Bark Air and K9 Jets both sell seats on shared private jets where your dog flies in the cabin with you, out of a crate, whatever its size. Bark Air's listed fares in October 2026 run from $7,075 one way for New York to Los Angeles to $9,850 to $10,250 for New York to London, Paris or Dublin. K9 Jets lists London from $8,925 and other European cities from $7,925 to $11,850 from the US. Neither company is an airline: both are public charter operators that book seats on aircraft flown by licensed carriers.
So the real comparison is not which brand is cheaper on a given day, since the gap on shared routes is often only a few hundred dollars. It is which network actually flies where you are going, how each one handles two pets, cats and anxious dogs, and whether a private jet is the right answer for your move at all. Everything below comes from each company's own booking pages and FAQs as of October 2026. Both change routes and prices often, so treat the figures as a snapshot and confirm on the booking page.
Bark Air vs K9 Jets at a glance
The table sets the two side by side on the points owners ask about most.
| Feature | Bark Air | K9 Jets |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | US public charter operator; flights operated by Worldwide Jet | UK-based public charter operator; flights operated by licensed US and EU carriers |
| US coast to coast | New York to Los Angeles $7,075; New York to San Francisco $7,450 | Mainly transatlantic; Los Angeles and Florida served from the UK and Europe |
| US to Europe (one way) | London $9,900; Paris $10,225; Madrid $9,300; Dublin $10,250; Stockholm $14,550 | London $8,925; Dublin from $7,925; Paris from $9,125; Frankfurt from $9,250; Lisbon from $11,850 |
| Other routes | Los Angeles to Kailua-Kona $8,100 | Dubai from $9,925; Toronto and Vancouver; Melbourne listed |
| What one ticket covers | 1 human and 1 dog, or 2 dogs if combined weight is under 50 lb | 1 seat: 1 pet over 51 lb, or 2 pets under 50 lb each |
| Crates | No crates in the cabin | Dogs uncrated; cats in a soft carrier |
| Cats | Dog-first flights; other pets on charters | Cats welcome on all flights |
| Breed or size limits | None from the company | None from the company |
Prices are one-way fares shown on each company's site in October 2026 and vary by date and direction. Bark Air fares came from its booking store; K9 Jets fares came from its homepage route list.
Why these services exist
On most commercial flights a dog over about 15 to 20 pounds with its carrier cannot ride in the cabin, so it flies in the hold or as cargo, if the airline carries pets at all. Several large US carriers no longer ship pets as cargo for the general public, and snub-nosed breeds are refused in the hold by many airlines. For owners of large dogs moving across the Atlantic, that leaves a professional pet shipper or a private flight. Our guides to flying with a large dog in cabin and pet cargo vs in cabin explain those limits in detail.
How Bark Air works
Bark Air started in 2024 as a spin-off of the dog products company BARK. It sells individual seats on scheduled public charter flights, so you book a ticket rather than a whole plane. According to its FAQ, the cabin usually holds 7 to 9 people and 7 to 9 dogs. Dogs are not assigned seats; they settle on the floor next to their person, and you can buy an extra ticket if you want your dog to have its own seat. Dogs stay leashed during taxi, takeoff, landing and turbulence.
You arrive at a private terminal about 60 minutes before departure, go through a short screening, and wait in a private area where dogs can meet before boarding. Bark Air uses an intake call after booking to learn each dog's size, temperament and triggers, then plans seating around them. The company says it can refuse boarding to any dog or person that shows behavior that puts others at risk.
Bark Air rules worth knowing
- Each ticket covers one dog and one human, or two dogs if they weigh under 50 lb combined.
- The person booking must be at least 18, and children under 10 cannot fly.
- Each person can bring one 50 lb wheeled bag and a small duffle, plus a small carry-on.
- There are no breed or size restrictions from Bark Air itself, though destination countries may have breed rules.
- Dogs need current vaccination records; international routes need the full entry paperwork for the destination.
- A chaperone service is offered for dogs flying without their owner, for an extra fee.
How K9 Jets works
K9 Jets is based in Birmingham, England, and has sold pay-by-seat flights with pets since 2023. It says it has flown more than 10,000 passengers and pets and that over 95 percent of its flights operate as scheduled. Its network is built around the Atlantic: London, Dublin, Paris, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga, Milan, Geneva, Frankfurt and Amsterdam on the European side, and New Jersey, Florida, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver on the North American side, plus Dubai and Melbourne.
K9 Jets' FAQ sets firmer house rules than Bark Air. Dogs travel without a crate on a harness and short leash, and every dog must travel with a muzzle, which is only used if a dog shows aggression. Owners bring a blanket for the seat. Meals are not allowed on board; the company suggests a last meal at least 6 hours before departure and only small treats in flight. Arrival is 60 to 90 minutes before take-off at a private terminal, with about an hour of socialization before boarding.
Cats and other pets
This is a real difference. K9 Jets says all its flights are cat friendly; cats ride in a soft-sided carrier up to 17 by 21 inches for the whole flight, and owners may bring a litter tray to use in the restroom. It may also accept small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds or geckos, depending on the destination country. Bark Air's scheduled flights are built around dogs; it says cats and other animals are welcome on its private and shared charters, which are priced separately.
