LG Uplus’s pet community platform ‘Podong’ is partnering with Jeju Air to operate the nation’s only dedicated pet-friendly flights, called the ‘Podong Exclusive Flight’, starting in June. A large advertising campaign will also be launched to promote traveling with dogs.
The Podong Exclusive Flight is characterized by its feature that allows travelers to enjoy their journey sitting side by side with their dogs without worrying about other passengers in the cabin. The first flight in April sold out completely just seven days after ticket sales began, showcasing its incredible popularity.
The second flight will depart from Gimpo to Jeju on June 15th (Saturday) at 11:35 AM and return on June 17th (Monday) at 8 PM. The package consists of three seats for two guardians and one dog and is priced at 660,000 KRW*. Tickets will be available for purchase at Podong starting on the 17th.
- Fuel surcharges and airport taxes of 88,600 KRW are additional
Along with the second flight, LG Uplus plans to launch an advertising campaign. Using its self-developed AI technology ‘iXi’, they created a voice for dogs, capturing lively moments of dogs enjoying their travel experience alongside their owners in the sky.
A short form advertisement utilizing the trending ‘Kongnyangi Challenge’ meme among the MZ generation was also released on the 13th. They adapted the previously popular line ‘A cat walks on the frozen Han River’ into ‘A dog flies in the frozen sky’, complete with music and choreography. The original meme’s protagonist, MBN’s Lee Si-yeol, added a humorous touch by participating in the narration.
In the survey conducted with passengers from the April flight, 96% reported satisfaction. Customers shared feedback like, “I used to worry that my dog would bark on flights to Jeju, but aboard the Podong Exclusive Flight, I felt pampered without such concerns,” and “It was reassuring to have a veterinarian on board checking my dog’s condition frequently.”
Yeom Sang-pil, Executive Director at LG Uplus, stated, “The positive feedback from April’s passengers has continued, allowing us to operate the Podong Exclusive Flight in June as well. With this advertising campaign, we aim to convey the unique customer value that ‘dogs are family members’ and simultaneously enhance Podong’s recognition to actively contribute to the growth of the pet travel market.”
Podong is a leading domestic community and travel platform for pet owners launched by LG Uplus in August 2022 to innovate the pet owner’s experience. They develop a Dog Behavior Type Indicator (DBTI) that helps understand specific behaviors of dogs and provide training correction guides. Additional services include expert consultations where veterinarians and trainers directly respond to pet owners’ inquiries, as well as dedicated commerce for pet owners.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr