Flying with your pet has become a little bit less stressful this week as Delta Air Lines Inc. rolled out its new GPS service for traveling dogs.
Created by Sendum Wireless Corp., the device is available for $50 per flight from 10 U.S. airports: New York’s LaGuardia, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Tampa. It is only available for those passengers who bring their pets to the Delta Cargo facility and not to pets sent by checked baggage.
Becoming separated from your dog while flying can be extremely stressful for some passengers. This device enables them to know that their dog is secure, has the proper surrounding temperature and crate positioning. If the temperature rises over 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celcius) the device will alert Delta’s call center.
Delta has had the most animal deaths in the past 5 years, although animal deaths within airline care has been on the decline. Last year a Staffie, Ty, was flying with Delta when he went running from LAX and was never seen again. This new system is not addressing the issues that have happened in the past but hoping for a safer future for traveling dogs.
Although you will only be able to check on your dog before and after flight due to poor cellular communications in-flight, most incidents with dogs happen while still on the ground.
Would you opt-in for this service? Leave a comment letting us know what you think.
1. Huffington Post 2. Columbian
