Window or aisle seat Buster?
A major commercial airline has announced plans to allow passengers to bring furry friends on board.
Virgin Atlantic is spearheading the new initiative which, if approved, will be rolled out within the next 12 months.
The new plan will see them become the first airline in Australia to fly with pets in the cabin.
In a press release titled “The cat comes out of the closet”the airline announced its intention to become the country's “first airline to operate flights with pets”.
A 2021 Virgin Australia social media survey found that 85 per cent of fans voted for the airline to carry pets on board flights.
Another 57% said they would fly more frequently if the service became a reality.
Most major airlines in North America already offer pet boarding on domestic flights.
Speaking at the official launch ceremony in Melbourne, Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said: “Our love of animals has always been in Virgin Australia’s DNA and we are passionate about being able to fly in the cabin. I'm excited about the prospect of Australia's first-ever pets taking off on a flight,” Ms Hrdlicka said.
“The vast majority of guests tell us they want to travel with their pets and we are now working hard to make this happen. This is common overseas and is proven to work very well.”
She also clarified that the proposed carriage of pets in cabin flights would not result in approved assistance animals being able to travel in the cabin of Virgin Australia aircraft without paying an additional fee.
The new initiative only applies to small dogs and cats, and the animals must fit into the reserved space under the seat in front of the passenger.
She also said they must fly on Virgin Australia-approved airlines and are not allowed to roam freely or sit on their laps.
Those eligible to bring pets on board will be charged a fee, the exact amount of which has not yet been announced.
The announcement sparked a lot of questions on social media, with people looking for specific details of the new measures.
One person mentioned their own medical concerns and asked: “Will you also designate pet-free flights? I'm not interested in having an asthma attack during the flight that may require hospitalization.”
Virgin Australia responded: “Pets will be restricted to a small number of designated rows and will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps.”
other X A user named Heidi asked: “What if you have allergies? How do you know if you have a dog/cat around you?”
Virgin Australia responded: “It is very important to us that there is minimal impact on passengers who do not bring pets, so we will be designing a safety plan with strict rules over the next few months. Rest assured; this is all being dealt with Among them!”
Others took the news much more positively.
One user named Brody wrote: “This is great news! Thank you for making traveling with pets easier – can't wait to fly with our pup on Virgin Atlantic in the near future!”
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