Local airline to allow small dogs on select flights, cats soon to follow

MANILA, Philippines — The country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has launched a service allowing dog owners to fly with their fur babies seated with them.

The FurPAL service is billed as "the first and only in-cabin pet travel service" in the country, an offering currently available to small dogs and soon for cats.

Philippine Airlines will start the service on December 1, 2025 onwards from Manila to and from Caticlan (Boracay), Tagbilaran (Panglao Bohol), and Siargao. Tickets for the flights can already be purchased.

The service's starting cost is P2,500 (one-way) and is considered an add-on when booking tickets. Pet carriers are considered separate from passengers' standard hand-carry allowance.

Pet strollers, if any, will have to be checked in but it will be accepted as free checked baggage and will not be included in a standard baggage allowance.

The airline assured that its staff are pet-friendly and trained to care for animals on flights and the planes' secure, pressurized cabins with climate control are always cleaned and maintained.

Requirements

Only up to three pets are allowed on the airline's A321 CEO and A320 plane, while up to two are allowed on the Q400 plane.

Pet owners on the A321 CEO plane will be assigned the seat numbers 23A, 67A, 69A, or 69K, while those flying via the A320 will be seated on numbers 22A, 52A, 54A, or 54K. Passengers on the Q400 are going to be assigned on the seats 2D, 19A, or 19D. All are window seats.

FurPAL bookings must be made 48 hours before departure via online booking and the airline's ticket offices, mobile app, contact center, or Manage My Booking.

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Owners will have to provide the following documents of their pets upon check-in:

• FurPAL declaration, release, and waiver form
• Veterinary health certificate (issued within three days of flight)
• Anti-rabies vaccination certificate (administered within the last 12 months)
• Shipping permit issued by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry

Small dogs will be eligible for the service if:

• they are contained inside a suitable carrier where it and the sole pet's combined weight must not exceed 10 kilograms
• they are at least 12 weeks old and fully weaned at the time of the flight
• owners are at least 18 years old
• will wear diaper (for both pee and poop) from check-in to deplaning

Passengers need to bring pet potty pads and diapers, plastic bags for waste disposal, on-hand dog muzzle, and an empty water bottle.

Passengers may only bring either one pet dog or one service dog, the latter subjet to the airline's Service Dog Terms and conditions.

Brachycephalic breeds (dogs characterized with snubbed snouts and noses like Pugs and French Bulldogs) are allowed provided they meet all other in-cabin requirements and are not subject to AVIH (Animal Vivant in Hold) cargo handling under the service.

Passengers with pets and are eligible for lounge access may bring their pets inside the lounge, provided pets remain inside their carrier and do not disrupt other guests. Pets should also remain in the carrier during the flight.

When boarding, passengers with pets will board after Business and Comfort class passengers. They are the last to deplane.

Carriers must be stowed under the seat in front of the passenger throughout the flight. No feeding will be allowed except water.

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