Pet travel no longer looks like a small detail in trip planning.
In the 2026 trends report from Amadeus, pets move right to the front of the story. The report uses the phrase “Pawprint Economy” to show how animals now shape routes, hotel choices and even the tech people buy for home care.
Travel brands watch this shift closely, and pet parents do the same. Many people refuse to pick between their next break and their dog or cat. They want both, and they say it clearly when they book.
Pet travel climbs to the top of the wish list
The new Amadeus trends list includes six main themes for 2026. One theme covers mixed human and AI trip planning. Another looks at new long range aircraft and more direct routes. A third focuses on trips driven by pop culture, and another covers flexible hotel products and stays.
Even so, pet travel sits at the very top of that list. This placement sends a clear signal. Pets guide more and more holiday decisions. People compare airlines based on cabin rules for animals. They check hotel policies before they confirm dates. Then they think about their own seat and room.
Many of these travelers are first time pet owners. Pet numbers grew fast in the past few years. Now that wave reaches airports, train stations and city hotels. So demand rises, and expectations rise with it.
Why the Pawprint Economy keeps growing
Three simple drivers sit behind pet travel trends 2026. There are more pets. Spending on each pet goes up. Emotional bonds feel stronger than before.
Pet ownership rates in many regions now sit above half of all households. That alone puts pressure on transport and lodging. At the same time, spending on animals grows each year. A large share now goes to services, grooming, upgraded food and travel care, not only to basic supplies.
Then there is the bond itself. Many people see their dog or cat as a full family member. They want safe trips, clear rules and kind staff. They want simple tools that help them keep animals calm on the road. For new pet parents, a clear safety checklist makes daily life easier, and guides such as the pet safety 101 guide for beginners support that long before the first big trip.
Survey work behind the Amadeus report points in the same direction. A large share of people who traveled with a pet in 2025 did that for the first time. So we do not only see talk about “one day” trips with animals. We see real bookings and real journeys.
Even so, many owners still pause before they book. They worry that flights feel too loud or stressful. They fear long checks and unclear rules at borders. Some do not trust “pet friendly” labels from hotels, since past stays did not match the promise.
Airlines and rail start to change the rules
Transport providers now respond step by step.
Some civil aviation bodies in Europe allow medium and large dogs in the cabin on certain routes. This change reduces fear around cargo holds and long wait periods. Cabin travel keeps animals close to their people, and that alone can cut stress for both.
Next, a new group of pet focused carriers enters the scene. Brands such as Bark Air and K9 Jets use shared charter models with pets in the cabin by default. Planned services like SkyePets aim to link Australia and North America with long haul dog friendly flights. These projects target a small but very loyal group of travelers who accept higher fares for comfort and safety.
Rail operators pay attention as well. In parts of Asia, pilot projects on busy lines test dedicated pet areas on trains. Staff monitor stress levels, noise and cleaning needs. Then they use those results to decide how far they can expand similar products in the future.
Step by step, these moves confirm the core trend. Pet travel shapes core offers in air and rail. It no longer sits in a side tab under “special services”.
Hotels and airports rethink the stay for four legged guests
Once travelers land, the work is not over. Hotels and airport services change as the same wave grows.
Some hotel brands now treat dogs and cats as repeat guests with their own small loyalty touch. Pet programs may include welcome notes, upgraded beds and bowls, toys and printed guides to local vets, parks and groomers. Then the system remembers the pet on later stays, so staff can greet that guest by name.
Near large airports, modern pet resorts replace old style kennels. These places add warm floors, quiet rooms and play areas designed with help from behavior experts. Owners sleep better when they know their pet rests in comfort, not in a bare box behind a metal door.
Standard hotels update their policies as well. Clear websites and booking flows now spell out points such as:
- How many pets can stay in one room
- Weight or size limits for each pet
- Extra cleaning or nightly fees
- Access to outdoor space or nearby parks
- Whether beds, bowls and treats come with the room
When guests see these points in advance, check in runs smoother. Staff spend less time on arguments at the desk. Guests feel welcome instead of nervous.
Tech steps in for pets who stay at home
Plenty of pets still stay at home while people travel. Even then, pet travel trends 2026 shape new habits.
Smart feeders now track meal times, portion size and leftovers. Many of them clean bowls with UV light and share data in an app. Activity collars watch heart rate and movement, then send alerts if something looks wrong. Home cameras let people see and talk to their pet during the day.
This type of tech helps owners take longer trips with less worry. It links daily care with travel planning in a quiet, practical way.
At the same time, travel and pet safety reach beyond dogs and cats. Exotic animals appear more often in social media and in private homes. That rise creates new pressure on welfare and on local ecosystems. So interest grows in stricter rules and better education for owners. A recent overview on the global effort to slow the exotic pet boom shows how concern about this trend now spreads across many regions.
What pet travel trends 2026 mean for you
For travelers, all of this adds up to more choice and more homework. You can search for pet friendly cabins on certain routes. You can pick hotels that show clear, kind rules for animals. You can plan breaks around safe care, both on the road and at home.
For travel brands, the Pawprint Economy brings a clear business case. Pet parents often stay loyal once they find an airline, route and hotel that treat animals with care. They come back often. They share stories with friends and online groups. They pay for extras that feel fair and helpful.
Amadeus puts pet travel at the top of its 2026 list for good reason. Pets now sit at the center of many holiday plans. Brands that listen and adapt early build trust that can last for years.
