easyJet launches pet house-sitting service for holidaymakers

Airline says move will 'make travel possible for even more people'

easyJet will launch its partnership with TrustedHousesitters in 2018 (easyJet)

Organising a holiday presents a lengthy pre-holiday to-do list, but for pet owners the problems are compounded by what to do with their furry (or scaly) friends.

With many people struggling to find suitable accommodation for pets when they make holiday plans, easyJet has teamed up with a house-sitting provider to ease the burden on holidaymakers.

The airline’s new service will give customers the opportunity to find a free house-sitter or find free accommodation as a house and pet-sitter when booking flights. Its decision follows a survey which revealed that the majority of pet owners (58 per cent) would travel more often if they could access better pet care.

Partnering with house-sitting service TrustedHousesitters, the airline will match pet owners with verified members of its online community to look after their home, while travellers will be able to find unique accommodation where they can look after everything from "chickens and pigs to goats and llamas", with diverse options including French chateaux and apartments in Paris.

“EasyJet is committed to making travel as easy as possible for our customers – this new partnership with TrustedHousesitters is the latest step we’ve taken to deliver on that promise," Andrew Middleton, ancillary revenue director for easyJet, told The Independent.

“By helping holidaymakers find trusted people to look after their pets and homes or by helping them to find free accommodation in return for house-sitting, we will make travel possible for even more people.”

The airline says pet-sitters can look after anything from ‘chickens and pigs to goats and llamas' (easyJet)

TrustedHousesitters managing director Tim Lyons said: “There are millions of pet owners in desirable locations all over the world without adequate pet care; we can now enable them to travel more often with peace of mind, boosting tourism while giving people more authentic travel experiences. This helps make travel easier and more affordable all round.

“Our speciality is connecting people with authentic and amazing places to stay that include the company of an adorable pet. EasyJet’s speciality is getting people there – I think we will make a great team.”

The service, which remarkably no one has yet referred to as easyPet, will launch in 2018.