Pet-only airline takes flight

For pet owners that are weary of checking their travel companions into the cargo hold, there's now a first-class option for fur flying the friendly skies. Pet Airways, the first pet-only airline, had it's maiden flight out of Farmingdale, N.Y on Tuesday.

Started by husband and wife team Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel, the airline will fly dogs and cats between New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles with tickets ranging from $150-$299 each way. The fare is comparable to pet fees on major U.S. airlines, and all pets fly in the main cabin of a Suburban Air Freight plane.

The company will be operating out of regional airports in the five launch cities, meaning most pet owners will have to make an extra trip to drop off their pets. Stops in cities along the way also mean that the pets will reach the desination later than their owners. But these factors don't seem to be deterring customers - flights on Pet Airways are already booked up for the next two months.

It begs the question - with concerns in aviation emissions, do we need dedicated pet flights? Tell us what you think below. If you're not convinced - be sure to check out our 12 tips for traveling with your pet.