Five quick questions answered on Virgin Australia’s plans to allow animals into flight cabins

Virgin Australia has announced it will be allowing small cats and dogs on specific domestic routes within the next 12 months. 

The news has been met with a mixed response, with some commenters on social media excited to bring their pets on holidays, and others worried about allergies. 

On the ABC News Facebook page, there were just as many “woo!” comments as there were people saying “no!”

“Cats being chased by dogs up and down the aisles now that’s in-flight entertainment for the passengers,” one user commented. 

“About time we caught up with the rest of the world,” another said. 

A disappointed passenger wrote: “just perfect if you’ve flown Virgin Australia all your life and now you won’t be able to as you’re allergic to cats.”

“This is not good. Kind of disgusting really. Now passengers have to put up with barking dogs on flights on top of everything else that comes with air travel,” another person wrote. 

These are some of your pressing questions answered:

How will they manage passengers with allergies?

Concerns about pet allergies was one of the most common comments after the announcement. 

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the company would be spending the next few months designing a safe proposition, with strict rules to manage this issue. 

The spokesperson said pets would be limited to a small number of designated rows and would not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps.

“Cabin airflow dynamics (air circulating from top to bottom), the renewal of cabin air 20-30 times per hour and use of hospital grade HEPA filtration in our aircraft (which captures greater than 99 per cent of airborne particles) mean the risk of allergy-triggering particles being circulated on-board is low,” the spokesperson said. 

They said the airline has robust systems in place for guests who have severe allergies to identify themselves, so those risks for these guests could be mitigated and arrangements put in place prior to travel.

“We also want to point out that pets in cabin flights work effectively overseas and we believe there’s no reason why they won’t work in Australia too,” the spokesperson said. 

How will animals cope with air travel?

RSPCA Australia Chief Science Officer, Suzie Fowler, said while there were risks associated with air travel for any type of pet, travelling in the cabin was generally a preferable option to pets travelling in the cargo with the right safeguards in place.

“If animals are in the cabin, owners or caregivers should ensure that their animals are under control, socialised to other animals and people and are calm and comfortable when travelling,” Dr Fowler said. 

“Travel can be stressful for animals, so we recommend that owners start preparing them for travel at least a few weeks beforehand.

“This includes getting them comfortable with their container (for example, by placing it somewhere they like to relax in the house and making it as inviting as possible, such as with your pet’s favourite bedding, toys and treats) — hopefully meaning that they associate the container with good things and positive feelings.

“Ensure that any container complies with International Air Transport Association regulations, and that the animal has enough space to turn around normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position.”

Dr Fowler warned that some flat-faced breeds such as British Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and Persian cats are at greater risk of heat stress. She said that owners should be aware of the increased risk that comes with air travel.  

She recommended owners consult their vet prior to travel for an assessment of the animal’s suitability for travel, regardless of whether it is in cargo or in the passenger cabin. 

What steps are being taken to manage the extra mess and noise?

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said these finer details would be revealed in due course following appropriate stakeholder consultation and regulatory approval.

What they can confirm is that only small dogs and cats would be allowed on board, those which can fit into pet carriers stowed under the seat for the duration of the flight. 

This means pets will not be allowed to sit on owners’ laps. 

In the United States, where animal travel in the cabin is generally allowed on domestic flights, most airlines recommend taking the pet to the bathroom before the flight, and using potty training pads as a back up. 

American Airlines, for example, does not allow animals under 8 weeks to fly, restricts certain breeds, and allows pets only on flights under 12 hours. 

Who is supporting the move?

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) updated the rules on flying animals in December 2021, giving airlines permission to bring pets into the cabins. 

Virgin Australia is the of the major first airline groups to begin to bring the CASA change into practice. 

Virgin conducted a survey in April 2023 with 643 Australian travellers, of which 426 were pet owners. 

Of those pet owners, 286 said if it was allowed by the airline, they would most likely fly with their pets in the cabin “more than zero” times. 

Additionally, 164 of those pet owners said they would take at least one extra return flight a year if they could fly with their pet in the cabin. 

Dr Fowler said the RSPCA welcomed the announcement, as it supported policies that allow companion animals to travel, appropriately contained, in the aircraft with their owner or caregiver. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with the airline industry to ensure that any transport of pets is done safely and with the animals’ welfare front of mind,” Dr Fowler said. 

A Qantas spokesperson said there were no changes to their current policy for any Qantas Group flights, including Jetstar.

A Rex spokesperson said the airline was not ruling out the carriage of pets in the cabin. However, it had no immediate plans to introduce it, adding that assistance animals are still welcome in the cabin. 

Will it cost more to bring your pets on board?

A spokesperson says Virgin Australia is still working on the finer details in regards to things like cost. However, they confirmed there would be a fee for guests to bring their pet onboard.

This cost does not apply to service animals. 

In the US, United Airlines charges a $US125 ($190) fee to bring a pet on board.