Last updated: August 2026 — We flew RetrievAir from Oakland (OAK FBO) to Denver (BJC) with Ruby and will update this guide as the airline expands its routes.

Flying with a dog has always involved some version of compromise. Small dogs get stuffed into a carrier under the seat and stay there for the entire flight. Large dogs either don’t get to fly commercially at all or end up in cargo, which most owners reasonably want to avoid. The gap between “flying with your dog is technically possible” and “flying with your dog is actually a good experience” has historically been wide enough to make most people just drive.

RetrievAir was built specifically to close that gap.

It’s a public charter airline purpose-built for pet travel, operating out of private FBO terminals with no weight restrictions, no cargo option, and a cabin where every passenger — human or dog — has a seat. The experience is closer to semi-private flying than commercial travel, and for dog owners specifically it represents something that didn’t really exist before: a domestic flight where your dog can actually sit beside you, the boarding process is calm, and there are several other dogs on the plane that you wouldn’t know are there.

We flew from Oakland to Denver with Ruby and it was the most peaceful flight we’ve ever taken with her. And I don’t say that lightly. We’ve flown with Ruby on JSX, on commercial airlines, and everything in between. RetrievAir is a different category of experience that is built around your dog, not just tolerating them.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is RetrievAir?

RetrievAir is a public charter airline purpose-built for pet travel. Every flight is a pet-forward experience — dogs and cats fly in the cabin, in-seat, with no cargo option and no weight restrictions. The airline operates out of private FBO terminals, which means no massive airports, no long security lines, and no gate chaos.

The concept is simple: flying with your dog should feel normal. On RetrievAir, it does.

The Pet Policy

This is where RetrievAir sets itself apart from every other option on the market:

No weight restrictions. Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome — Ruby flew as a small pet, but ended up with her own seat to truly spread out next to the window. 

Dogs can purchase their own seat. This is the feature that changes everything. For larger dogs, you purchase a seat and your dog sits in it — not in a carrier under the seat, not on the floor, in an actual airplane seat. Ruby is small enough to be a lap dog, but we got lucky with an open seat in our row so she had room to settle in beside us in her own seat.

Pets can sit on your lap, in your legroom space, or in their own seat depending on their size. Pricing differs by option.

Only one pet per adult passenger.

Dogs and cats both welcome (cats must stay in their carrier).

Our Experience: OAK (Kaiser Air) to Denver (BJC)

We flew from the Oakland FBO (Kaiser Air) to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, Colorado — a private airport about 20 minutes from downtown Denver. Our flight had a brief stop in LA where we deplaned, walked Ruby on the grassy area, relaxed in the private airport lounge, and reboarded. 

The FBO experience is the first thing you notice. You arrive 30 minutes before departure — that’s all the time you need. There are no crowds, security is streamlined, and everyone boards in small groups from back to front specifically to minimize dog crossover and keep stress levels down for the animals.

We had 10 other dogs on our flight. You wouldn’t have known it. Ruby settled in almost immediately and stayed relaxed for the entire flight — the most relaxed I’ve ever seen her on a plane. The cabin is quiet in a way that commercial flying simply isn’t, and it makes a visible difference for anxious dogs.

The flight attendants were visibly comfortable with dogs and attentive to the animals throughout. The whole thing felt less like flying and more like a very comfortable road trip at altitude.

RetrievAir Routes (2026)

RetrievAir currently flies between 11 U.S. cities. Routes are structured as connected legs on the same aircraft — you board in one city and can ride through multiple stops:

Current destinations:

• Los Angeles (LAX area FBO)
• San Francisco / Oakland (OAK FBO)
• Denver (BJC — Rocky Mountain Metropolitan)
• Chicago
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• New York City
• Fort Lauderdale
• Washington DC (new 2026)
• Seattle (new 2026)
• Atlanta (new 2026)
• Tampa Bay (new 2026)
• Scottsdale (new 2026)

The route structure means cross-country trips involve connections — LA to Fort Lauderdale, for example, stops in Denver and Chicago. But given the private terminal experience at every stop, layovers are pleasant rather than stressful.

Always confirm current routes directly at retrievair.com — the network is expanding and schedules change seasonally.

How RetrievAir Compares to Other Flying Options

For the full comparison across JSX, Bark Air, K9 Jets, commercial airlines, and private charter, see our complete guide to flying with your dog. The short version:

vs. Commercial airlines: No comparison. No weight limits, in-cabin for any size dog, private terminals, no carrier-under-seat rule. RetrievAir wins on every dimension for dog owners.

vs. JSX: JSX caps dogs at 80 lbs and has a 5-pet maximum per flight. RetrievAir has no weight limit and is purpose-built for pets. RetrievAir is the better choice for larger dogs or anyone who wants a fully pet-forward experience. JSX has a larger route network currently. Both use private FBO terminals.

vs. Bark Air: Both are pet-first airlines. Bark Air skews more luxury/experience-focused; RetrievAir operates more like a practical airline with a strong pet program. Pricing is comparable at the premium tier.

vs. Driving: For trips over 4 hours by car, RetrievAir makes an increasingly compelling case — especially for anxious dogs where a calm flight is less stressful than a long drive.

Tips for Flying RetrievAir with Your Dog

Book your dog’s seat in advance. If you have a medium or large dog, reserve the seat early — this is what made such a difference for Ruby even as a small dog. More room = calmer dog.

Arrive 30 minutes before — that’s plenty of time. The FBO process is fast. There’s no reason to arrive earlier.

The LA stopover is a perk, not an inconvenience. If you’re flying cross-country, the stop gives you a chance to walk your dog on actual grass, use the lounge, and let them settle before the next leg. 

Parking at the FBO is complimentary. At both OAK and BJC, parking is free — a small but meaningful convenience compared to major airport parking.

Bring a familiar blanket. Something that smells like home helps your dog settle faster into an unfamiliar seat.

Check the route map before assuming your city is served. RetrievAir doesn’t fly everywhere yet. If your departure city isn’t listed, it may still be worth the drive to a nearby FBO. 

Is RetrievAir Worth It?

For dog owners specifically — yes. It’s more expensive than commercial flying, and that’s not nothing. But the no-weight-limit policy, the in-seat option for larger dogs, the private terminal experience, and the genuine calm of the flight environment make it the best commercial flying option we’ve tested for larger dogs and for anxious dogs of any size.

Ruby has never been more relaxed on a plane. 

Interested in booking? Visit retrievair.com to check routes and availability. And for more on flying with your dog, see our complete dog-friendly flying guide which covers every option from commercial airlines to private charter.