Pets in the Cabin - Coming soon on Virgin Australia

[henrus]

No joke I had to check the date to make sure it wasn’t April fools but many news sites are today reporting VA is considering allowing pets in the cabin.

https://www.airlineratings.com/news/passenger-news/virgin-australia-to-launch-pet-flights/

 

[Pushka]

No joke I had to check the date to make sure it wasn’t April fools but many news sites are today reporting VA is considering allowing pets in the cabin.

https://www.airlineratings.com/news/passenger-news/virgin-australia-to-launch-pet-flights/

Small dogs and cats apparently.

 

[jb747]

Sounds like they can’t be bothered maintaining a decent way of carrying them in the hold. Hopefully an idea that won’t catch on.

 

[DavidX13]

They have to be in a carrier under the seat infront of you.

That's got to be a tiny dog...

 

[RooFlyer]

Bad call by Virgin

 

[Birdblack]

Makes it easy to never fly with them again.

I don't want the noise of dogs barking (god imagine if there's more than one on board and they're barking at each other) or the smell, even if they don't go to the toilet or vomit. Virgin's basically said the passenger experience of everyone else on that plane is less valuable and important than the ignoramous who's travelling with an animal.

Are flight attendants going to step in and manage noise for the comfort of everyone else? Are they going to step in and clean up mess? How is this going to be managed for evacuation procedures? Does spot stay on board? Can't wait for the ATSB investigation when half a plane load of people needlessly die because someone held up an evacuation because they couldn't get their dog cage out from under the seat.

And I see ausbt is reporting there will be defined pet areas, so will we need to pay more to be away from a dog? How will they manage this? What about someone with allergies?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

As someone who owns two cats (and would love a dog), I currently don't travel with either of them because I don't want to put them in the hold. Having said that, if I was to have them in the cabin with me - similar to most parents with babies - I'd be extremely self-conscious of making sure that they were as well behaved as possible! Whilst I know there will be some poor situations happen, I'm just adding it to the list of other poor things that can (and do) happen onboard.
It will be interesting to see what safeguards VA put around this one and how it plays out.

 

[BNEFlyer]

This is a great initiative, even though it's nothing new to the industry. There's a lot of unncessary negativity about this decision.

 

[twinaisle]

Are flight attendants going to step in and manage noise for the comfort of everyone else? Are they going to step in and clean up mess? How is this going to be managed for evacuation procedures?

Some will offload themselves due to allergies
They must remain in cage.

No - we will not and I will not be cleaning up after someone's pet.

 

[p--and--t]

I can just imagine how thorough (NOT) the cleaning of the plane will be after one of these animals uses its bladder or bowels on the plane and the resulting smell for the next passenger after a short transit.

A carrier not to fly again if its implemented.

 

[jase05]

I can just imagine how thorough (NOT) the cleaning of the plane will be after one of these animals uses its bladder or bowels on the plane and the resulting smell for the next passenger after a short transit.

A carrier not to fly again if its implemented.

Pretty simple solution would be for all who book pets to have a $200 credit hold put on their CC similar to when a hotel does it. If the animal makes any mess whatsoever they lose the bond.

 

[Saab34]

Very common in the US. My last flight had a barking dog in the row ahead. Very bizarre experience. Also had a cat on another, it got out from the little carrier and started climbing the seats.

As long as they don’t coughe all over the floor or the stench from that, not fussed. I need to shift a cat between states next year so will use this option. I would probably book two seats however, would be more comfortable experience for both of us.

 

[p--and--t]

Pretty simple solution would be for all who book pets to have a $200 credit hold put on their CC similar to when a hotel does it. If the animal makes any mess whatsoever they lose the bond.

That doesn't solve the problem of inadequate cleaning in general. They don't seem to be able to clean up after humans on trays, pockets, seats and aisles. Don't anticipate it will be better under the seats.

 

[Milefest]

I can just imagine how thorough (NOT) the cleaning of the plane will be after one of these animals uses its bladder or bowels on the plane and the resulting smell for the next passenger after a short transit.

A carrier not to fly again if its implemented.

I've been on intra Europe flights where a dog has peed on the floor which resulted in the main cabin filling with a foul odor.

With VA it sounds like dogs must stay in cages and hopefully owners will have sanitary mats in the cage if a spill occurs... Maybe that'll help but the initiative is only effective if the owner is responsible and as we've seen in air travel, you can't rely on pax to be responsible.

Also, I can't think of any major airports that allow pets (other than assistance dogs), surely airports will have to be sold the idea too.

 

[Happy Dude]

I reckon this would be rather popular, especially if there's no cost or a low cost, particularly with domestic vacationers, as it could mean avoiding kennelling ($30+/day these days).

I'm allergic to cats but only if I actually touch them which is unlikely to occur. Nonetheless, I hope the "designated rows" are down the back. There may cultural or religious implications for some too, so there'd need to be a way to ensure adequate segregation.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

Hmm. I love cats and dogs but not sure having them in the cabin is ideal. Barking, meowing, smells? It's bad enough with children on board .

 

[BAM1748]

I think I'd prefer to sit next to a cat or small dog than some people I have had to endure on flights.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

I reckon this would be rather popular, especially if there's no cost or a low cost, particularly with domestic vacationers, as it could mean avoiding kennelling ($30+/day these days).

I'm allergic to cats but only if I actually touch them which is unlikely to occur. Nonetheless, I hope the "designated rows" are down the back. There may cultural or religious implications for some too, so there'd need to be a way to ensure adequate segregation.

The religious point is interesting, I will ask my Muslim partner - they say no. As for being inexpensive, that will be something to watch. BTW: I travel Australia doing house/pet sitting fulltime. No cost, just that the house and pets are nice, with the usual running - power, wifi, TV etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Makes it easy to never fly with them again.

I don't want the noise of dogs barking (god imagine if there's more than one on board and they're barking at each other) or the smell, even if they don't go to the toilet or vomit. Virgin's basically said the passenger experience of everyone else on that plane is less valuable and important than the ignoramous who's travelling with an animal.

Are flight attendants going to step in and manage noise for the comfort of everyone else? Are they going to step in and clean up mess? How is this going to be managed for evacuation procedures? Does spot stay on board? Can't wait for the ATSB investigation when half a plane load of people needlessly die because someone held up an evacuation because they couldn't get their dog cage out from under the seat.

And I see ausbt is reporting there will be defined pet areas, so will we need to pay more to be away from a dog? How will they manage this? What about someone with allergies?

Carrying pets in the cabin is not rare in Europe or the USA.

All of the issues you mention have been dealt with in those counties. I presume Aussie pax will be able to follow suit!

No doubt some of the lead-in time will be to develop evacuation procedures, and staff training for that. There will be protocols from Europe and the USA.

Unfortunate to hear a poster above encounter urine on the floor, that shouldn't happen if the pet is in a properly designed container.

85% of pax seem to want this. I've only been on a few flights with pets, but they've never been an issue.

 

[eastwest101]

Who is going to address the elephants in the room about what if any cages fit under the Y seat of a VA B737 not much room under there? What happens if people take pets out of cages in flight? What has been the EU/US experience in this case? Who has consulted the airports and the cabin crew & the pilots about this? Pet-only seating won't be down the back as unaccompanied minors down there might be allergic to pet hair. For passengers who do have allergies to pet hair what is the reseating policy going to be? What's the new cabin evacuation policy?

Nice Instagram thought bubble VA, but perhaps consult with your frequent flyer membership - you know - the ones who provide a large chunk of the revenue, and maybe work on building your staff levels and getting the planes to run on time?