A woman flew her dogs to New York on an £8k private jet fit with personalised toys and treats - and says it was cheaper than putting them in cargo.
Maddie Young, 31, wanted to make sure her 12-year-old pug, Violet, and one-year-old Golden retriever, Olive, could move to Brooklyn, New York, US, with her and her husband, Stephen Whitworth, 32.
The couple moved to America in January 2023 for Stephen's work.
Maddie started researching how they could travel the 3,470 mile distance from London, UK, and was shocked at the cost.
She said she was quoted £12k - £6k per dog – by an airline for them to travel in cargo.
The PR freelancer started looking into other ways she could do it and came across a Facebook group arranging private charter jets for dogs.
Maddie and Stephen, who runs a tech-start up, paid £10k for their two hounds Violet and Olive to travel in style – and were refunded £2k as the plane was filled so the costs were split further.
Maddie said the experience was “smooth” and the dogs were even treated to personalised toys and dog cookies on board.
Maddie, from Balham, London, said: “The quotes were crazily expensive.
“We were limited as airlines don’t like to fly flat face breeds as they can be more prone to breathing issues – although this is not the case with Violet.
“I Googled lots of stuff and found old news articles of people looking at different ways to travel and found a UK to US Facebook group from there.
“It was full of people organising flights and splitting the costs.
“We paid £10k including seats for us. But it was £8k in the end as we were refunded for filling the plane.
“It was the cheaper option. It was a no brainer.”
Maddie moved to the Big Apple in January 2023 for Stephen’s work and the pair were desperate to fly their dogs over to join them.
She struggled to find many options for them as the cargo flights were expensive and the cruise liner had a two year wait.
Maddie said: “With Violet being older, it would have been a worry her being in cargo.”
Having never flown privately before Maddie was surprised a private charter flight, she found on a Facebook group was £4k cheaper than taking a standard flight with the dogs.
Maddie said it was “a no brainer” to go for it.
The couple rocked up just half an hour before the flight at Biggin Hill Airfield, Bromley, Greater London, and said the pooches were given toys and cookies before the long journey.
Maddie and the other dog owners bought blankets to put down and protect the seats.
