Koreans live, but they also increasingly travel with their pets. To attract them, Korean Air created a loyalty program for these animals, as well as their owners.
As the birth rate plummets, South Korea’s fertility rate has dropped to 0.78 children per woman, more and more singles or childless families are living with a dog. So more and more animals are traveling with their humans, and airlines are bearing the consequences. Like his master or mistress, a dog can now earn loyalty points, “miles” as they say in the industry.
Dog, cat or parrot
It was the Korean company Korean Air that first offered this service, which it called SKYPETS. The group first analyzed the market. He reckoned that fewer South Korean customers were traveling with children. Fertility in South Korea has fallen to 0.78 children per woman. Therefore, trips by parents with one or more children are decreasing. It’s a loss of earnings. On the other hand, more and more customers want to travel with their pet. To attract them, Korean Air offers them this loyalty program. As soon as a dog, cat or parrot – it also works with birds – flies a plane, they earn points that allow them to have discounts on future flights.
This loyalty program for dogs is already successful. Korean Air says it has seen a 29% increase in the number of flights with animals in the first six months of the year. Its main competitors in South Korea are being forced into submission. Other companies like JejuAir also launched their own pet loyalty program a few weeks ago.
All inclusive packages with your pet
All Korean companies are also offering more and more space inside the cabin for small animal owners who do not want their young dog or cat to be in a cage. These animal tours are very fashionable in South Korea, the market is huge.
Professionals say they have to respond to this humanization of animals. Owners spend an average of 353,000 won a year on the care and enjoyment of their pet, or 250 euros. More and more travel agencies now offer complete tours for the animal and its person.
We are talking about “petkage”. It’s a portmanteau word between “pet,” pet, and “package” that evokes an all-encompassing formula. You can therefore buy a “petkage” with a coach where your dog has its own place, or a night in a luxury hotel where animals are welcome. And there are even yoga classes planned for you and your dog in the morning on a beautiful white sand beach.