Can my dog fly in the cabin in Australia?

Yes, on selected Virgin Australia domestic flights. Small dogs and cats can fly in the cabin if the pet and carrier together weigh under 8 kg and the carrier fits under the seat in front. Only a handful of routes offer it. On every other domestic flight, pets travel in the cargo hold, booked through the airline's freight service.

Routes and rules change often, so check with the airline before you book. The facts below come from Virgin Australia and Qantas Freight, as published by September 2026.

Which routes allow pets in the cabin?

Virgin Australia launched Australia's first Pets in Cabin flights in October 2025, between Melbourne and the Gold Coast and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast. In its September 2026 update, the airline listed these routes as available to book:

Virgin says more than 2,000 cats and dogs had flown in the cabin by then.

What are the rules for pets in the cabin?

From Virgin Australia's launch announcement:

• Pets allowed: small dogs or cats only.
• Weight: under 8 kg, pet and carrier combined.
• Carrier: soft-sided and leak-proof, no bigger than 44 cm long, 26 cm wide and 28 cm high, with an absorbent mat inside.
• On board: the carrier stays under the seat in front for the whole flight, and your pet stays in it.
• Seats: pet owners sit in designated window seats (rows 18 and 20). Each flight takes up to four pets.
• Vaccinations: pets must be up to date before travel.
• Price: introductory price of $149 per pet, per flight at launch. Check the current price when you book.

Does my dog need a vet certificate to fly?

Sometimes. For the cabin, Virgin Australia asks for a vet certificate confirming your pet is fit to fly if it:

• has an existing health condition
• is pregnant
• is recovering from surgery or injury
• is 8 to 12 weeks old or over 12 years old
• is a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed

Pets under eight weeks old cannot fly.

In the cargo hold, Qantas Freight's checklist says pets must be at least 12 weeks old, and pets over 12 years must be vet-certified as fit to travel.

How does flying a dog in cargo work?

If your route has no cabin option, or your dog is too big, your dog flies in the hold. With Qantas, per the Qantas Freight checklist:

• Book your pet with Qantas Freight before you book your own flight.
• Your pet travels in an IATA-approved crate. You will need the crate size and the combined weight to book.
• Some flat-faced breeds can only be booked through a pet travel specialist.
• Choose early or late flights on hot days, because extreme weather can affect travel.
• Each aircraft carries a limited number of pets, so have a backup flight in mind.

What paperwork should I have ready?

For a domestic flight, have these on your phone:

• Your pet's vaccination certificate, showing the date given and the date due.
• A fit-to-fly certificate, if your pet needs one (see above).
• Your booking confirmation, showing the pet is on it.
• Microchip number and your vet's contact details, in case anything goes wrong on the way.

Flying overseas is a different job. Start with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, months ahead. See what a pet health passport is (and is not).

How do I keep the paperwork in one place?

Travel plans fall over when the vaccination certificate is in an email from 2024. Tend Pass keeps your pet's vaccination records, microchip number and vet details in one place, with the original certificates attached, so you can show or share them by link or QR code. It is free for owners.

Boarding your dog instead? Read what a boarding kennel needs.

Sources

• Virgin Australia, Australia's first Pets in Cabin flights (16 October 2025)
• Virgin Australia, Confirms its intent to continue and expand Pets in Cabin (26 February 2026)
• Virgin Australia, Launches Cairns Pets in Cabin flights (September 2026)
• Qantas Freight, Checklist for domestic pet travel
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Cats and dogs returning to Australia

*General guidance, not veterinary or travel advice. Always confirm current rules with your airline and your vet before you book.*