Susie Kerwin-Hagen
Midwest Airlines

Susie Kerwin-Hagen

Susan Kerwin-Hagen
Marketing Programs Specialist
Midwest Airlines

Susan Kerwin-Hagen joined the marketing team at Midwest Airlines in 2002. She was instrumental in the development of its signature Premier Pet Program, the industry’s first pet frequent flyer program.  With a lifelong commitment to training, showing, competing and traveling to competitions with her prized English Setters, Kerwin-Hagen recognizes the challenges and fears many passengers consider when traveling with a pet.  Combining her own knowledge of safe pet air travel with the resources of a major airline, Kerwin-Hagen identified an opportunity to make travel safer, more comfortable and more rewarding for pets and their owners. 

(In today’s environment, passengers would like to travel by air more frequently with their pets, but there is an industry concern for the proper handling and safe passage of their pet in the aircraft’s lower cabin.
With Susan’s extensive air-travel with her English Setters she developed the Premier Pet Program with a focus on safe and comfortable air travel for Midwest’s four legged passengers.)

Kerwin-Hagen’s involvement in Midwest Airline’s Premier Pet Program has resulted in a one-of-a-kind program whereby pet owners are able to earn free travel and other perks for their pets.  Further, Midwest Airlines personnel are carefully trained in the safe treatment and transport of pets, down to the smallest detail – all of Midwest Airlines’ furry passengers receive complimentary carob-chip cookie treats!

Kerwin-Hagen was recently awarded the 2006 “Women of Influence Award” from the Milwaukee Business Journal for her innovation and initiative in spearheading the Midwest Airlines Premier Pet Program.  A member of three English Setter organizations and a licensed judge with the American Kennel Club, Kerwin-Hagen owns several champion English Setters including Premier Pet Program mascot “Julie.”  Julie was honored as the “Best of Breed” at the 1991 English Setter National Specialty competition in Chicago, surpassing more than 900 other dogs, and frequently makes public appearances in her role as Midwest Airlines mascot.

 

About the Premier Pet Program
The Premier Pet Program offers two options for pet owners: Below Cabin Cat and Dog Option, enabling passengers to reserve a secure spot for kenneled dogs or cats in a temperature-controlled and pressurized pet compartment; and In Cabin Small Dog Option, enabling passengers to bring a small dog into the cabin as long as it is confined in a soft-sided pet carrier and stowed beneath a seat.

Pet owners also have the opportunity to earn free roundtrip passage for a pet for every three paid roundtrips (or six paid one-way trips) that pets fly with their owners.  Additionally, owners who are Midwest Miles members can earn a free roundtrip for their pets by redeeming 15,000 Midwest Miles for the Below Cabin Dog and Cat Option or 20,000 Midwest Miles for the In Cabin Small Dog Option.

 

Midwest Airlines