Pets in the Cabin - Coming soon on Virgin Australia

[Q Class Plebeian]

While they're at it, perhaps they could also alert you to and check if you mind sitting next to an obese passenger who flows into your seat? Or a smelly passenger? Or annoying passenger who won't talk? Or that passenger who is coughing up a lung.

Ah, the joys of flying,don't forget the passenger who never stops talking and crying babies.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

JL has a nice feature that tells you when you're sitting next to someone with an infant. Presumably that could easily be updated to also include dogs.

Except it would require IT that isn't stuck in 2006, so, no, VA won't be doing it.

This can easily be handled on board in the very, very few cases where it happens and bothers someone. I'd bet the number of pages in this thread is higher than the number of times this has been a real issue to date on VA since launched.

 

[Beano]

Ah, the joys of flying,don't forget the passenger who never stops talking and crying babies.

I was once sitting next to a passenger who couldn't stop talking no matter how many hints I gave that I wasn't in the mood. I noticed some empty seats so I moved. He then complained to the FA about me!

 

[Quickstatus]

Unfotunately Marley NYC wont be allowed on VA.
Seems better behaved than a lot of passengers.

 

[Beano]

Has anyone experience of this new feature?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah, the joys of flying,don't forget the passenger who never stops talking and crying babies.

This is the one I fear the most.
And then they bring religion into it all!

 

[AuSammy]

This is the one I fear the most.
And then they bring religion into it all!

I’m not a very social person and I feel no need whatsoever to converse with a total stranger passenger in the seat next to me no matter the length of the flight. If they initiate then i will exchange niceties but that’s it. Can’t stand inane chatter.

Other people’s personalities MMV.

 

[DC3]

This is the one I fear the most.
And then they bring religion into it all!

Headphones on/ear plugs in at this point

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

We are getting a little off the topic here and flying into the realm of air travel etiquette .
Anyhow it brings together two of the big ticket items adding to global emissions , air travel and pet ownership.

 

[Rembrandt]

The thought of putting up with a yapping dog or howling cat on a plane isn't pleasant.

Haha a child crying is bad enough..I once had a child crying in business class. Needless to say most of the passengers didn't pay extra to hear a child crying. Is what it is, but if your child is a sook maybe don't take them on business class.

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Perhaps Virgin will charge extra for seats in the pet free zone.

 

[Beano]

Perhaps Virgin will charge extra for seats in the pet free zone.

Alternatively, discount for sitting in the pet zone without a pet.

 

[Chicken]

"Virgin Australia allows pets in plane cabin in expansion of Melbourne-Queensland pilot" (ABC News 2025 June 2026)

They interviewed a chihuahua. Not a fan of chihuahua (find them annoying sometimes), much more fun if they would allow a golden retriever or labrador, but no chance of that because Virgin has an 8 kg limit on the pet

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Well perhaps local government will come to the pet’s rescue.In Victoria, at least venues have to
adhere to both the Federal Food Standard Codes and the state-legislated Food Act (Vic 1984) – the latter of which is enforced by local councils. Under both the code and the act, animals – with the exception of service animals – are allowed in outdoor dining areas that are not substantially enclosed by walls, roofs or cafe blinds, but must not be taken into food-handling areas.
An aircraft would be substantially enclosed would it not.

 

[Beano]

Well perhaps local government will come to the pet’s rescue.In Victoria, at least venues have to
adhere to both the Federal Food Standard Codes and the state-legislated Food Act (Vic 1984) – the latter of which is enforced by local councils. Under both the code and the act, animals – with the exception of service animals – are allowed in outdoor dining areas that are not substantially enclosed by walls, roofs or cafe blinds, but must not be taken into food-handling areas.
An aircraft would be substantially enclosed would it not.

and in a food handling area, but perhaps not on VA!

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Well perhaps local government will come to the pet’s rescue.In Victoria, at least venues have to
adhere to both the Federal Food Standard Codes and the state-legislated Food Act (Vic 1984) – the latter of which is enforced by local councils. Under both the code and the act, animals – with the exception of service animals – are allowed in outdoor dining areas that are not substantially enclosed by walls, roofs or cafe blinds, but must not be taken into food-handling areas.
An aircraft would be substantially enclosed would it not.

now for the bad news-https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-standards-code/applications/a1314-permitting-small-dogs-and-cats-aircraft-cabins

 

[hydrabyss]

now for the bad news-https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-standards-code/applications/a1314-permitting-small-dogs-and-cats-aircraft-cabins

Considering up to 25% of people don't wash their hands after going to the toilet I would be more concerned about who was handling my food.

 

[Chicken]

A1314 - Permitting small dogs and cats in aircraft cabins | Food Standards Australia New Zealand

www.foodstandards.gov.au

From that page:

Australia-only application: Chapter 3 of the Code applies to food businesses in Australia. These changes do not apply to airlines operating in New Zealand.

That's sad. Another red tape against businesses.

The whole point of FSANZ is the ANZ in the name. It's like different states in Australia having different standards and rail workers needing to wear 2 sets of uniforms when working in border towns.

Considering up to 25% of people don't wash their hands after going to the toilet I would be more concerned about who was handling my food.

And also what people touch in their seats. As if those seats get cleaned

 

[Beano]

What's to say that a person with a pet would not have Handled them, and not washed their hands before sitting down, then handling the area around their seat including the armrest and back of the seat in front of you!

 

[Chicken]

What's to say that a person with a pet would not have Handled them, and not washed their hands before sitting down, then handling the area around their seat including the armrest and back of the seat in front of you!

And all the other things one would have touched:
X-ray trays
Seat belt
Overhead luggage store
Seat
Toilet door / handle of the plane

That's why people should just eat with cutlery!