How a $3,000 Travel Disaster Inspired Kruiz—The First AI Pet Travel App
by / ⠀Travel / April 5, 2025
In early 2024, co-founders Angela Le and Brad Pauer booked a trip to London with their miniature dachshund, Bodhi. After confirming with the airline that their dog could fly in the cabin, they purchased non-refundable seats. Days before the flight, however, a follow-up call revealed a sudden change: due to new regulations at Heathrow Airport, only service animals were permitted in-cabin. All other pets, regardless of size or breed, were required to fly in the hold.
When the couple asked for a refund to rebook through another airport, they were denied. The airline stated it was not a policy change on their end and redirected them to the U.K. government. After waiting on hold for over an hour, a government official dismissed their concerns, stating the airline was “just passing the buck.” With no resolution, they were forced to miss the flight—and lost over $3,000 in the process.
That experience became the catalyst for Kruiz, a new AI-powered travel platform that aims to modernize and humanize pet travel.
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