How do I prepare my pet (and myself) for air travel during the holidays?

What you need to know about flying with Fluffy.

When Virgin Australia launches flights that allow you to have your pet in the cabin in 2025, I'll be one of the first to take up the offer, bringing my cat, Pussu, to Melbourne to visit family. It will be a refreshing (and faster) journey than driving with him from Sydney, and I will be able to have him near me, in a carrier underneath the seat in front of me, which will hopefully provide some comfort for us both in the air.

Pending regulatory approval, small cats and dogs will be allowed on certain Virgin domestic routes next year, in allocated rows only, but it hasn't been announced exactly when this will launch. But in the meantime, taking your beloved kitty or hound - or even bird - on a holiday that requires flying is still possible, by booking them into the cargo area on Qantas or Virgin flights (Jetstar doesn't offer a service).

In fact, this option is a growing trend, with more families deciding their pet deserves a holiday, too.

An increasing number of people are booking holidays with their furry friends, and sometimes even booking onto the same flight, if there's a spot available, according to Aussie Pet Connections owner, Carmel Cricelli.

Though you can book Fluffy in yourself, Cricelli's Melbourne business can make the booking for you, collect your pet from your home, make it comfy in an airline-approved crate, take it to the airport and get it checked-in for you, so you can focus on packing and organising yourself.

Cricelli said many people are choosing this option over leaving their pet behind at a boarding kennel because "they are part of the family and owners want to keep them close". There's also the cost: some people are staying with extended family for longer holidays and bringing their pets is cheaper than boarding. Cricelli also handles puppies and kittens being flown to their new owners interstate. "You can have a pet go from say Melbourne to Cairns in the same day, [whereas] road transport would be a few days at least," she said.

Departure Pets managing director Shaun Minter said his offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are getting busier as more pet-friendly destinations and accommodation options are encouraging pet owners to "bring their furry companions along" on holiday.

Remember, there are strict guidelines relating to your pet's health to abide by, if you do book them on a flight. Only feed your animal a light snack on the day of the flight, and a water bowl with a funnel on the outside is mandatory, Qantas says. They also advise not to sedate your pet before flying; Departure Pets says this is because of the pressure sedation puts on your pet's body which is not advisable when flying.

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