There’s nothing quite like getting away from it all, but that doesn’t mean we want to get away from everything. For many of us with pets, the thought of leaving them behind while we travel is heart-wrenching. We’d much rather have them by our side during our adventures.
Traveling with our pets is about to get much easier, thanks to a major commercial airline’s announcement that customers will soon be able to bring their pets on board. Virgin Airlines is making strides in this direction, with plans to launch this new service within the next year.
If Virgin Airlines succeeds, they will be the first airline in Australia to allow pets in the cabin during flights. The airline shared this exciting news in a press release fittingly titled ‘Cats out the Bag.’
The plan to allow pets in the cabin came after evaluating a 2021 survey. A whopping 85% of respondents supported the idea of having pets in the cabin, and 57% said they would become more frequent flyers if they could bring their pets along. This opens up a service that is already popular with many major North American carriers on domestic flights.
Jayne Hrdlicka, the CEO, stated, “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.”
“Overwhelmingly, our guests tell us they want to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality. It’s something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well.”
Hrdlicka also reassured customers that the new policy will not change anything regarding assistance animals traveling at no cost. Small dogs and cats that fit into a designated space under the seat in front of the passenger will be welcome. An approved carrier will be required to ensure the pets aren’t roaming freely during the flight.
There will be a fee for this service, although the exact cost has not been disclosed yet.
After the announcement, many people had questions about the service, particularly about allergies. For example, could travelers find out in advance if they will be sitting next to a dog or cat?
Virgin Atlantic addressed these concerns, explaining, “It’s really important to us that there is minimal impact on guests who are not carrying a pet. For this reason, we will be using the next few months to design a safe proposition with strict rules. Rest assured; all of this is being taken care of!”
