’s cute marketing. Their marketing materials are all written for dogs taking their human on a flight. They promise room to socialize, plentiful snacks, and pee pads in case of an emergency.

A dog and a person sit inside a Gulfstream V for a Bark Airlines flight
Bark Air’s passengers | Bark Air

Bark Air is currently chartering private business jets for nonstop flights between London, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris. Their planes have 30 seats, organized in pairs. But to make sure there is plenty of space to play, the airline only fills up 20 of these seats. One ticket includes a seat for a human, and for a dog. The cheapest flights are the weekly runs between New York and Los Angeles, and I’m seeing tickets at a nice round $6,000. The rarer flights to London or Paris will run at least $8,000.

These prices aren’t that steep, compared to a first-class plane ticket. I suppose if you were moving to Europe and only planned to fly your dog once, it might be a bargain. But the Gulfstream V that the airline is using burns 500 gallons an hour. Flying one from LA to NY will release over 20 tons of carbon emissions.

Again, I am completely charmed by Bark Air, its message, and its cute marketing. But I think there must be some sort of hybrid solution. Perhaps certain regular airline flights allow folks to buy tickets for their dogs, and sell the remaining seats to humans who have no allergies at a discount. Or maybe some full-size planes could be set up with a cabin for people and their dogs. If Bark Air proves there is a market for $8,000 human/dog tickets, other airlines will have an incentive to be more flexible.

Next, find out why turbulence is getting so bad it’s killed people, or see Bark Air’s CEO fly in a crate in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.