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Update Thursday, February 26: In the lead-up to Virgin Australia welcoming its 1,000th pet onboard this month, the airline has confirmed its plan to offer Pets in Cabin services on eligible domestic flights for the foreseeable future. Virgin also revealed its intention to introduce the service on flights to and from Adelaide and Launceston following the Easter holidays.
It’s time to let the dogs (and cats) out! In October 2025, Virgin Australia finally launched its Pets in Cabin service, letting travellers fly with their pets in the plane cabin on select domestic flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. This news came just over 18 months after the airline initially revealed its plans to become Australia’s first airline to welcome pets onboard. Now, Virgin has confirmed its plans to offer these pet-friendly flights on an ongoing basis and expand its current network to include select services to and from Adelaide and Launceston following the Easter holiday period (pending final airport approvals). Get your pawsports ready!
This isn’t the first time Virgin has led the pack, being the first Aussie airline to offer online check-in and baggage tracking. Now, it’s bringing a model that’s proven successful in the US and Europe to Australia. The Australian-first service will launch as a trial on flights from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, with the inaugural journey taking off on Thursday, October 16. During the trial phase, Virgin will gather customer feedback before rolling out the service across its broader domestic network in 2026.
Virgin Australia group chief executive officer, Dave Emerson, said, “With almost 70 per cent of households owning a pet, we expect the service to be embraced by pet lovers all around the country. Beyond convenience for pet owners, the service is also set to boost the pet-friendly travel sector, including hotels and tourism operators.”
What pets are allowed onboard?
Small dogs or cats will be welcome on flights between Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, while only small dogs will be permitted on flights from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. All pets must weigh under eight kilograms, including the carrier, and only four furry passengers will be allowed per flight. Travellers with pets will be seated in window seats in two designated rows — 18A, 18F, 20A and 20F.
How much are tickets for pets?
To start off, furry flyers can snag an in-cabin ticket for $149 per animal. Prices may rise after the trial phase and could vary depending on the route.
To book Virgin’s Pets in Cabin service, travellers will need to call the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89.
What are the pet carrier requirements?
Guests should arrive with their furry friend in a secure, approved carrier, with cable ties securing all but one opening and an absorbent mat placed inside (for a mess-free journey). The approved soft-sided, leak-proof carrier must measure no more than 44 centimetres (L) x 26 centimetres (W) x 28 centimetres (H).
The pet carrier must be stowed under the plane seat in front of the owner for the entire flight – no sneaky paws or whiskers roaming the cabin at any time.
Do pets need to be vaccinated?
Health and safety of both pets and humans is the top priority, so all pets must be up to date with vaccinations before take-off. Pets with existing health conditions – including those that are pregnant, are recovering from surgery or injury, are between eight and 12 weeks old, older than 12 or are a brachycephalic breed – need a vet-issued certificate confirming the pet is fit to fly.
What if I have an allergy?
No need to worry – Virgin Australia planes are fitted with advanced air filtration systems that refresh cabin air 20 to 30 times per hour with sterile air, removing 99 per cent of airborne particles, including pet dander.
Most travellers can comfortably sit just a few rows away from the pet-friendly rows without experiencing allergic reactions. Plus, guests with allergies can also pick alternative seats in the same cabin class at no extra cost.
What happens at check-in?
First things first — let your pet have a quick pit stop in the airport’s external animal relief area before heading inside. At check-in, a Virgin Australia Guest Services team member will make sure your pet’s carrier meets all the requirements, and the owner will be required to sign the Pet Acceptance Form. The carrier will then be tagged with a ‘Live Animal’ label, and you’ll receive a green security seal.
What happens at security?
At security, the pet owner will first send their carry-on baggage through the screening point and then be guided on when to remove their pet from the carrier. The empty carrier will also go through screening, just like regular carry-on luggage. After both you and your pet have passed through the security checkpoint, the pet is placed back in the carrier and secured with the green security seal, ready to head to the gate.
Can pets come into airport lounges?
As much as we’d love to live the high life with our furry friends, non-assistance animals aren’t allowed in food and drink areas – including airport lounges – to comply with the Australia Food Standards Code.
What happens at boarding?
At the departure gate, pet owners can preboard the aircraft and settle into the designated Pets in Cabin seats in rows 18 or 20. Once seated, the carrier should be placed under the seat in front on top of an absorbent mat, and pets must remain inside for the entire flight. After landing, owners should stay seated until most passengers have disembarked.
What happens if a dog has an accident on the flight?
It’s what we’re all thinking… Virgin Australia will provide all Pets in Cabin ticket holders with a vet-approved guide on exercise, feeding, hydration, and toileting prior to the flight.
Plus, airports with pet-friendly flights all have designated animal relief areas. To handle any unexpected mishaps in the air, carriers must have a leak-proof base, and absorbent mats should be placed inside and beneath the carrier.