Last week, United Airlines made news for all the wrong reasons…  Did you know that American Airlines has a service on select flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco to New York for passengers traveling first Class with their small pet?

If the pet fits into a carrier no larger than 19 Inches by 13 inches by 9 inches, then by booking in advance and paying the $125 carry-on fee, the pet can ride in a special pet cabin adjacent to their owner’s seat.

The service is available only on the A321T planes offered on these routes.

For those that can afford first class (and the corresponding reduced risk of ejection if the flight is overbooked, I may add, check the small print on most conditions of carriage in the major airlines), it would be lovely to have your small-breed pet travel with you in comfort.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand