Koreans live but also travel more and more with their pets. To attract them, Korean Air has created a loyalty program for these animals, just like their owners.
As the birth rate plummets in South Korea, the fertility rate in South Korea has fallen to 0.78 children per woman, more and more singles or families without children are living with a dog. So, more and more animals are traveling with their humans and airlines are taking consequences. Like its master or mistress, the dog can now earn loyalty points, “miles” as they say in the industry.
The dog, the cat, or the parrot
It was the Korean company Korean Air which was the first to offer this service which it called SKYPETS. The group first analyzed the market. He factored in the fact that fewer South Korean customers were traveling with children. South Korea’s fertility rate has fallen to 0.78 children per woman. There are therefore fewer trips by parents with one or more children. It’s a loss of earnings. On the other hand, more and more customers want to travel with their pet. So, to attract them, Korean Air offers them this loyalty program. As soon as he takes the plane, the dog, the cat, or the parrot – it also works with birds – earns points which will then allow him to have discounts on his next flights.
This dog loyalty program is already successful. Korean Air says it has seen flights involving animals increase 29% in the first six months of the year. Its major competitors in South Korea are forced to fall into line. Other companies like JejuAir also launched their own loyalty program for pets a few weeks ago.
All-inclusive packages with your pet
All Korean companies are also offering more and more space inside the cabin for owners of small animals who do not want their young dog or cat to be caged in the hold. These trips with animals are very fashionable in South Korea, the market is huge.
Professionals say they must respond to this humanization of animals. Owners spend, on average, 353,000 won each year for the care and enjoyment of their pet, that is to say 250 euros. More and more tourist agencies now offer complete trips for an animal and its human.
We talk about “petkage”. It’s a portmanteau word between “pet”, pet, and “package”, which evokes an all-inclusive formula. You can therefore buy a “petkage” with a coach trip, where your dog has its own seat, or a night in a luxury hotel, where animals are welcome. And in the morning, there are even yoga classes planned for you and your dog on a beautiful white sand beach.