Virgin Australia’s announcement that small cats and dogs will be allowed to fly at passengers’ feet may have caused excitement among animal lovers looking forward to the future service, but many details still need to be worked out – including one large elephant in the cabin.
In what will be an Australian first, Virgin has said they hope to launch the offering within 12 months, noting they will work out many of the finer details of the service as they say they must wait for regulatory approval organizations.
In the absence of such details, many travelers alarmed by the announcement will undoubtedly think twice about booking a future flight with the airline until it becomes clear how they will deal with certain animal-related issues.
Related: Frequent flyer programs: what’s best for Australians – and is there a catch?
After all, animals running loose on airplanes have had alarming and sometimes fatal consequences. In 2010, a small plane on short domestic routes in the Democratic Republic of Congo crashed, killing 20 people. The lone survivor later reported that the incident occurred after a crocodile got loose on the plane.
Here’s everything we know about how Virgin Australia’s pets in the cabin program will work.
Which pets are allowed?
Virgin Australia has said that pets on its cabin service will be “limited to small cats and dogs”.
The airline did not specify what “small” means.
Carriers in the United States, which already have such regulations in some places, restrict certain breeds.
Will we be able to take (small) pets onto the plane?
No. The rules here are strictly defined.
Pets must be transported during the flight in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier and placed under the owner’s seat. Taller travelers who already struggle with legroom may find this a challenge.
So I can’t show my beloved Rover to my fellow passengers?
No. In fact, only certain rows of seats on certain domestic flights are eligible for pet owners who want to use the service.
Sitting on laps, walking pets down the aisles or taking them to the bathroom is not allowed.
So what happens when Rover has to do its business in the air?
Related: An escaped crocodile may have caused a plane crash in Congo
This may be the question on everyone’s mind, but Virgin Australia has yet to provide an answer. Clearly, they’re still figuring out the finer details of the plan.
Moisture-absorbing mats have been used for service animal feces – which is already allowed in aircraft cabins.
What’s stopping this from turning airplane cabins into feels? like a zoo?
It’s unclear what Virgin Australia’s plan is in the event of a barking attack, or what to do with particularly odorous pets.
Will Virgin Australia really be allowed to do this?
There don’t appear to be any laws preventing airlines from allowing pets in cabins. In fact, Virgin’s expectation of regulatory approval may be overly cautious.
In 2021, Australia’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa), changed its rules so that airlines no longer need explicit permission to transport animals. Pilots and airlines now have the freedom, as long as it is safe.
“They need to think about how to control animals, what the impact is on other passengers, how not to block the exit lines and how to deal with feces/urine. The procedures for pets would be added to their operating manuals,” a Casa spokesperson said in 2021.
On Thursday, Casa released a statement: “The regulation places the responsibility on the operator and pilot in command of the aircraft for ensuring the safety of the flight when an animal is transported on an aircraft.”
Why is Virgin Australia doing this now?
Because Australians want it as an option, the airline said.
Virgin Australia said that in a 2021 survey of its Facebook followers, 85% of respondents voted in favor of the airline introducing pets to cabin flights.
In more recent research conducted by Virgin Australia among Australian pet owners, almost 70% of respondents recommended they travel with their pet in the cabin, while 57% said they would fly more regularly if the service became a reality.
In the increasingly tough battle to challenge the dominance of Qantas (and its budget carrier Jetstar), which controls more than 60% of the domestic market, allowing in-flight pets is one way for Virgin to distinguish themselves.
Currently, passengers can only fly with service animals in Australian airline cabins, and only if they need them. All other pets must fly in cargo holds. Airlines around the world, including Qantas, have faced criticism after animals traveling in the bellies of their planes died during transport.
The announcement also brings a positive story for Virgin Australia, following the unexpected announcement that their CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, would be stepping down. The abrupt dismissal led to media reports that she was suspended by the airline’s private equity owners Bain Capital, suggesting they were unhappy with her performance ahead of the airline’s much-hyped relisting on the stock exchange .
Related: Prescription pets: ‘I have a doctor’s note to fly with my dog’
What are the rates for pets in cabins abroad?
Many overseas jurisdictions have allowed pets to be transported in cabins for a while for a fee, with all kinds of pigs, miniature horses and ducks spotted on flights in the past.
The US has long allowed people to fly with emotional support animals, as long as airlines allow it. Passengers over the years have attempted to bring a wide variety of creatures on board as they tested the parameters of the rules.
In 2018, a woman was prevented from bringing a peacock aboard a United Airlines flight, despite the owner being willing to pay an extra fee for her feathered friend.
But the numerous requests for unusual service animals ultimately led the U.S. Transportation Department to ban all animals, except dogs, as service or emotional support animals in December 2020. Non-service animals can be brought on board in the US, with most airlines charging a fee. and there are only limits for small pets.
Some Middle Eastern airlines also allow falcons in cabins and have their own passports.