Heading to a holiday destination that’s too far to drive to? Well, you may no longer need to your furry friend at home.

Virgin Australia has finally launched its Pets In Cabin service, allowing you to bring a small cat or dog into the cabin with you.

You can take your furry friend on select routes for now, but Virgin plans to expand the service to all flights by late 2026.

The trial service is currently only available on flights between Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast and between Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

At first, cats will only be allowed on flights to the Sunshine Coast. Virgin hasn’t yet announced when this will change.

It’s $149 per animal, per flight to bring your pet aboard.

While this does sound like a lot, pet boarding in a bigger city can certainly add up. In Melbourne, prices start from about $50 per night for the most basic options. If you’re holidaying for a week, it’s actually cheaper to bring your pet along!

Plus, of course, it’s hard to put a true price on the extra holiday time you’re spending with your pet.

Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson says “we’re excited to give Australians a new way to holiday. Pets are part of the family, and this new service is about making sure every member, human or furry, can enjoy the journey together.

There are a few things you’ll need to be aware of:

To ensure there’s room for your pet on your desired flight, you’ll need to call Virgin Australia on 13 67 89 to book your pet’s fare.

Any additional passengers travelling with you who don’t need to have the pet-assigned seat can book their tickets as normal.

Feature image source: Virgin Australia