Demand for pet-friendly airlines soars 950%, with Alaska Airlines and JetBlue leading the way

• Demand for pet-friendly airlines soared 950% in the last 12 months, a Next Vacay report said.
• Alaska Airlines and JetBlue rank among the best, the travel service said in a press release.

Demand for pet-friendly airlines has surged exponentially over the past 12 months, according to a report by travel service, Next Vacay.

Naveen Dittakavi, the founder and CEO of Next Vacay, said in a press release: "There are many reasons why travelers choose to take their furry companion with them on their flight, whether they're traveling for business, vacation, or visiting family over the holidays."

He added: "In fact, traveling with pets is more common than ever before. We found that there was a 950% increase in searches for 'pet-friendly airlines in cabin' in the last 12 months."

Alaska Airlines and JetBlue appear to be leading the way as two of the most pet-friendly airlines in the US.

According to the report, Alaska Airlines has one of the lowest fees for pets, as well as one of the most flexible policies. The pets permitted to travel in the passenger cabin on Alaska Airlines are dogs, cats, rabbits, and household birds.

JetBlue, meanwhile, offers customers new to flying with pets access to a free program called JetPaws, per the report. It is designed to give provide pet owners with useful tips and details about traveling with their animals. In addition, passengers can earn 300 JetBlue points on each flight with their pet.

As strict lockdown restrictions took effect at the height of the pandemic, pet adoption spiked. This was mainly because people had more time on their hands to take care of a pet. They were also feeling more isolated and lonely, Insider's Marguerite Ward reported.

This boom in pet ownership is now being met with a surge in interest for global travel, as restrictions ease in many areas and vaccination rates rise. Pet-friendly airlines appear to be well-positioned to capitalize on this demand.