08 March 2024
2 mins Read
Virgin Australia has announced its plans to become Australia’s first airline to allow pets onboard.
You could bring your furry friends on your next flight.
Responding to audience feedback from a 2021 survey where almost 70 per cent of respondents said they would travel with their pet in the cabin, Virgin Australia Group chief executive officer Jayne Hrdlicka said the company’s guests overwhelmingly want to travel with their pets.
“Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia’s first-ever pets in cabin flights,” Hrdlicka said.
Almost 70 per cent of respondents said they would travel with their pet in the cabin.
There will be some limitations to the service, with only small cats and dogs allowed, and only on specific routes. The pets will also be restricted to a small number of designated rows, they won’t be able to roam freely or sit on their owner’s lap and they must be carried in a Virgin Australia-approved pet carrier, which must be kept under the seat in front of the owner for the duration of the flight.
“Animals being carried onboard Virgin Australia flights will be required to remain in their approved pet carriers at all other times within the terminal,” Melbourne Airport chief executive officer Lorie Argus said.
Only small cats and dogs will be allowed to use the service.
This new pets onboard service will not impact approved assistance animals being able to fly in the cabin of the aircraft at no additional cost. Pets will also still be able to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services.
Assistance animals will be able to travel like normal.
With most major North American airlines offering a pets onboard service, Virgin Australia is taking a huge step in evolving Australian domestic flights.
“It’s something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well,” Hrdlicka said.
The service is expected to be implemented within 12 months, subject to regulatory approval.
Virgin Australia is taking a huge step in evolving Australian domestic flights.
These trains are so much more than a way to get from A to B. Lonely Planet has launched Amazing Train Journeys, a book spotlighting 60 incredible sce...
Here are 10 towns to take note of for your next weekend escape... Each year, Wotif pulls together intel from travel-savvy Aussies to spotlight trend...
Australians pride themselves on being an easy-going bunch. But there are some places where the locals just welcome you with open arms. If you love tr...
We love a beach here in Australia, and each year we eagerly await the official best beaches list so we know where to lay our towels. Nobody does beac...
Autumn may be at the doorstep, but these activities will keep you in a summer state of mind. Extending summer is all about capturing the feeling of t...
The outback icons you know and love. These renowned outback destinations are icons and on the national radar for a reason, but they still hold some r...
Ridiculous.
Time to change to another airline after 10 years as a Virgin customer.
What about passengers with Allergies? They all share the same Air, Will they be advised when booking that pets will be travelling?
I am 100% for pets being able to travel with their owners. I have spent time in the USA… and
this plan works perfectly.
It is barbaric to carry the pets in the luggage hold. I have experienced my pet being very ill and dehydrated after such an incident…and still carry the guilt after many years, to this day, Thank you for this opportunity to express my feelings on this subject. A salute to Virgin Airways! Marilyn.
How will they fit under the seat in front of you – I can’t even get my handbag under let alone a pet carrier?
NO way this should be implemented. Out of control in the USA. … and why should we copy them. The current system works ok. NO pets on planes. Incidentally, I love dogs and cats.
John
Even though I have a savage allergy to cats, I’m all for it. Looking forward to traveling with Cleopatra, my support diamond python who would quite like to share a space with a cat as long as fluffy is less than two metres long.
Dogs will have to be very small indeed to fit in a carrier that has to be stowed under a seat. I doubt that the dogs in Virgin’s promo pics would fit, or be content to be stowed for hours in a tight cage.
I will never fly Virgin again
Hi Emily
I am a dog lover however I and other members of my extended family, most have dogs, will definitely not be travelling on any airline that allows this. Having travelled overseas quite a few times we have never heard of this or encountered it in our air travels. It’s already very squeezy to place items under the seat in front and have room for your feet, let alone a pet in a cage. Don’t mind dogs/cats on a train as there is plenty of room and more circulating air. A big NO from us.
regards
Janice
I definitely disagree with allowing cats and dogs on flights and would not fly on such a flight.
Sorry. There is no way I will ever fly Virgin.
I won’t be flying with them & I love animals but this is ridiculous.
I think you should have a pets only flight with owners, so that customers that dislike dogs and cats can be offered an alternative flight. I would not be be happy to have animals in the cabin
We have travelled extensively in our lives and have only come across pets being allowed on board aircraft cabins once flying from Vienna to Stockholm. The pets were not allowed to stay with their owners in their seats but cabin staff placed them in cages in the front of the plane. They also only allow pets on short haul flights. Aircraft cabins are so small and cramped that we consider this practice totally unacceptable and very cruel for the animals. We would not fly with any airline that allows pets to travel with the passenger in their seat. This practice is just as bad as European restaurant and cafe customers being allowed to bring their dogs into the establishment. The world has gone completely bonkers in our opinion.
I will definitely be accessing this service for my very small dog depending on the flight routes.
Won’t be flying Virgin anymore then just imagine 6 dogs all barking at once!
Not for me
Thank goodness Qantas has said no to pets in the main cabin
This makes me so happy and excited to potentially be able take my beautiful toy poodle girl on a flight with us. I would absolutely definitely use the pets onboard service with Virgin Australia.
At last, we’ll certainly make use of this! Haven’t flown for seven years as we wouldn’t leave our dog in a kennel, and she wouldn’t handle going in the hold of an aircraft as well as being separated from us. Drove the Nullarbor last year, but …. No more!
I am so pleased that Virgin has progressed to allowing pets in the cabin. After living in USA for 4 years it was hard to come back to OZ and be restricted about pets and travel.
Definitely.
It will be less stressful for the owner and their pet if they can travel domestic together onboard.
Happy for Virgin to update regarding onboard pet travelling by email when it will start.
Thank you.
It’s so interesting reading all the comments to this post. Humans are so interestingly unique. Animals best friends, family members and deserve to be traded a accordantly. I agreed that the final details will need to be managed and worked through. The captain crew will do their best to make sure everyone’s comfortable. Thank you VIRGIN for pushing and evolving the industry all the while keeping things safe.