Passengers on selected Virgin Australia flights may soon be allowed to travel with their pets in the cabin rather than the cargo hold.
The Aussie airline first announced plans to welcome pets onboard earlier this year after policy changes made the option a possibility. And now it seems we're closer than ever to a trial being rolled out on select routes.
So how do travellers feel about the prospect of a furry companion on their next flight? We asked the question whether passengers would want to be told if there are pets on their flight in our latest Nine reader survey.
Here's what people thought.
READ MORE: The top 10 spots for food-loving travellers when visiting London
The huge majority of respondents, 71 per cent, said they would definitely want to know if there was going to be an animal in the cabin on their flight.
A smaller number of people didn't seem to mind, with 19 per cent saying they didn't need to know.
Meanwhile, 10 per cent of respondents were unsure.
Plenty of people didn't think pets should be allowed in the first place, and passengers should definitely be notified if that is the case.
The top dog-friendly hotels around Australia
“There is no way that pets should be allowed in aircraft cabins, except assistance dogs,” one person responded. “People should always be notified if an animal is in the cabin, in case they have an allergy to it. This could be life threatening!”
“And pets should not be allowed on planes generally – where would they fit, without taking away already scarce room – and what if the dog defecates? The stench would be terrible in that enclosed space. What a stupid, selfish idea!!!” they continued.
“God help us if pets are allowed to fly in passengers areas. It would have to be a heavy discount for me to fly with people and their pets,” another person responded.
READ MORE: How to holiday in tropical North Queensland depending on your budget
There was general concern shown for people who might have allergies.
“Pets on flights will only affect those with allergies, they should be informed if they ask,” one person said,
Of those who weren't too fussed, one pointed out that passengers would be able to see prior to boarding whether there was a pet joining them in the cabin, and would be able to “consult with staff if passengers with allergies need to be considered for seat changes”.
The prospect of being able to bring their pets onboard also had plenty of people excited.
“If you are flying with a carrier who allows pets onboard, which is a fabulous idea by the way, you should assume there is likely to be an animal on your flight,” one person said.
While another, who has travelled in the US with pets on planes before, said the best way forward is to make sure communication is clear with passengers.
”Some folk may feel uncomfortable so a frequent general advice notice that pets are now allowed onboard would give folks the option to ask if they could be advised on an individual basis,” they commented.
“We are also happy that Australia is catching up with the world with a lot more pet friendly accommodation available around the country so flying with pets is next step.”
READ MORE: Rocky Mountaineer review: ‘There's one thing that makes this train journey so special'
Earlier this month more details about Virgin Australia's pet plane were revealed.
Small dogs and cats will be able to fly with trial routes to be used before other routes are added. The animals will only be allowed on board if they travel in carriers that can fit under the seat in front of the passenger.
The rule only applies to small dogs and cats.Bringing a furry friend along will however add an extra $100 -$150 onto the cost of a ticket.
“It's something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well,” CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said at the time of the announcement.
“Almost 70 per cent of Australian households have a pet, so this announcement is really significant for a large proportion of the country.”
