A partnership between a pet products manufacturer and a major domestic airline aims to reduce worries for people flying with companion animals.

Sherpa Pet Group L.L.C. (Rockaway, N.J.) designed three American Airlines-branded pet carriers with the promise that purchasers who fill out the proper paperwork will be guaranteed to board domestic American Airlines flights with their pets.

“We field calls every day from anxious pet owners who are all looking for the same thing—a guarantee that they will be able to board an airplane with their pet and not have any problems,” said Tim Ford, chief executive officer for Sherpa. “Only now, thanks to our unique partnership with one of the world’s leading airlines, American, are we able to offer the first guarantee of its kind in the industry.”

If a ticketed passenger fills out the Guaranteed On Board form accurately and complies with its terms and is still denied boarding, Sherpa will refund the price of the tickets for both customer and pet.
According to Sherpa’s Web site, partners in the “Guaranteed on Board” program include American Airlines, Midwest Airlines, AirTran, Continental Airlines, Delta, NWA, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Does that mean other human passengers—with allergies or a fear of animals, for example—will take a backseat to companion animals? American Airlines, in a written statement, said there are no set policies on how this program affects other ticketed customers, but the airline would do its best to mediate the situation.

“Our position and practice would be to do our best to mitigate any inconvenience to a customer who might have pet allergies or ‘phobias’—we would attempt to reseat the customer that had the allergies away from an onboard pet,” according to the statement.

“However, we would not refuse or inconvenience the customer with the pet (as long as the pet and carrier meet our published guidelines).

“If a customer absolutely could not be on board a flight with a pet due to their own physical condition (allergies), we would work to accommodate that customer on another flight without a pet on board,” the statement continued.

The branded carriers, patterned after American Airlines’ red and blue logo, come in three sizes and retail for $60.

“We have a long, proud history as a pet-friendly airline and work hard to deliver great customer service for all of our passengers, whether human or pet,” said Mark DuPont, American Airlines vice president for airport services planning. “The new American Airlines travel carriers designed by the Sherpa Pet Group provide added peace of mind and convenience for our customers traveling with pets.”

For information, visit www.sherpapetgroup.com. [November 2009 PET AGE]