2026 Pet Travel Trends: Discover the Best Hotels and Airlines for Your Furry Friends in Asia

Translation result

As more people treat pets like family, the “pet-parent” lifestyle has made traveling with furry (and feathered) companions part of everyday life.

About 15 million people in Korea own pets, and roughly 25–30% of households share their homes with an animal companion.

In step with this shift, hotels, resorts, and airlines are expanding services for people who travel with pets. Beyond basic “pet-friendly” check-ins, many properties now offer dedicated rooms and tailored amenities that make trips easier—and more indulgent—for both owners and their pets.

Seoul hotels are upping their game. Seoul Dragon City runs pet-friendly rooms equipped with special furniture and on-site walking areas to make stays smoother for pet parents.

The Grand Mercure Ambassador Hotel & Residences Seoul Yongsan even operates a separate floor for guests with dogs, creating a more private, comfortable experience.

Since 2022, the hotel has partnered with premium pet-furniture brand NAR to design “pet rooms” stocked with pet cabinets, beds, dual hangers, beanbags and dining sets—everything to maximize a pet-friendly environment.

The hotel also runs a pet-only elevator so guests can move about without worrying about onlookers, and it’s set aside an outdoor walking area called “The Garden” on the first floor.

Conrad Seoul recently rolled out its new “2026 Pet Maison,” featuring a hinoki wood tub just for pets, a pet drying room, a pet treadmill and even a pet gym ball.

Developed in collaboration with pet-care brand Huray, the Pet Maison includes a relaxing kit, pet health juices, the Simmons N32 “Chokkomi” pet bed and nourishing porridge formulated for dogs—little luxuries that speak to today’s pet-parent expectations.

On Jeju Island, lodging options for travelers with pets are also growing. Jeju Shinhwa World and Sono Pet Club & Resort run rooms with pet amenities and programs, and some resorts offer hands-on experiences owners can enjoy with their pets.

Airlines are adapting, too. Several domestic carriers have relaxed cabin rules for pets or improved transport services, and demand to travel with pets is rising. A few operators even run limited charter flights that allow pets to fly alongside their owners.

Korean Air runs a “SkyPets” program that rewards customers who transport pets with points, discounts on fees and occasional free transport.

As of the 1st of the month, Jeju Air raised the in-cabin weight limit for pets (including the carrier) from 7 kg (about 15.4 lb) to 9 kg (about 19.8 lb). Dogs, cats and birds at least eight weeks old can now travel in-cabin on all Jeju Air routes.

Jeju Air also introduced an annual “Pet Membership” for passengers traveling with pets. It has Standard and Premium tiers. Standard benefits include unlimited in-cabin pet travel, a 5 kg checked-baggage allowance and priority baggage retrieval. Premium adds a pet-specific cage valued at 200,000 KRW (about $150) and a cushion worth 28,000 KRW (about $21).

T’way Air, the first domestic carrier to raise its in-cabin pet weight limit to 9 kg, has expanded its “T’Pet” service. The airline issues boarding passes with pets’ names and provides a pet carrier called the “T-Carrier.”

Experts say the pet industry will keep growing alongside Korea’s low birth rate. In travel and leisure, they expect more personalized services that reflect pets’ needs and owners’ lifestyles—think boutique offerings that treat pets as true travel companions rather than an afterthought.