Tl;dr – Chronicling Pupbeard’s first flight, an in-cabin journey on a private jet from Fort Lauderdale to Liberia, Costa Rica.
Last week, I introduced my latest trip report, which covers a journey to Latin America, specifically Costa Rica and Panama. Special to this trip was the presence of my 50 lb pitbull, Apollo (‘Pupbeard’). Here’s a recap of what it was like to fly with him in a private jet, from Fort Lauderdale (FXE) to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR).
You can find all the posts from this trip report here (it will populate with more reviews, musings and other articles as they are published).
Lastly, if you’re mulling you’re own trip to Costa Rica and you like to move (and tapirs!!), then this just might be the adventure for you.
A Pitbull’s Journey on Perro Air
Perro Air operates its Fort Lauderdale flights out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), which conveniently allows for on-site rental car drop-off via the Atlantic Aviation FBO location. After parking and dropping off the car, we all went inside the terminal to check in.
It’s a fairly simple setup, though there are some basic products available for refreshment in the bathroom, as well as light snacks and drinks if you get hungry or thirsty while waiting for your departure. If you need to take a call or work on some tasks, there’s a meeting room where you can sit.
The wait for departure wasn’t too long. Most of the dogs spent the time sniffing one another out, while I looked out onto the tarmac. Pupbeard grew a bit bored, and I think he was ‘over it.’ Right before departure, we put on his best flying shirt.
Perro Air doesn’t own any aircraft, but instead flies empty legs on vacation jets, usually using a twin-engine turboprop or, in some cases, a Learjet 45.
Onboard, you’ll find six passenger seats. There’s also some light refreshments offered, like water, soft drinks, wine, trail mix, and chips.
As the plane isn’t huge, each passenger is only allowed one 35-pound or 18-kilogram carry-on bag. And you can see why – onboard its tight quarters, particularly with everyone’s furry companions.
Our fellow passengers on the flight included two dogs weighing over 100 pounds, two French Bulldogs, and a guinea pig—the first Perro Air had transported into Costa Rica. I was witness to history!
As the jet veered off into its ascent, you got some incredible views of the tropical water off the Caribbean Sea.
The flight was approximately 3 hours long, and most of the dogs (and their owners) slept or sat quietly at their feet for the duration of the journey.
Pupbeard did get up once to stretch and switch positions, but was pretty tuckered.
As we approached Costa Rica’s Liberia airport, the lush vegetation of the beautiful landscape below came into view.
Part of Perro Air’s service includes VIP transit through customs and immigration. We benefited from expedited service, and as a bonus, our flight arrived at a time when there were no other international arrivals.
Before long, all the passengers had cleared ‘pupstoms’ and were free to enter Costa Rica. The airport floors were a big slick for paws.
On the way into the Andaz, we all opted for some hydration.
Shout-out to Perro Air for a safe and smooth journey. Pupbeard, approved.
