– I think it’s a robbery in broad daylight, says dog owner Kjell Mathisen. If you are going to take your dog with you on a trip, you usually have to take the pet with you as special luggage. Several people are now reacting to the fact that on 1 February Norwegian raised the prices for taking dogs with them on flights. Mathisen has three dogs of the Gordon setter type. All the dogs compete at a high level in Norway and abroad. That is why Mathisen often takes the dogs with him on trips related to leisure, exhibitions and hunting. The last time he traveled with Norwegian, in September, he claims that he had to fork out NOK 900 per dog each way. After the price adjustments to the airline, he now has to pay NOK 1,500 for each dog, one way. This means that Kjell Mathisen has to fork out NOK 9,000 to take the dogs with him on a trip from Oslo to Alta. – This has clearly become a store for Norwegian, believes Mathisen. – And they must be allowed to do that. But the prices have taken off completely, he says. MORE: – We are many hunters in Norway. A good number will go north and move both for winter and autumn hunting. Photo: Privat Mathisen is not alone in bringing a dog with him on private errands, hunting or exhibitions. He believes this will lead to many people considering whether they can continue with exhibitions or breeding. And that many will limit themselves in connection with hunting, and other activities with dogs, when the plane tickets become significantly more expensive than they were. Norwegian has not answered what the price was in September last year, but they confirm that they have increased the prices after 1 February. HUNTING TESTS: Kjetil Mathisen and his Gordon setter. Here, Eddie The Teddyboy gets first prize after a hunting test. Photo: Privat Krevjande for the airlines Communications Director Charlotte Holmbergh at Norwegian explains the price increase with great demand. – It is very important for us to take care of animals that are to be transported with us in the best possible way. There is great demand for transporting animals and we have limited places on board and in the hold. HOPE THE CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND: – We hope that our customers appreciate that we do everything we can to take care of animals in cargo in the best possible way and that there is an understanding that it is both expensive and time-consuming, says Charlotte Holmbergh, director of communications in Norwegian. Photo: Norwegian – It has been necessary to adjust the prices as we transport more animals and it is both time- and resource-demanding. It is also extra expensive in the winter in Scandinavia because of the cold. And Norwegian is not the only airline that has raised the prices for transporting dogs. Several airlines make it possible to carry animals in cargo during the winter. Widerøe increased the price for this by NOK 50 in October 2022. Widerøe’s communications director, Silje Brandvoll, says that they have no plans to adjust the prices any time soon. For Kjetil Mathisen, Norwegian’s price increase came as a surprise. Prices for animals in the hold Norwegian: NOK 1500–1800 (online) per animal each way NOK 1700–2000 (at the airport) per animal each way Widerøe: NOK 799 per animal each way, online up to 22 hours before departure NOK 950 per expensive any way, online/airport less than 22 hours before departure SAS: – Affects thousands – This affects thousands of people. I understand that there is a rise in prices in general in society, but that you just want to double overnight without giving notice, I think that is absolutely horrible. And he is not alone in reacting. Yngve Gjelsvik of the Norwegian Dogs’ National Association is among those who have noticed the price increase. He believes that it is quite clear that it will be difficult for people who have to bring dogs with them in various cases. – It is unnecessarily expensive and I am afraid it will put a stop to activity for many people. EXHIBITION: Poodle dogs are often used as show dogs in competitions both nationally and internationally. Photo: Jon Eeg / NTB The typical thing if you are going to take part in an event, such as an exhibition, is that many events take place in the Austland region. – It becomes difficult to carry out this type of activity when you live so far north because of the prices. Eli Hall in the Norwegian Poodle Club also reacts to the price increase, although she understands that prices generally increase. She thinks the price is unreasonably high. – It may require extra to handle dogs, but it always has. So there is no change in what they transport, and then I think it is strange that they put the price up as much as they do, says Hall. She thinks it is not very social considering how many dog owners there are in Norway. – They make it very difficult for people traveling with dogs, and some are dependent on traveling by plane. It is a family member you have to take with you. UNREASONABLE: Eli Hall thinks the prices are unreasonably high. Here with his poodles Bobby and Tessi. Photo: Private No other changes Transporting a dog is in the special luggage category, the same as prams, surfboards or gun cases. Norwegian will not increase the prices for other special baggage or animals that are included in the cabin. – The price adjustment only applies to animals traveling in cargo. The price depends on whether the journey is domestic or international, says Charlotte Holmbergh, director of communications at Norwegian.
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Norwegian raises the prices for transporting dogs on planes. Norwegian poodle club and others react – news Nordland
