Australians can now officially book seats for their four-legged travel companions, with Virgin Australia today opening reservations for its highly anticipated Pets in Cabin service.

After last year announcing plans to begin operating pet-friendly flights in Australia, the airline confirms the first flights allowing small dogs and cats in the cabin will take off from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

Tickets for pets are priced at an introductory rate of $149 per animal, per flight.

The move marks an Australian first and follows more than a year of consultation with animal welfare organisations, accessibility advocates, and international airlines already offering similar services.

Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson says the new service is expected to be embraced by the majority of households who own pet.

“Our guests have been telling us for years how much they want to travel alongside their pets, and now they finally can,” Emerson says.

“It’s a model that’s proven successful in the US and Europe, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Australia.”

The Pets in Cabin service will run as a trial until January 30, 2026, with plans to expand across Virgin’s domestic network next year.

Each eligible flight will allow up to four small pets (under 8kg, including their carrier), which must remain secured under the seat in front of their owner.

To address concerns around allergies and animal welfare, Virgin says pets will be restricted to two designated rows, with “buffer zones” created around them.

All aircraft are fitted with HEPA air filtration systems capable of removing more than 99 per cent of airborne particles, including pet dander.

Key rules for flying with pets on Virgin flights

• Only small dogs and cats are permitted (though cats are excluded from Melbourne–Gold Coast flights initially).

• Pets and carriers must weigh under 8kg combined and fit in an approved soft-sided carrier.

• Animals must remain inside carriers for the duration of the flight.

• Proof of up-to-date vaccinations is required.

• Pets under eight weeks old, over 12 years old, or certain brachycephalic breeds require veterinary clearance.

While pets are still not allowed in Virgin’s airport lounges, they can continue to travel as cargo on other domestic services.

Assistance animals remain unaffected by the new policy and can still travel in the cabin free of charge

Virgin Australia says it will use feedback from the trial to refine the service before expanding nationwide in 2026, with the airline hopeful the move will also stimulate Australia’s growing pet-friendly tourism industry.

What you need to know about Virgin Australia’s Pets in Cabin service 

⋅Virgin Australia is the first Australian airline to allow pets in the cabin.

⋅Tickets for pets are available for $149 per flight.

⋅Service launches October 16, 2025 on select routes

⋅Trial runs until January 2026 before nationwide expansion

⋅Strict health, carrier, and seating rules apply for passenger

Visit Virgin Australia’s website for more info or to book your pet-friendly flight! 

Have your say!

Will you be one of the first to book a pet-friendly flight in Australia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.