Flying with two dogs
Both companies use a weight threshold near 50 pounds. On Bark Air, two dogs can share one ticket only if they weigh less than 50 lb together. On K9 Jets, one seat covers two pets if each weighs under 50 lb, which is more generous for a pair of medium dogs. Two 40 lb dogs therefore fit on one K9 Jets seat but need two Bark Air tickets, which can double the cost. Check the rule against your own dogs' weights before comparing prices.
What the flight is like on board
Both services try to feel more like a lounge than an airline. Bark Air says it carries blankets, treats and toys, has pee pads in designated spots on board for dogs that need to go mid-flight, and gives dogs a relief area outside the aircraft before boarding. K9 Jets asks owners to walk their dogs before arrival, keep water to sips during the flight and bring a favorite soft toy if it helps, but not a dog bed, because beds take up cabin space. On both, you sit with your dog the whole way, which is the main thing owners are paying for.
Coast-to-coast flights take around five to six hours and transatlantic flights seven to nine, depending on the route and winds. That is a long time for any dog to hold its bladder, so a walk right before boarding and a light, early last meal matter as much as the cabin itself.
Paperwork by route
Bark Air's FAQ spells out the main requirements it sees, and they match what the destination governments ask for:
- US to the UK: ISO-compliant microchip, a rabies vaccine given on or after the chip date, a visit to a USDA-accredited vet with the Great Britain health certificate submitted to USDA APHIS at least 10 days before travel, and a tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. Our pet transport to the UK guide covers each step.
- US to the EU: microchip, rabies vaccine after the chip, and a USDA-endorsed EU health certificate (or a valid EU pet passport for dogs that already have one).
- UK or Europe to the US: the CDC Dog Import Form and the CDC rules for the dog's vaccination history. Bark Air also asks for proof of a current rabies vaccine even where the CDC does not.
- Los Angeles to Hawaii: Hawaii's own rabies quarantine rules apply, so plan the rabies antibody test months ahead. See Hawaii pet transport.
What the fare does and does not include
The ticket covers the flight, the private terminal and the cabin service. It does not cover the vet visits, microchip, rabies vaccine, health certificate and government endorsement your dog needs to enter the destination, or the trip to and from the departure airport. For a US to UK flight that means a USDA-accredited vet, a tapeworm treatment within the window the UK sets and a USDA-endorsed certificate. For dogs coming to the US, the CDC import rules apply; see importing a dog into the US. Both companies offer paperwork help, and Bark Air sells a separate concierge service.
Booking, deposits and cancellations
Seats sell out on popular dates, and both companies sell flights months ahead; K9 Jets says it is booking through March 2027. Bark Air's shared charters need a minimum number of seats sold. To hold a seat you pay a deposit or the full fare, and the balance is due within 30 days of booking and at least 3 months before departure. Bark Air says it confirms shared charters at least 30 days before departure and offers another flight or a full refund if one does not run.
Read each company's terms before paying. Because both are public charter operators, the operating airline and the charter operator have different roles under US Department of Transportation public charter rules, which also govern how charter payments are protected. K9 Jets notes that some of its UK bookings carry ATOL financial protection and some do not.
How to book either service
Check the route list first, because neither company flies everywhere and dates fill months ahead. Then confirm your dog's weight, and a second pet's, against each seat rule. Book, pay the deposit or full fare, and complete the intake about your dog's size and temperament. Start the vet and government paperwork the same week, since some routes need it filed 10 days or more before departure. Finally, plan the drive to the private terminal, which may be at a smaller regional airport rather than the main airport your city is known for; the confirmation names the exact terminal.
Reactive, anxious and senior dogs
A cabin full of strange dogs is not right for every dog. Bark Air says the service may not suit dogs that are uncomfortable around other dogs or easily triggered. K9 Jets says reactive dogs have flown successfully and seats them in the quietest spots, and suggests talking to your vet about calming options. For a dog that cannot cope with other dogs at close range, a professional shipper that flies it alone in cargo, or a ground transporter for domestic moves, may be kinder. Ask your vet before booking any long flight for an older dog or one with a heart or breathing condition.
When a private jet is worth it, and when it is not
The case for Bark Air or K9 Jets is strongest for large dogs and snub-nosed breeds moving across the Atlantic, where commercial cabin travel is not possible and some owners do not want the hold. For a small dog that fits under a seat, a commercial cabin ticket costs a few hundred dollars instead of several thousand. For a domestic move, a ground transporter is usually far cheaper than a coast-to-coast seat. A full international relocation with door-to-door service, quarantine planning and customs clearance is a different job, and a professional pet shipper is often a better fit; see our guide to the best international pet transport companies.
Our verdict
If you are flying between New York or Los Angeles and London, Paris or Dublin with one large dog, both services will do the job, and the cheaper fare on your date usually decides it. K9 Jets has the wider European network, Dubai, and clearer rules for cats and pairs of medium dogs. Bark Air has US coast-to-coast and Hawaii routes and a strong concierge offering. Whichever you choose, start the vet paperwork the day you book, because a missing certificate is the most common reason a dog cannot board a flight it has paid for.