Behind the scenes: A day in the life of a Vicuna Air Concierge

The day starts in the dark. We grab a much-needed coffee and get to the FBO well before anyone arrives, to set up and run through the manifest one last time.

It is the only part of the day no passenger ever sees, and the only stretch without a pet in it.

Our passengers start arriving about an hour before the flight, so we are there to meet and greet them. Our first passenger this particular day was Melvin, flying with us in Biscuit Class.

We take everybody up to the lounge to meet the other passengers and settle in. Beforehand, I had expected a small degree of chaos at this point, but there was none. The dogs met each other briefly and then, for the most part, lay down. For our two-legged passengers, this part of the day is simple: sit down, have a cup of coffee and give your companion a pat.

Check-in and screening happen next. Security is in the room next door, with no queuing or rushing, and that was the first thing that surprised me.

After that, we take everyone outside for one last little walk before boarding. Dogs and their owners, taking their time together. We strongly encourage everyone to do this so that all passengers are as comfortable as possible on board.

We all walk out to the aircraft as a group to board. Dogs, cats and their owners, unhurried on a rather beautiful morning at Teterboro.

Boarding was where the different pet personalities showed. Some dogs, particularly the labradors, bound up the air stairs with wagging tails; other dogs needed a bit of encouragement from their owners. Some also needed a helping hand. We carried up our two Biscuit Class dogs: a senior dog who needed the help and a miniature dachshund whose little legs would not manage the stairs.

We were airborne shortly after the last passenger sat down. Take-off itself was smooth and quiet – particularly in comparison to what I am used to. One dog had a bit to say about it but was talked round within a minute or two. Not long after taking off, much of the cabin was asleep.

My job on board was the two Biscuit Class dogs, which is to say the two travelling without their owners.

Melvin, a gorgeous thirteen-year-old cockapoo, was sleepy and required nothing of me beyond sustained attention, which I was glad to provide. Ada the dachshund started the flight cosy in her carrier. She got braver as the hours went on and later appeared on my lap to introduce herself. This coincided, I noticed, with the arrival of my breakfast.

I also bonded with a yellow labrador called Henry and spent a good part of the flight reassuring dogs whose owners had got up to stretch their legs.

In between I chatted to our lovely passengers, took a rather ridiculous number of photos and sent some of them to Biscuit Class owners on the ground, who were grateful to receive them.

The view deserves a mention too. We were flying well above the weather, with almost no turbulence, and later on we watched the sun set somewhere below us.

Landing was as smooth as take-off, and again, no one was really fazed.

The fantastic Animal Air Care team came out to check everybody’s documentation before everyone disembarked. We gathered belongings, helped people into taxis and said goodbye.

Handing Ada and Melvin back to their owners was one of the best parts of the day, and it was an experience that made everything that we do worth it.

Last passengers away, a final sweep of the lounge for anything left behind, the aircraft cleared, goodbye and thank you to our wonderful crew.

Another successful Vicuna flight completed.

Three things surprised me.

Security and screening were in the room next door and there was no queue or rush.

A cabin full of animals is quieter than a cabin full of people.

Everybody settled and fell asleep so quickly.

Vicuna Air offers private, in-cabin travel for pets and their owners – never in cargo.

To plan a journey with us, please get in touch or message us on WhatsApp.