Pets

We accept dogs and cats for pet travel on both domestic and international flights.

For international flights please click here.

For domestic flights, please contact Toll Air Express for information concerning the transportation of domestic cats and dogs and all other types of animals.

Also, we hope you find the information below useful in relation to domestic flights only.

To ensure there is room for your pet to travel on your flight, pet bookings must be made via our Guest Contact Centre (GCC) (Internet discount fare will be honoured). Pets not booked via the GCC will be refused travel and sent as freight, on a different flight, at a higher fee.

Virgin Australia accept a maximum of two pet cages per flight on A330, 737 and Embraer aircraft, and one cage per flight on ATR aircraft. For additional pets, exceeding this amount, please contact Toll Air Express.

Note: Working in collaboration with pet agents, we will accept cats and dogs to travel in the cargo hold of our aircraft on international long haul services. We are unable to accept bookings direct from guest, and recommend that all guests who wish to travel with their pets contact an approved international Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) pet agent.  

Conditions of Pet Travel

Pets travel in the cargo hold, except for authorised Assistance Dogs.

To travel with us, your pet must: 

• Appear to be in good health
• Not be unduly aggressive
• Be over 8 weeks old. This is due to possible dehydration while travelling. For dogs or cats under 12 weeks old, we recommend you obtain a veterinary certificate, as some breeds are more susceptible to dehydration.
• Be housed in a container which complies with the Virgin Australia guidelines for pet containers
• If travelling into Tasmania, your dog must be treated for the Hydatids Tapeworm prior to arrival

A maximum of 2 cages per flight is permitted, within aircraft type limitations.

Generally, only one pet may travel per cage, however, up to three pets can travel per cage if they meet all of the following criteria:

• All from the same litter
• Under 6 months old
• Under 14kgs each

Quarantine Restrictions

When travelling with pets within Australia additional restrictions apply please visit the Quarantine Domestic website for more information. This site contains up-to-date information relating to the travel restrictions into all states and territories within Australia.

Guidelines for Pet Containers

The following container guidelines are designed to protect the welfare of dogs and cats travelling with us, whilst also complying with occupational health and safety legislation. We reserve the right to refuse carriage of pets that are not travelling in a container that complies with the following requirements...
The container must be:

• Supplied by yourself or purchased from Toll Air Express
• In good repair so that the dog or cat cannot escape
• Not too small for the dog or cat
• Lined with absorbent material so that no water or excreta can escape
• Strong enough to withstand damage
• Made of metal or a polypropylene material and must not have any wheels attached
• Two part rigid plastic containers must have the top and bottom or side parts secured by screws or nuts and bolts
• Must have escape proof hinges and latches and be adequately locked
• When weighed complete with dog or cat, not exceed 65kgs
• Must not be collapsible
• Not exceed the following dimensions: 120cm x 80cm x 70cm

Note: Powerful and strong animals including Staffies, Pit Bulls, German Shepards, Dobermans, Rottweilers etc, can break through plastic and therefore need to be in a metal container.

Animal Health In-flight

If you wish to sedate your pet so it does not become anxious, contact your vet for expert advice. We do not take responsibility for the consequences of sedating pets prior to flying.

Your pet could become dehydrated when flying, so it is very important to ensure it has had some water prior to being checked in.

If your pet appears unwell or dehydrated at check-in, for the animal’s benefit, we may refuse carriage on the flight.

Virgin Australia charges fees based on the combined weight of each container and the pet(s) which will travelling in that container.

Fees are non-refundable, and payable:

• Per sector (a formal connection is classed as a single sector)
• Per container
• On check-in of your pet

You must check in your pet at least 90 minutes before your flight's scheduled departure – unless you are travelling on a flight that is scheduled to depart before 7am, in which case you must check in your pet 60 minutes prior to departure.

You must be the guest named on the booking, and you must present a copy of the itinerary confirming that the pet has been booked via our Guest Contact Centre at lodgement. If you are not the guest named on the booking, we will be unable to check in your pet. If you do not bring a copy of the itinerary, you will be charged at higher freight rates.

Check-in and collection locations vary from port to port. To find out where to check in and collect your pet, check the location list below.

Pet Check-in Locations

If you wish to send a pet unaccompanied, please contact Toll Air Express.

Please be aware that Broome, Canberra, Proserpine, and Rockhampton do not have Toll Air Express offices and therefore cannot accept unaccompanied pets travelling from this location – however unaccompanied pets flying into these ports are accepted.

Pet transport from these locations can be organised through Dogtainers or Jet Pets.

Jet Pets           1300 668 309       info@jetpets.com.au
Dogtainers    1300 135 252      enquiry@dogtainers.com.au
Oz Pet              0400 403 777     cratehire@optusnet.com.au