A move by Virgin Australia to allow small cats and dogs to travel in
the main cabin with their owners has received a mixed reaction in
Australia.
Those who object to the move are asking all the obvious questions,
such as “what happens if the animal wishes to relieve itself?”
And “how will cabin crew deal with a barking dog? Or a meowing cat in row 7 who wants to attract the cat in row 15?
Virgin hasn’t answered that one yet, but says subject to regulatory
approval, Fido and Whiskers will only be on allowed on certain domestic
flights and will have to remain in a Virgin-approved pet carrier for the
whole flight.
Virgin Australia group chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka said the
decision to allow cats and dogs onboard was a response to traveller
demand.
“Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and
we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia’s
first-ever pets in cabin flights,” she said.
“Overwhelmingly, our guests tell us they want to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality.”
Hrdlicka said the service is only for dogs and cats: "No snakes, no
birds, no hamsters, no rabbits, unfortunately those guys have to stay
home."
There is to be no sitting in laps, walking of pets down the aisles or taking them to the bathroom.
While the service would be a first for Australia, the practice is normal among North American airlines for domestic flights.
However, US airlines have said the number of support animals has
grown dramatically and they have lobbied the transportation department
to crack down on what they consider a scam — passengers who call their
pets emotional support animals to avoid pet fees.
Airlines including Southwest, Delta, United and American Airlines
have moved to limit emotional support animals in cabins to largely dogs
and cats after a growing number of passengers were bringing a wide
variety of exotic pets that could pose a safety risk.
Delta noted in 2018 that some passengers attempted to fly with
comfort turkeys, gliding possums, snakes and spiders, while American
Airlines in 2018 said it would not allow a wide variety of creatures on
flights as support animals including goats, ferrets, hedgehogs,
amphibians and reptiles.
"The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end,"
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said at
the time.