Airline pet policies vary a lot: Qantas and Virgin Australia carry pets as checked baggage in the cargo hold on most domestic routes — Virgin also runs a limited in-cabin trial for small pets on select routes — while Jetstar doesn't carry pets at all. Cargo-hold capacity is limited per flight and can't be added at the last minute, so book as soon as you know your travel dates rather than treating it like a normal seat booking.
If you'd rather not manage the logistics yourself, a specialist pet transport company can handle the whole journey door-to-door instead of just the flight — useful if you want one point of contact rather than coordinating the airline, crate, and collection separately.
How to do it
- Decide between booking the flight yourself or using a specialist pet transport company — door-to-door through a specialist costs more but removes the need to coordinate the airline, crate compliance, and collection at each end separately.
- Confirm the exact route and whether it's direct or connecting — a connecting route adds real time in the cargo hold or a transfer facility, worth knowing before you book.
- Check the crate size and construction the carrier or airline actually requires — this is stricter than a general "secure carrier" and gets enforced at check-in, so confirm it well before travel day rather than discovering a mismatch then.
- Confirm who's collecting and delivering your pet at each end, and the total cost including any crate hire or handling fees, before you commit to a booking.
- Book as early as you know your dates — cargo-hold capacity per flight is genuinely limited, and popular interstate routes can book out well ahead of the date.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a standard travel carrier meets the airline's specific crate requirements — check the exact specification, not just "secure and ventilated."
- Leaving the booking until close to your move date, when cargo-hold space on popular routes is already gone.
- Not checking both the transport company's and the airline's pet policies — both can apply, and they don't always agree with each other.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does interstate pet transport cost in Australia?
- Road transport for a small pet over a medium distance typically runs $150-$500; air freight is more, from around $400 up to $2,500+ depending on the animal's size and route. As a rough benchmark, a Sydney-Melbourne dog transport commonly costs $400-$800.
- How far ahead should I book?
- As soon as you know your move date. Airline cargo-hold capacity for pets is limited per flight and can't be added on the day — Navaroa's own plan times this task around 4 weeks out for exactly that reason.