More than a year after it was first announced, tickets have gone on sale for Australia’s first domestic flights permitting pets to travel in the cabin.
Virgin Australia revealed in March, 2024 that it was working to allow some pets on board, with the plan becoming a reality as of today. The inaugural trips will travel between Melbourne and the Gold Coast, and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast on October 16. Virgin says pet owners are invited to book a seat for their furry companions “for an introductory price of $149 per animal, per flight”.
Only small cats and dogs will be allowed on board initially. Pets must travel in an approved soft-sided, leak-proof carrier that fits specific measurements, and the pet and carrier combined are not to exceed eight kilograms.
The carrier must be stowed under the seat in front of the owner for the entire flight, and the animal will not be allowed outside the carrier at any time. Animals with health conditions must travel with a vet’s note, and those under eight weeks old will not be eligible. All animals must be vaccinated, and a maximum of four pets will be allowed per eligible flight.
What do Australians make of the Virgin pets initiative?
Last month, Yahoo News took to the streets to see how Australians responded to the news. While the majority of people approved of the idea, concerns were raised about hygiene and space.
“I think it’s a good idea, I like it,” one man told Yahoo. One woman claimed she’d even “prefer [a pet] over a human” and said she would be excited to sit near a pet on her flight. “It’s something we probably should embrace,” another said, while an American man pointed out it’s something that has been done in the US for decades now.
However, another Sydneysider called it out as a “terrible” idea, as another shared a similar sentiment, believing it “can be disruptive and it’s just not a natural environment for them to be in”.
Virgin Australia’s first flights allowing domestic pets on board will take off in October. Source: Getty
Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer, Dave Emerson, said the airline’s initiative follows similar success overseas. “Our guests have been telling us for years how much they want to travel alongside their pets, and now they finally can,” he said. “It’s a model that’s proven successful in the US and Europe, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Australia.”
Guests will need to arrive at the airport with their pet in a secure approved carrier with cable ties securing all but one opening and an absorbent mat placed inside. Guests wanting to fly with their pet in the cabin will need to call the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89 to book.
There are no changes to requirements regarding assistance dogs.
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