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Virgin America Pet Policies
CABIN PET POLICY
Can I bring my pet with me on Virgin America?
Virgin America is a pet-friendly airline that accepts cats and dogs in the Main Cabin of the aircraft. Pets checked as baggage are not accepted. Guests with pets cannot be seated in the Main Cabin Select seats (either exit row or row 3) or the First Class cabin. Also on connections with Interline partners, pets are not allowed. [AMZ asins='B00QHC01C2,B00AAPGA2W,B000633ZOY,B0B77BRG75']
Each animal should be carried in its own kennel (provided by the guest). We allow one pet carrier for each purchased seat, and one pet per kennel. Puppies and kittens must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned. The total weight of the animals and kennel cannot be above 20 pounds. If traveling between the United States and Mexico, see additional requirements further below on this page for International Pet Travel.
Seat dimensions may vary from airline to airline, and on Virgin America, kennel dimensions cannot be more than 18 inches long x 15 inches wide x 8 inches high and must fit directly under the seat in front of the guest. The kennel must have proper ventilation, a floor designed to absorb and retain solids or liquids, proper fabrication to prevent the escape of the pet(s) and prevent any part of the pet(s) from protruding, and plenty of room for the pet(s) to move freely. It is also recommended that a soft sided case is used in lieu of a hard sided case. Pets must stay enclosed in their kennels while onboard and in the airport terminal.
We add a USD 100.00 fee per segment to the price of your reservation for the transportation of each pet.
Approved carry-on pets include cats and dogs, and yes, carry-on pets count towards a guest's carry-on baggage allowance. Please call reservations at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (1.877.359.8474) to make arrangements for traveling with pets. Be sure to contact your veterinarian to determine state or government requirements for pets to their final destination.
Please keep in mind:
Virgin America will not accept pets as checked luggage or cargo in the cargo hold (belly) of the aircraft.
There is no limit on the number of pets in the cabin on a particular flight.
The combined weight of your pet and carrier may not exceed 20 pounds.
Virgin America does not sell, or rent pet carriers.
Your pet and carrier will count as your one personal item.
Pets cannot be accepted in First Class due to limited space under the seats.
Pets cannot be accepted in an emergency row for safety reasons
Pets cannot be accepted in Main Cabin Select due to the fact that Main Cabin Select seats are either in a row with a bulkhead or in the emergency exit row and pet carriers are prohibited for safety reasons.
Pets cannot be accepted for guests traveling on interline itineraries.
A pet confined to a carrier will be accepted as long as the carrier fits properly under the seat in front of the guest.
Only one pet is allowed in each carrier
Guests are responsible for complying with any applicable laws and/or governmental regulations of the destination to and from which the animal is being transported, including providing valid health and rabies vaccination certificates when required.
INTERNATIONAL PET TRAVEL
Are there special requirements for traveling internationally with my pet?
Travel to Mexico
These policies are in addition to our Cabin Pet policy shown above and apply to both Cabin Pets and Service Animals. Dogs and cats will only be accepted. Animals must be eight (8) weeks old. All pet owners must present a veterinary certificate dated within fifteen (15) days of departure, verifying the animal's shots are current and proof of the animal's age. The certificate must include proof of rabies and distemper vaccination. There are no requirements to have the health certificate translated.
Travel To the United States From Mexico
These policies are in addition to our Cabin Pet policy and apply to both Cabin Pets and Service Animals. Dogs must have a certificate showing they have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States. Dogs not accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination, including those that are too young to be vaccinated (i.e. less than 3 months of age), will be subject to confinement until it is considered adequately vaccinated against rabies.
Make sure you obtain the Current identification tag and license before you travel.
Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States.
These requirements apply equally to service animals (i.e. seeing eye dogs) and emotional support animals
SERVICE ANIMAL GENERAL GUIDELINES
A service animal is permitted to accompany a guest with a disability on Virgin America. As proof of the animal's status, the guest can present:
An identification card for the animal
Presence of harness or markings on harness tags
The guest's credible verbal statement
Service animals are allowed to accompany qualified individuals with a disability in any seat, unless the animal blocks an aisle or other area that must remain clear in case of an emergency evacuation or to comply with FAA regulations. Service animals are not required to be in a pet carrier. If a service animal meets this criteria, then it can be carried with no charge to the guest.
