Virgin Australia Launches First Pet-Friendly Flights In Australia
Dogs and cats can now travel in the cabin with their owners.
Virgin Australia is set to become the first airline in Australia to allow pets to travel in the aircraft cabin with their owners. The service is already available for booking, with the inaugural flight scheduled to depart Melbourne Airport on 16 October 2025.
For now, Pets in Cabin will be offered on a trial basis until 30 January 2026, on Melbourne-Gold Coast and Melbourne-Sunshine Coast routes. The service is already available for booking at an introductory price of $149. That fee is per animal and per flight, and is charged in addition to the ticket cost for the owner.
While Virgin Australia intends to expand Pets in Cabin to all eligible domestic flights next year, the scale and pace of the rollout will ultimately be guided by the results of this trial. Qantas, on the other hand, have said they are not yet planning to allow pets to travel in the cabin with their owners.
Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson said the airline expects the service to be well-received by pet lovers nationwide.
“Our guests have been telling us for years how much they want to travel alongside their pets and now they finally can. It’s a model that’s proven successful in the US and Europe and we’re thrilled to bring it to Australia.”
“Beyond convenience for pet owners, the service is also set to boost the pet-friendly travel sector, including hotels and tourism operators,” he adds.
While new to Australia, the idea of pets in the cabin is far from groundbreaking. Airlines in North America and Europe have offered the service for years, with carriers like Air France, Lufthansa, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Canada all permitting small cats and dogs on board. If you’ve flown much overseas, it is highly likely you have already shared a cabin with pets without even noticing.
To fly with Virgin Australia, pets must meet a detailed list of requirements. Travel must be in an approved soft-sided and leak-proof carrier, no larger than 44 x 26 x 28 centimetres, with a combined weight of the pet and carrier under 8 kilograms. Pets must be stowed under the seat in front of the owner for the entire flight, and are permitted outside of the carrier whilst onboard.
A limit of four pets will be permitted per flight, with guests assigned window seats in two designated rows. The seats approved for pets will be 18A, 18F, 20A, and 20F.
Prior to travel, animals must be up to date with vaccinations, with veterinary-issued certificates required for those pets with health conditions, between 8-12 weeks of age, or of a brachycephalic breed. There are also particular breeds, such as Pit Bulls and Safari cats, which are outright banned. Furthermore, there are constraints around items which cause security concerns, including pet costumes, bark collars and stud collars.
For those concerned about allergies, Virgin Australia Group Medical Officer Dr Kelly Bofkin says that aircraft are fitted with advanced HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration systems, which capture more than 99% of airborne particles. This is a similar line used during pandemic times, when millions caught the virus while travelling.
“Ensuring the health and comfort of all guests has been central to the development of this service…We have looked to best medical evidence, worked with other airlines who currently carry pets and consulted with peak allergy bodies in developing our policies and procedures.”
“Cabin airflow dynamics are such that air circulates from top to bottom and the cabin air is renewed 20-30 times per hour, which greatly reduces the risk of airborne allergen transfer,” she adds.
Virgin is also establishing buffer zones, two rows on either side of pet rows, to help reduce exposure. Although, how those buffer zones are actually monitored, and how Virgin would even know which passengers are allergic, is yet to be shared. The airline adds that guests with allergies can choose alternative seating in the same cabin class, free of charge.
For now, you can’t book your dog or cat into Business Class or take them into the Virgin Australia lounge. That rule is naturally waived for approved assistance animals, where there is no change to the existing policy.
