Woman pays $10,000 to fly her dogs to New York on a private jet

A British woman has revealed how she decided to hire a private jet to fly her two beloved dogs to New York – saying it was cheaper than buying them a cargo ticket.   

Maddie Young, 31, from Balham, South West London, wanted to make sure her ageing 12-year-old pug, Violet, and one-year-old Golden retriever, Olive, could travel in style after making the decision to move to Brooklyn.

Young, and husband Stephen Whitworth, 32, who had been offered a US job opportunity, began researching how they could travel the 3,470 mile distance from London and were left horrified at the cost.

She said she was quoted $15k – $7.5k 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 – with dog treats and puppy pads included in the price.

Maddie and Stephen, who runs a tech-start up, paid $12k 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.

Jet set pooch! But Maddie says the $10,000 trip actually worked out cheaper than a cargo ticket – which would have proved more stressful for her pets, she says

‘We paid $12k including seats for us. But it was $10k 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 $5k cheaper than taking a standard flight with the dogs.

The small plane had to refuel in Canada, which allowed the pair to make use of the facilities on the ground – with the airline providing puppy pads for them to use at 30,000 feet

The family kept the costs down by splitting the flight with other pet owners; Maddie says: ‘The experience was so smooth. There were eight dogs and 10 humans.’ (The pets pictured in New York after arriving)

Stephen and ageing Olive; the couple made the decision to move across the Pond for a work opportunity in January

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.

She said: ‘I was nervous beforehand. I’d never flown private before. The experience was so smooth. There were eight dogs and 10 humans. All of the dogs were given personalised toys and a bag of dog cookies which was quite sweet.

‘All the dogs were super well-behaved. They mostly slept, chilled and chewed bones.’

The freelance PR said she wouldn’t hesitate to make the same trip again with her pets

The couple said that all of the eight dogs on board were well behaved on the flight – saying they ‘mostly slept, chilled and chewed bones’

The plane had to refuel in Canada due to strong headwinds and it meant the dogs could relieve themselves after the eight-and-a-half-hour journey.

Maddie did ‘anything to keep them calm’ and tried not to feed the dogs too much so they didn’t need to go to the toilet.

The airline provided puppy pads if they needed to relieve themselves.

Violet and Olive arrived safely and stylishly in New York in April and are now settling into their new home. Maddie said: ‘It was a great experience – once-in-a-lifetime.’

‘If we go back, we will do it again. There’s no shame for people who put them in cargo. That’s fine if it works for you. But with a nervous young dog, an old one and it being cheaper it was a no brainer. They are both acclimatising well.’