ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A local pet owner has rejoiced somewhat this afternoon after alternate air carrier Virgin announced they are seeking approval from the appropriate regulatory body to allowed small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin with their owners.
Sonya Pooley, a Betoota Heights travel agent and fur Mumma to 4-year-old Yorkipoo “Richard”, told The Advocate today that while she’ll miss the good-old-fashioned country hospitality on Rex and the nonchalant treatment on Qantas that leaves the occasional passenger feeling like a discarded, soiled napkin at their destination, the fact that she and her canine companion can travel together trumps any other aviation offering.
“It’s very exciting,” she said.
“When I’ve been called away for work, it was always such a drama. Getting Richard into a boarding kennell, stressing about how he’s going there the whole time I’m away. It’s never been much fun being away from him ever. I’ve never really been able to relax but now, he can come with me!”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you Virgin for bringing air travel into the 21st century. It’s about time we had baby equality. If I have to listen to a human baby cry on a plane, you can listen to Richard and I play talkies!”
The news was also welcome by the editor of this masthead, Clancy Overell, who said this decision only galvanised his decision to renew his membership to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.
Mr Overell said that while he likes dogs, he likes them outside and away from where food is prepared.
“I was at the pub the other night, in the bistro, enjoying a scroll through Facebook Marketplace over a fisherman’s basket and a pot of Gold. This woman on the other side of the bistro had her dog in there. I spoke to Ralph (the publican) and he said they’re a dog pub now. I didn’t know it was a thing. Anyway, this bird let the dog lick her open mouth. Call me old fashioned but that’s not on,” he said.
“Can you imagine sitting in business with a little bowl of cashews and a glass of sparkling Tasmanian and some barge arse bloke with his ten year old Pekingese bitch parks himself in the seat next to you?”
“A fate worse than death if you ask me.”
Virgin Australia hope to let people tongue their dogs in the cabin within 12 months.
More to come.
