Another way to spoil your pet: Pet Airways

Even though you'd think that now would be a lousy time to start an airline, it's no secret that pet owners are spending more and more on their pets these days. So a couple of pet-loving entrepreneurs have come up with "Pet Airways", "a pet-only airline dedicated to pet-friendly travel" where "your pet will be safe and comfortable flying in the main cabin - not in cargo!" According to their website, you drop your pet off at the airport and they board the plane, where they're looked after by "Pet Attendants" who check up on all the pets every 15 minutes. Then you pick up your pampered dog or cat at the destination airport, "knowing he or she has traveled comfortably and safely in the main cabin of our plane."

Pet Airways will initially be serving New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles (although none of the big airports at these cities are used; they'll be using smaller, "executive" airports around the cities instead). But those pet owners who have visions of dogs sitting on seats in a Boeing 737 will be disappointed; pets will be flown on the distinctly less-glamorous looking Beech 1900 with the seats stripped out and replaced by "private pet carriers". The flights will be operated by Suburban Air Freight (Pet Airways certainly does sound better, doesn't it?).