Reality of flying on Virgin Australia now that dogs and cats are allowed on board
This is what happens when you book a seat next to a dog now that Virgin Australia has made Aussie history, allowing pets to fly with their owners for the first time.
It’s official. Cats and dogs can now fly just like their owners.
Well, almost.
They don’t get a seat and have to be small enough fit in a carrier on the floor. But Australian aviation history has been made.
On Wednesday morning, I flew from Melbourne to the Gold Coast with Virgin Australia in a seat next to Monty the two-year-old Pomeranian.
Little did Monty know, the pressure was on. He was about to be a trailblazer.
While he would have preferred to be on his human’s lap, Monty was soon off to sleep and didn’t make a peep the whole flight.
Impressive for a dog that doesn’t usually travel in a carrier (I’m told handbags are more his style).
It was a relief for travel lover Jodi-Maree who admits she treats Monty as if he is her child.
“So this won’t be your last flight?” I asked her on landing.
“Oh no, you’ll see me on every flight with my dog … we’ll take him all across Australia,” she replied.
Unfortunately for Monty, travelling around the country will need to wait a bit longer.
For now, it’s only Melbourne-Gold Coast and Melbourne-Sunshine Coast routes that pets are allowed on board. But if all goes well, Virgin Australia plan to expand that next year.
Polly the six-month-old Papillon also nodded off for the flight with owner Julija confirming it won’t be her last.
“I think it’s really exciting because there’s lots of pet owners of small dog breeds that choose to not holiday because they can’t take their pet with them or they go local and drive with their pet,” she said.
“This enables pet owners of small breeds to know their pet is going to be safe travelling with them, and it takes away that stress and worry.”
The reality of flying with dogs on board
If you have travelled overseas, you may have seen an animal on board before, but for most Australians it is a foreign concept.
If you’re picturing a bunch of dogs running up and down the aisle or begging for pats, I can tell you the reality is far from it (you might find that reassuring or disappointing).
The cats and dogs must be under 8kg, including their carrier, and stay in that carrier the entire flight under the seat in front of their owner, on top of an absorbent map. So you won’t be seeing a Golden Retriever in the seat next to you.
On each flight there is a maximum of four pets allowed on board in four designated seats (18A, 18F, 20A and 20F). Virgin stresses it will be easy for other passengers to choose to book a seat away from any animals on board.
Now, the one thing the airline can’t control is barking. And Bambi, another Pomeranian a couple of rows back, put that to the test on the historic flight. He yapped at takeoff and landing, but was still quieter than a crying child on board. Truthfully, that yap felt like the only real proof to other passengers that there was in fact a dog on board their flight.
The cost of bringing your pet on board? It’s currently $149 per pet, per flight.
Pet owners warned
Dr Katrina Warren, a veterinarian who has been involved in the launch, said the service is “bringing us up to speed with the rest of the world” but warns pets should be familiar with their carrier before flying.
“The one tip I have for everyone at home is if you are looking at flying with your pet or you want to get a new pet you can fly around the country with, make sure you train them to use their carrier,” she said.
Ahead of the first pet flight on Wednesday, Dr Angela Phillips from Sydney Animal Hospitals told news.com.au that from a welfare perspective, while it may be assumed that pets would be more comfortable in the cabin with their owner, in some cases it still may be more appropriate for a dog to fly with cargo.
“The presence of other animals in the cabin or lots of people can make an anxious pet hyper vigilant and therefore worsen its stress,” she said.
“I recently saw a client who elected to have her dog go with cargo for just these reasons. Each case must be individually assessed.”
To prepare your pet for flying, Dr Phillips also advises crate training early, to get them used to being in confined space for an extended period.
Chelsea Seddon, a head trainer at Petbarn’s Pet Academy and Obedience, recommends introducing them to their carrier gradually at home and then taking short car trips to help ease the transition.
“On travel day, ensure your pet’s needs are met before heading to the airport by providing gentle exercise or some mental stimulation at home, limit food intake to avoid an upset stomach, and pack comforting items like their favourite blanket or toy,” she said.
However, Ms Seddon believes pets should only fly “if absolutely necessary”.
