Vacations Are Going To The Dogs—In A Nice Way by Julia Ryan (NAPSA)—Increasingly, vacationers are packing the pooches, fetching the felines and taking flight with the birds—literally. Pet travel soared 33 percent last year to a record 20 million pets, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Airlines and destinations are doing their part to meet the demandsof this emerging travel trend. Here are a few examples. * Comefly with me. Airlines are }sy enticing customers st with frequent-flier Ryan - pet programs that allow animals to earn miles toward free flights. Midwest Airlines introduced a frequent-flier pet program in Janu- ary and since then pet travel has clawed its way up 25 percent. United Airlines also offers pet miles. For a limited time, Mileage Plus members can earn 1,200 bonus miles when traveling with pets. American Airlines, Delta and US Air cater to pet travel, too. Delta allows the most pet diversity in the friendly skies, welcoming not only popular pooches, cats and birds, but also ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs—and even reptiles, amphibians and fish (air cargo only, please). e All together now. At the Caliente Tropics Resort in California, pet-friendly rooms feature pet beds, throws, dishes and privatelabel, custom Tiki Treats. Tiled vanities also feature swinging gates. And Wyndam Hotels and Resorts even offer a doggie spa service, where your pooch can luxuriate with “paw-dicures.” For you, my pet. Pet travel has also spawned an industry ded- RAGILE \ Many airlines and destinations are responding to the demandfor pet-friendly travel services. icated to pampering pets on the road. There’s a growing selection of amenities—from portable potty turf to disposable kitty litter boxes—that will help pets arrive in style and make the most of their vacation. Large pet stores, such as PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. and PetsMart, Inc., are also sniffing the trend and expanding their offering of travel-related products. The Outward Hound pet booster seat and pet ramps for sport utility vehicles are popular items featured on their sites. The experts at Travelers Advantage have also found such pet-friendly vacation products as an airline travel kit that features everything required by airlines to transport yourpet in a kennel, a compactfirst-aid kit for bumps and bruises on the road and Doggles—sport goggles that feature an interchangeable, UV-protected lens system with an array of colors to match your dog’s wardrobe. To learn more, visit www.trav elersadvantage.com. Julia Ryan is vice president of Travelers Advantage.
