So it’s been announced by Virgin Australia that they will begin allowing passengers to book their pets to travel with them in the cabin on flights. I have to say, as someone who suffers from a cat allergy, I hope the Federal government steps in with legislation to prevent this on health grounds. Many people have allergies connected to pets such as cats and dogs. How will Virgin Australia handle a situation where a passenger with an allergy finds they are to be seated near an animal to which they are allergic? Does the airline boot them from the flight so the pet can stay, or vice versa? It’s a well-meaning move by the airline, but not particularly well thought through in my opinion and I just don’t see how it can work. Pets need to be transported in crates in the cargo hold, or left behind at a pet kennel or with friends/family for the safety of all passengers onboard.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/doesnt-sound-optimal-virgins-pet-trial-makes-air-travel-a-lottery/news-story/de7f02b1c2dcefd29b8ea337fd0cb7f1

I love this comment from a reader…

“If I wanted to share time with language-inhibited, tick-carrying things that growl, bark and snap, I’d watch the ABC."  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

It could be fun in turbulence when the cat goes into attack mode or the dog starts urine-marking all the chairs.

chimera wrote on Oct 4^th, 2024 at 7:03pm:

It could be fun in turbulence when the cat goes into attack mode or the dog starts urine-marking all the chairs.

Virgin Australia has said they’d be in crates of some form under the seats. But you raise an interesting point. What happens on a Sydney-Perth flight? Can’t expect a dog or cat to not answer natures call for that many hours.

A shoe-box under the seat? The wretched animal will come out seriously maladjusted.

They're using Virgin to fly people out of Lebanon?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 4^th, 2024 at 7:07pm:

chimera wrote on Oct 4th, 2024 at 7:03pm: It could be fun in turbulence when the cat goes into attack mode or the dog starts urine-marking all the chairs. Virgin Australia has said they’d be in crates of some form under the seats. But you raise an interesting point. What happens on a Sydney-Perth flight? Can’t expect a dog or cat to not answer natures call for that many hours.

Good, I’ve always wanted to travel with my Irish Wolfhound under the seat.