Mariel Hemingway & Travelers Advantage

Smart Travelers, Happy Pets

Like most people, I love my pets. I have six dogs – two Yorkies, two Maltese, one Belgian Shepherd and one Black Labrador puppy. They are wonderful family members, who love to go anywhere!

So of course, I take them with me all the time when I travel. But I think it's important to be smart about traveling so that both you and your pet have an awesome trip.

Pet travel soared 33 percent last year to a record 20 million, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, and 80 percent of them were dogs. And a full 14 percent – or 29 million Americans – travel with their pets, according to a recent Travel Industry Association study.

First, big dogs should travel by car if possible. It's hard on them to be in airline baggage, I think. On the other hand, small dogs do well in a container under your airplane seat. Just be sure to exercise your dogs before flying, and don't feed them too much until you arrive at your destination.

Finally, be sure to talk to them while you're flying. After all, it's hard for them to be under your seat, on the ground in the dark.

Here are some other great pet travel tips from the experts at Travelers Advantage:

• Bring familiar items for your pet, such as a favorite blanket, chews, treats and toys.


• It's a good idea to pack a first aid kit especially for pets (tweezers, gauze, hydrogen).


• Make sure your animal wears a collar with an ID tag, just in case you're separated.


• Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle.


• Keep your animal on a leash as much as possible when you're outside your vehicle.


• If you're driving, bring water from home in plastic jugs. This will help prevent stomach upset from different water.


• If you're flying, book a direct flight.


• If your animal is in the plane's baggage section, write "LIVE ANIMAL" on the crate, make sure you mark it with arrows for the upright position, and be sure it is closed, but not locked, so personnel can open it in case of emergency.


• Finally, talk to your vet before you leave home. The vet can tell you about any potential problems and how to avoid them.

About Mariel Hemingway
Mariel Hemingway made her silver screen debut at 13 years old in "Lipstick," and was nominated for an Oscar four years later for Woody Allen's "Manhattan." She has starred in some 30 films. Currently, she is producing a film based on her grandfather's epic best-seller "A Moveable Feast," a set of memoirs of his experiences in Paris in the 1920s. In addition to her film career, she found a passion for holistic and balanced living. She's written two books and conducts wellness retreats across the country sharing her insights about yoga, meditation, nutrition and home. Hemingway is a wife and mother of two teenage daughters.

About Travelers Advantage
Members of Travelers Advantage (www.travelersadvantage.com or 1-877-841-1335) can save money on air travel, cruises, car rentals and accommodations, as well as earn five percent cash back on eligible travel booked with preferred providers through the service. Travelers Advantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with nearly 35 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing valuable loyalty, membership, checking account, insurance and other compelling products and services. Leveraging its expertise in product development and targeted marketing, Affinion helps generate significant incremental revenue for more than 5,200 affinity partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Norwalk, Conn., the company has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 14 countries across Europe.

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with nearly 35 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing valuable loyalty, membership, checking account, insurance and other compelling products and services. Leveraging its expertise in product development and targeted marketing, Affinion helps generate significant incremental revenue for more than 5,300 affinity partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Norwalk, Conn., the company has approximately 3,300 employees throughout the United States and in 10 countries across Europe, and markets in 14 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified. For more company and investor information visit www.affinion.com.