Guests may not travel with service animals that pose unavoidable safety and/or public health concerns. Snakes, other reptiles, rodents, and spiders fall within this category of animals.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals may accompany a guest with a disability on a flight. Virgin America requires documentation to substantiate the Guest's disability-related need for the animal to accompany them in the aircraft cabin.
Acceptable forms of documentation include a letter from a licensed mental health professional (e.g. psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker). The letter may not be more than one year old from the date of the guest's scheduled initial flight. It must include verification of all of the following information:
That the guest has a mental health-related disability; and
That having the animal accompany the guest is necessary for the guest's mental health, treatment, or to assist the guest (with his or her disability); and
That the individual providing the assessment of the guest is a licensed mental health professional; and
That the guest is under the care of the individual providing the documentation
Interline Travel
If you are traveling on an Interline partner, please contact their reservations to find out their policies for Service and Emotional Support Animals.
At this time Virgin America cannot transport service animals that have not completed training.
How do I request special assistance?
Please don't hesitate to contact us to talk about any special assistance you may need. We'll help make arrangements for guests with disabilities, and entertain reasonable requests for unaccompanied minors, guests traveling with children, pets, or special carry-on or cabin baggage. To discuss your special assistance request call 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (1.877.359.8474) to speak with a Reservations team member or, for hearing-impaired guests, call the national 711 number for assistance with your reservations call.
When You Arrive at the Airport
Make sure you take advantage of pet relief areas that can be found on most airport maps prior to checking in at the ticket counter. If any incidents arise with concerns for the safety of you, your pet or other guests while at the airport, please contact a Guest Services Teammate.
Onboard the Aircraft
If any incidents arise with concerns for the safety of you, your pet or other guests while onboard the aircraft, please contact an Inflight Teammate.
INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE
SERVICE ANIMALS/EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SUPPORT ANIMALS/ANIMALS TO DETECT EXPLOSIVES/ANIMALS FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE
VX accepts for transportation, without charge, trained service animals for travel with a customer with a disability who requires the animal to assist them in the performance of necessary activities. The animals will be permitted to accompany the passenger in the cabin, if they meet the conditions of acceptance noted below.
Conditions of Acceptance:
VX shall accept as evidence that an animal is a service animal such items as identification cards, other written documentation, the type of harness or markings on the harness, tags or other credible assurances of the passenger with a disability using the animal.
Service animals must remain under the direct control of the passenger. A service animal will be denied boarding or removed from the flight by VX if the animal cannot be contained by the passenger or otherwise exhibits behavior that poses a threat to the health or safety of other passengers or a significant threat of disruption. Service animals in training will not be transported.
Passengers with service animals will not be seated in emergency exit rows. They may not obstruct an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation.
A passenger requesting to travel with an animal that is used as a emotional support/psychiatric animal will be required to provide to VX current documentation (i.e., not older than one year from the date of the passenger's scheduled initial flight) on the letterhead of a licensed mental health or medical doctor who is treating the passenger's mental health-related disability stating:
The passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).
The passenger needs the emotional support or psychiatric service animal as an accommodation for air travel and/or for activity at the passenger's destination.
The individual providing the assessment is a licensed mental health professional, and the passenger is under his/her professional care.
The type of issuance of the mental health professional's or medical doctor's license, the date of and the state or other jurisdiction in which it was issued. VX reserves the right to authenticate any documentation presented.
VX accepts for transportation, without charge, a properly harnessed animal trained in explosive detection, drug search, and rescue, or other specific functions, when accompanied by its handler on official emergency business as authorized by an appropriate federal, state or local government agency. The dog will be permitted to accompany its handler into the cabin, but cannot occupy a seat.
Local regulations at the passenger's final or intermediate destination(s) may apply and impose further requirements or restrictions, including, but not limited to, carriage in the passenger cabin, limitations on the designation of service animals to dogs only, or the non-recognition of emotional support animals as trained and qualified service animals.
The passenger assumes full responsibility for the safety, well-being, and conduct of its service animal, including the interaction of the service animal with other passengers who may come in contact with the animal while on board the aircraft, and for compliance with all governmental requirements, regulations, or restrictions, including entry permits and required health certificates of the country, state or territory from and/or to which the animal is being transported.
A health certificate is required for service animals.
Should injury to or death of a service animal result from VX's fault or negligence, VX will undertake to provide expeditiously, and at its own expense, for medical care, and if necessary, replacement of the animal.
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