Pet travel takes off

Look around and it's clear pet owners are taking their furry ones with them more places these days. Have you noticed more small dogs and cats being carried onto planes with their owners in carry-on bags lately? The major carriers allow a limited number of small pets to fly in carry-on bags in passenger cabins. Banking on the bet that more pet owners would want their pets to fly if they could avoid stowing them in the cargo area of planes, an all-pet airline launched this week. Pet Airways will fly pets between five major cities--New York, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. Airfare runs from about $200 to $300 one way, though the Pet Airways website does say some flights start at $149. The price is not far off from the fees charged by airlines for pets traveling with you, either in the cabin or in cargo. The difference is, Pet Airways says, the pets will be checked on in their traveling crates every 15 minutes. And, if they are flying long routes that require stopovers, they will be walked, played with and cared for before the next leg of the trip.

It will be curious to see if a pet-only airline does well, especially during these shaky economic times. For other pet owners who may not be ready to let their pets fly without them, Petfinder has conducted its third annual ranking of the top five airlines for pet travel. Next year, Petfinder will take a look at Pet Airways, as well.

For 2009, this is how the major carriers stack up when it comes to transporting precious pet cargo:

1. Continental Airlines -- The PetSafe program is climate-controlled, allows for plenty of space for roomy carriers, and has a designated cargo staff and a 24-hour Live Animal Desk hotline to call. Petfinder says Continental is pricier than other airlines when it comes to pet travel; the airline website says you need to call for info on current rates.

2. JetBlue Airways -- Launched its pet-friendly JetPaws program last summer, providing a pet carrier bag tag, travel points, and a pet-travel guide. One way fees rose this year from $75 to $100.

3. Airtran -- Makes the list because its program is the most budget-friendly. The airline charges $69 each way for pet travel.

4. American Airlines -- Zoos trust this airline with an animal-trained staff to transport their animals in cargo. The airline also asks pet owners to make special notes for the care of their pets in cargo, and they promise to read and abide by requests.

5. United Airlines -- This airline accepts more kinds of animals than other carriers in the cabin--rabbits, birds, hamsters and guinea pigs among them.

Have you flown with pets lately? If so, do you like one airline over another. And tell us: Would you consider sending your furry one on a pet-only airline flight?