Virgin Australia: Introduce an Extra-Seat Option for Dogs in the Cabin
The issue
When Virgin Australia announced that dogs would finally be allowed to fly in the cabin, I was so excited. But the current policy is limited to pets weighing 8kg including their carrier, which must fit underneath the seat.
My cocker spaniel weighs around 8.8kg. She's a small dog, but she's already over the limit before adding a carrier — and so many small and medium-sized dogs fall into the same gap.
We're asking Virgin Australia to introduce an option for small and medium dogs that can't fit under the seat, where owners can purchase an additional seat or dedicated cabin space for their dog.
This already works elsewhere. US air carrier JSX allows dogs too large for an under-seat carrier to travel in the cabin by purchasing the adjoining seat. The dog travels in the dedicated floor space in front of that seat and remains secured during the flight.
Other airlines are also moving beyond the traditional 8kg model. Some European airlines have higher in-cabin weight allowances, and Italy has recently introduced regulated options allowing significantly larger dogs to travel in passenger cabins.
We're not suggesting Virgin needs to copy another airline's rules. Virgin could establish its own appropriate weight and size limits, approved restraints, designated seating and limits on the number of dogs allowed per flight.
For many Australian dog owners, the alternative is currently putting their dog in the aircraft hold or leaving them behind. This can be particularly difficult for dogs that are anxious or aren't accustomed to being separated from their owners while travelling.
We're simply asking for another option: if a dog is too big for an under-seat carrier but can safely travel in the cabin, let their owner pay for the additional space they need.
Virgin has already taken a huge step by introducing Pets in Cabin to Australia. We'd love to see the program continue to develop so more Australian dog owners can actually use it.
If you'd pay for an extra seat or dedicated cabin space to travel with your dog, please sign and share this petition so we can show Virgin Australia that the demand is there.
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The issue
When Virgin Australia announced that dogs would finally be allowed to fly in the cabin, I was so excited. But the current policy is limited to pets weighing 8kg including their carrier, which must fit underneath the seat.
My cocker spaniel weighs around 8.8kg. She's a small dog, but she's already over the limit before adding a carrier — and so many small and medium-sized dogs fall into the same gap.
We're asking Virgin Australia to introduce an option for small and medium dogs that can't fit under the seat, where owners can purchase an additional seat or dedicated cabin space for their dog.
This already works elsewhere. US air carrier JSX allows dogs too large for an under-seat carrier to travel in the cabin by purchasing the adjoining seat. The dog travels in the dedicated floor space in front of that seat and remains secured during the flight.
Other airlines are also moving beyond the traditional 8kg model. Some European airlines have higher in-cabin weight allowances, and Italy has recently introduced regulated options allowing significantly larger dogs to travel in passenger cabins.
We're not suggesting Virgin needs to copy another airline's rules. Virgin could establish its own appropriate weight and size limits, approved restraints, designated seating and limits on the number of dogs allowed per flight.
For many Australian dog owners, the alternative is currently putting their dog in the aircraft hold or leaving them behind. This can be particularly difficult for dogs that are anxious or aren't accustomed to being separated from their owners while travelling.
We're simply asking for another option: if a dog is too big for an under-seat carrier but can safely travel in the cabin, let their owner pay for the additional space they need.
Virgin has already taken a huge step by introducing Pets in Cabin to Australia. We'd love to see the program continue to develop so more Australian dog owners can actually use it.
If you'd pay for an extra seat or dedicated cabin space to travel with your dog, please sign and share this petition so we can show Virgin Australia that the demand is there.
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Petition created on 31 August 2026