Relocating a family of four from Ireland to the West Coast of the US is no small feat. When we first made the decision, we were too caught up in the excitement to fully consider the sheer logistics. Because technically, we aren’t a family of four – we are five. I have a third, incredibly fluffy son named Mio. He is a Samoyed, but if you look at our faces side-by-side, you’ll know no DNA test is necessary as he is undeniably my child.
How do you fly a big dog from Ireland to the US?
As the moving plans started to take shape, I hit a massive roadblock: how on earth do I transport my fluffy boy from Dublin to California? The commercial cargo companies I contacted weren’t particularly friendly, and their answers were downright horrifying. Mio could spend a day or two in a crate with no food or water being released from it only twice, then placed in the dark belly of a plane with no toys, not even a blanket, and absolutely no calming medication. I despised the idea, but not moving wasn’t an option, so I started thinking.
Discovering a private jet for pets
If my previous life in the corporate tech world taught me anything, it’s that no project is unmanageable if you ask the right questions as communication is everything, and people love sharing their insider knowledge. I started asking around, and through a friend who had recently relocated from Dubai to the South of France, I learned about a magical alternative: private aviation companies that specialize in flying pets and their humans around the world.
It was the perfect solution… until I realized that Dublin isn’t exactly a massive hub for this, and there were no direct pet flights to California. But wait! K9 JETS had a flight across the pond from Dublin to New York that perfectly aligned with my dates. Right then and there, a wild master plan was born: I would fly Mio across the Atlantic like royalty, and from New York, we’d rent an RV and hit Route 66. We’d see America in all its glory, and Mio would have the trip of a lifetime.
I would fly Mio across the Atlantic like royalty
Boarding day in Dublin, no sedatives
On the day of the flight, I was a bundle of nerves. Mio had only flown once as a tiny puppy. The vet had given me some calming medication just in case, but looking at my giant, heavy Samoyed, I had a sudden realization. If those pills made him too sleepy, there was zero chance I’d be able to haul his limp, fluffy body up the steep stairs of a private jet. We were going in unmedicated.
Inside the K9 JETS cabin: five humans, five dogs
Because of a few last-minute cancellations, our flight was an exclusive club of just five humans and five incredibly well-behaved dogs. We boarded, and Mio immediately took to the private aviation lifestyle. He settled right into the spacious cabin, happily lounging beside me.
Whenever the mood struck, he would stand proudly in the aisle, completely at ease as he surveyed his luxurious new domain. Throughout the seven-and-a-half-hour flight, he would occasionally just flop down and fall asleep right in the middle of the aisle like an absolute boss. The flight attendant, clearly accustomed to navigating around sleeping clouds of fur, would simply step over his paws with total grace and caution.
Lunch over the Atlantic, judged by a Samoyed
Once we were in the air, the flight attendant asked when I wanted to eat. Starving from the morning’s chaos, I asked for my meal right away. Now, Mio is trained not to beg in public, and he was a perfect gentleman while I ate. But an hour later, my neighbor’s delicious-smelling lunch arrived. She graciously started feeding her dog little pieces of her meal. Mio watched this unfold, marched right over, and started booping my arm with his nose. He was clearly beaconing to point out that my neighbor was indeed feeding her dog, and according to him, I was officially the worst mother in the world for keeping my (already finished) food to myself.
Landing at Teterboro and clearing US customs with a dog
Landing in Teterboro, New Jersey, offered the most stunning fall views of the East Coast through our window, with a beautiful descent through the clouds. But the arrival brought its own unique comedy. Because it was an international flight, we had to briefly deplane to clear US customs with the dogs, and then get back on the jet so it could taxi to the main terminal.
We cleared customs seamlessly, but when we approached the aircraft stairs for round two, Mio was having absolutely none of it. He firmly planted his paws on the tarmac and gave me a look that plainly said, “Excuse me, we have landed, the flight is over, and I am not getting back on that metal bird.” After a bit of spirited negotiation and gentle coaxing, we finally reached an agreement and made it to the private terminal, where a sweet welcome goody bag was waiting for him.
Excuse me, we have landed, the flight is over, and I am not getting back on that metal bird.
Was flying my dog in the cabin worth it?
Looking back, skipping the cargo hold and sharing this surreal journey side-by-side was one of the best decisions I could have made. It was a genuinely amazing and unforgettable experience thanks to my Mio.
