There’s nothing quite like escaping the daily grind, but that doesn’t mean we want to leave everything behind. For those of us who have pets, taking them along on our travels would make our getaways even better.
Traveling with our pets is about to get easier thanks to a major airline’s new initiative. Virgin Australia has announced plans to allow passengers to bring their pets on board. This exciting development could be launched within the next year.
If Virgin Australia succeeds, they will become the first airline in Australia to permit pets in the cabin during flights. The airline shared this news in a press release titled “Cats out of the Bag.”
They plan to lead the way in the country by offering in-cabin pet flights. The decision came after reviewing a 2021 survey where 85% of respondents supported the idea of allowing pets in the cabin.
Additionally, 57% of those surveyed said they would fly more often if they could bring their pets along. Virgin Australia would join many North American carriers that already provide this service on domestic flights.
Jayne Hrdlicka, the CEO of Virgin Australia, 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.
“Our guests have overwhelmingly expressed their desire to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality. This is a common practice overseas and has been proven to work well.”
Hrdlicka also assured that the new policy wouldn’t affect the current provision allowing assistance animals to travel at no cost. Small dogs and cats, as long as they can fit under the seat in front of the passenger, will be welcome.
Pets will need to stay in an approved carrier during the flight to ensure they don’t roam freely. While there will be a fee for this service, the exact cost has not yet been disclosed.
Following the announcement, many people had questions about the new service. One concern was for passengers with allergies, wondering if they could find out if a pet would be seated nearby.
Virgin Australia responded: “It’s very important to us that there is minimal impact on guests who are not traveling with a pet. We will spend the next few months designing a safe plan with strict rules. Rest assured, we are addressing all these concerns!”
