When you're choosing a company to relocate your pet...especially internationally...the differences between providers can be dramatic. Pricing structures, safety features, customer support, and even whether you’ll get updates during travel vary more than most pet owners realize.
To make the decision easier, we analyzed four major players in the pet relocation space—Starwood Pet Travel, Pet Express, PetRelocation, and Air Pets International—across core categories like pet safety, customer service, value, and technology.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how each company compares based on publicly available information and service offerings.
Starwood consistently ranks as the most comprehensive, full-service pet relocation provider across every category—safety, communication, technology, documentation, and customer support.
Geo-located travel updates
CareTags ID + Pet Wallet app
Vet-reviewed travel checklists
Premium layover service with photos
Airline liaison support
Payment plans & low up-front deposits
24/7 customer support
Dedicated travel coordinator & veterinarian liaison
Pet Travel 101 access
Full documentation handling
Permit & microchip assistance
Door-to-door pickup/drop-off
Airfare booking for pets
No other competitor in the analysis offers this full scope of covered services.
Pet Express is a well-known provider, but their offerings are more limited compared to Starwood—especially in communication and pet monitoring during travel.
No geo-tracking updates
No CareTags or pet-tracking app
No Pet Protection Plan
No premium layover service
No dedicated travel coordinator
No documentation support on the Starwood level
No cancellation flexibility
No Pet Travel Portal
Pet Express offers competitive pricing, but fewer included services mean more work and less visibility for the pet owner.
PetRelocation can handle basic moves, but their service package is significantly less robust for owners who want communication, guidance, and comprehensive support—especially for international travel.
No geo-tracking updates
No travel app or CareTags ID
No Pet Protection Plan
No premium layover service
No payment plans
No cancellation flexibility
No 24/7 support
No dedicated coordinator or vet liaison
No airfare booking
Limited documentation and permit assistance
PetRelocation works for simple itineraries, but complex moves often require more support than they provide.
Air Pets International has high review ratings and offers certified handlers, but lacks many features today’s pet owners expect for a smooth, stress-free relocation.
No geo-tracking
No CareTags / Pet Wallet
No Pet Protection Plan
No premium layover care
No microchip registration assistance
No permit assistance
No airfare booking
No dedicated coordinator or vet liaison
No travel portal
No payment plans or low-deposit options
APU may work for straightforward routes, but falls short on the critical, high-touch support needed for international moves.
Across all categories—Pet Safety & Happiness, Pricing & Value, Customer Support, and Full-Service Offering—Starwood shows more included services than any other competitor.
This means:
More transparency
More communication
More safety measures
More comprehensive logistics support
Fewer gaps in the relocation process
Better guidance on compliance & documentation
In short: Starwood delivers a fuller service experience with fewer unknowns.
Every competitor offers something, but not every competitor offers everything—and when it comes to your pet, missing features can mean added stress, surprise costs, or potential travel complications.
If you want:
✔ real-time updates
✔ a dedicated travel coordinator
✔ transparent pricing
✔ stronger safety measures
✔ full documentation support
✔ airline liaison assistance
✔ technology to simplify the journey
✔ 24/7 customer service
✔ the widest range of included services
Then Starwood Pet Travel emerges as the most complete and reliable choice for both domestic and international pet relocation. For a complete side-by-side pet relocation competitor comparison chart click here.