Like many folks in the entertainment industry, Amanda McGee was in a hard spot professionally and financially in the summer of 2020. “I slowly saw all of my contracts get delayed, and finally canceled,” recalls, McGee, who works in the theater business and saw the theaters that she worked with shutter during the pandemic. “I had some remote work that was keeping me afloat, but I knew I would need to find a way to generate steady income.”
Around that time, when scrolling through Facebook, McGee stumbled upon posts regarding a website called Citizen Shipper, which facilitates transportation for things like household moves, vehicles and pets. The pet opportunity stood out for her. “I created a profile so I could explore the site, and within a week, I had my first three pet transport jobs lined up,” she notes.
McGee notes that her first pet transport jobs through Citizen Shipper were ground transports within 800 miles of her home in Cincinnati, Ohio. Today, McGee runs a successful flight nanny business called PurplePup LLC traveling across the country on a regular basis — you may have even scrolled past one of her viral TikTok videos (she goes by the username purplepupgo).
Here, McGee and other pros share what it’s like to be a flight nanny — and what anyone interested in the work should know.
“I fall in love and have my heart broken every day. I feel like Mary Poppins. This is emotional work.”
— AMANDA MCGEE, FLIGHT NANNY
What exactly is a flight nanny?
As Iram Sharma, a veterinarian and writer at HappyWhisker.com notes, flight nannies are responsible for escorting (and caring for) pets as they are transported via plane. She became familiar with the service roughly a year ago when she had to transport a rescue kitten from Virginia to Illinois.
“A flight nanny’s job is to pick up the pet at an arranged meeting place, go to the airport, fly with the pet and deliver them to the pet’s new owners,” she explains.
What does a typical day for a flight nanny look like?
As the pros we interviewed agreed on, no two days as a flight nanny are ever the same. Here’s a breakdown on a typical transport schedule:
1. Pick up or meet the pet
McGee says that the pet is either brought to her at the airport or she picks up the pet at the person’s home.
Brenda Saltarelli Walker, a flight nanny who primarily transports puppies from breeders to their new homes, notes that she will typically head to the breeder’s house (which can sometimes be a few hours from her home) before heading to the airport.
2. Ensure the pet has the right tools for travel
For Simmi Jones, a flight nanny and owner of the blog Cat Food Point, being stocked with the right supplies is crucial. “I always go the extra mile and keep cleaning supplies for all the pets I travel with,” she explains. “I usually keep shampoos, conditioner and soft towels, which are essential when caring for pets. I also throw in a couple of treats so I can give them to pets if they feel uncomfortable because of traveling.”
A health certificate from the vet saying the pet is healthy and fit for travel is also a must-have, notes McGee, adding that she’ll often provide her own pet carrier for the transport alongside other basic supplies, like potty pads, a blanket and a water dish.
3. Get checked in for the flight
“The airline will examine the pet to make sure it fits comfortably and that the carrier is the right size,” McGee explains. “Sometimes they will weigh the pet and the carrier.”
Walker adds that check-in always occurs at the counter with pets, as there is paperwork that needs to be filled out on-site.
4. Head through to security
McGee and Walker both note that they have to remove the pet from the carrier to go through the metal detector at security. (So, ensuring the pet is secure during this process with a leash, if necessary, is key.)
For Walker, having TSA pre-check is crucial, as it makes this part of the process (which can sometimes be stressful for a pet) a little smoother.
5. Find the gate and wait for takeoff
During this time, McGee notes that she will send her clients copious pictures of the furry cutie. “I will send lots of picture updates to the family so they know we are on schedule and their pet is enjoying a stress-free travel day.”
For Walker, finding a quiet location near the gate is key. “I typically find a small corner where I can block the puppy in,” she notes, explaining that she’ll put down a pad for them. “I play with the puppy as long as I can before it has to get in the carrier for the flight.”
6. Manage the pet’s needs while in the air
Naturally, the kind of care a pet requires will differ between species and breeds — but there are a few commonalities. “The pet flies with me inside the cabin of the plane and will relax under the seat in front of me,” says McGee. “Most animals fall asleep with the hum of the plane shortly after takeoff. Sometimes they get water and a treat mid-flight.”
“’Gotcha day’ is really special for these families, so I do everything I can to make the delivery a joyful moment. We celebrate with pictures and little gifts to help make the day memorable.”
