Virgin brings ‘pets on planes’ flights to Adelaide

Virgin Australia is expanding its ‘Pets in Cabin’ flights to Adelaide this month, with passengers able to travel with their favourite pint-sized dog or cat as of Tuesday, 23 June.

The pet-friendly flights will be available on two specific routes – between Adelaide and Melbourne, and Adelaide and the Gold Coast – which join Melbourne–Gold Coast and Melbourne–Sunshine Coast.

“We’re looking forward to being a part of what has already proven to be a very popular initiative with Virgin Australia’s customers,” says Adelaide Airport exec Dermot O’Neill.

Now you can bring your favourite pint-sized pet into the cabin.

And Launceston is next in line, Virgin says.

“We’ve seen an overwhelmingly positive response to the Pets in Cabin service, with almost 1,500 pets travelling on Virgin Australia flights since the program launched in October,” reflects Virgin Australia Chief Marketing and Customer Operations Officer, Libby Minogue.

“For many Australians, pets are family, and being able to travel together removes a major barrier to taking a holiday or visiting loved ones.”

Virgin is expanding its 'pets on planes' network.

Eligible pets can take a flight with their favourite human for an introductory price of $149 or 18,600 Velocity Points.

Virgin’s pet-friendly flights permit just four animals per flight, at nominated seats in the economy cabin (business class remains pet-free).

Pets must remain in a soft-sided leak-proof carrier, fitted with an absorbent mat, which must in turn be stowed under the seat in front of the passenger, while also allowing sufficient room and ventilation.

Pets must comfortably fit into a compact soft-sided carrier.

High-flying dogs and cats will have to remain in their carrier at all times – not just during the flight, but also in the airport – except at any security checkpoint, when they’ll be carried by their owner while the pet carrier goes through security screening just like carry-on baggage. 

Virgin launched its Pets in Cabin flights in October 2025, and across those flights, Minogue said the airline “has had no complaints from non-pet-travelling guests.”

“We had done a huge amount of research in the Australian market about pets on board… to ensure that we had an experience that worked for our staff in the airports, worked for our guests who weren’t on there with a pet, and for those who really wanted to travel with pets.”

Read more: How Virgin’s pet-friendly flights work