— AMANDA MCGEe
7. Meet the new owner or recipient of the pet or deliver the fur baby to their new home
McGee says that, upon landing, the new owner or family is typically waiting in the baggage claim area to greet the pet. This is a particularly enjoyable part for all parties, she explains. “’Gotcha day’ is really special for these families, so I do everything I can to make the delivery a joyful moment,” she adds. “We celebrate with pictures and little gifts to help make the day memorable.” In the event the family or new owner isn’t at the airport to meet the pet, she will rent a car and deliver it to them.
8. Head home or plan for the next trip
“Sometimes I fly back home after a delivery, but many times, I create a route and will fly to my next pickup location,” McGee explains. “By creating a three or four day trip with multiple deliveries I can offer the best prices and use my travel time efficiently.”
What are major challenges associated with being a pet nanny?
Similar to schedules for flight nannies being unique to the day, the grievances pros have can vary, too.
For Jones, one of the biggest challenges she faces as a flight nanny is earning the client and pet’s trust. “People often think it’s a dream job because I love animals, but constantly proving the authenticity of my job is difficult,” she notes. “I understand that there are a lot of scammers in this field.”
And while Walker has a number of clients, she feels she doesn’t make enough money to execute the service full-time. “To make a career off of this, you have to be available all of the time,” she explains. “I would not be able to quit my career and do this.”
McGee, however, has been able to carve out a successful full-time business as a flight nanny. Her biggest challenge? Managing her emotions.
“I fall in love and have my heart broken every day. I feel like Mary Poppins,” she notes. “This is emotional work. Whether it is a new pet coming home or a beloved family member, my customers are often nervous about trusting a stranger for this service. So I dedicate a lot of energy into gaining that trust from the get-go.”
Naturally, she’ll run into some anxious or aggressive pets, too. “Keeping them safe all comes down to patience and compassion,” she explains.
What are some of the benefits of being a flight nanny?
When it comes to pros to being a flight nanny professional, the folks we interviewed unanimously agreed: it’s an animal lover’s dream gig. “I have the cutest travel buddies,” says McGee says. “They remind me how easy it can be to love and to be loved.”
Walker enjoys the connection with each pet and the end result. “I love getting to play with the puppies and see the joy on the owner’s face when the pup is delivered to their hands!” she says.
Aside from the work, McGee adds that it’s fun to see different parts of the country. And as an entrepreneur, she likes being her own boss. “I choose the clients I want to work with and travel to the places I enjoy,” she adds.
Other key facts prospective flight nannies should know
As McGee, Walker and Jones all note, being a flight nanny can be rewarding work — but it’s not a job you can jump into without some planning beforehand. Here are some other important things prospective flight nannies need to know:
- Assemble the right certifications and insurance. For both Walker and McGee, this means a USDA certification and for McGee, liability insurance specific to pet travel.
- You’ll need to put in the work to find clients. McGee markets herself primarily on TikTok, but also has a business website (run with Google ads) to draw in business. She will also still occasionally post her services on Citizen Shipper in addition to other third-party sites, like uShip and Shiply. “Facebook also has several groups for customers looking for flight nannies or ground transportation,” she notes.
- The physical transport of a pet is only one aspect of the job. “I fly with at least three pets each week and that requires a good deal of logistics skills to coordinate flights, car rentals and hotels,” McGee says. “Plus, I handle all the administrative work like sending quotes, speaking with potential clients, sending invoices and maintaining a social media presence.”
- Like travel days for anyone, unexpected airport obstacles are aplenty. Even when you plan a travel day down to the minute, delays and lines at airports are inevitable. Nimbleness is important, McGee says. “I have to be flexible and ready to respond to any delays,” she says. “Sometimes a storm will force you to get an unexpected hotel or plane maintenance could cause misconnections. Keeping a cool head and placing the comfort and safety of your passengers above all else is super important.” Plus, as one of McGee’s TikToks explains, the animals can create chaos, too — like when a pet unexpectedly lurches from their carrier.
The bottom-line on becoming a flight nanny
As McGee emphasizes, being a flight nanny is “joyful work” and makes her “feel good about providing a service that is of value” to her customers. That said, like any job, flight nanny work is work — and will require some contemplation and preparation prior to embarking on a career in the field.