You Can Now Fly With Your Pets In-Cabin For All PAL Domestic Flights

(SPOT.ph) Last December, Philippine Airlines (PAL) made headlines with its new pet-friendly program, FurPAL, which allowed small dogs to travel with their owners in the cabin. But since then, pets—furbabies as many would call them—have become an even more integral part of our daily lives, with many quite literally attached to the hip with their pups. In response to the growing clamor for even more pet-inclusive spaces, PAL just announced a significant update to FurPAL—for the better.

Here's what you need to know about PAL's change to the FurPAL program.

You can now bring your small pet dogs aboard all PAL domestic flights—a significant change in scope since last December's run. If you remember, back then, only select flights to Boracay, Bohol, or Siargao were eligible. But now, you can choose FurPAL as an add-on for all Philippine Airlines domestic flights, even connecting flights, as long as all legs are within the Philippines.

Gone are the days when traveling with your pup meant checking them in cargo. With PAL's expansion of the FurPAL program, as long as you're traveling within the Philippines, your furbabies stay with you in the cabin for as low as P2,500 one-way.

Although there are still some limitations. As with its initial run, FurPAL is currently limited to small dogs, i.e., those weighing up to 10 kilograms. Additionally, your pet dogs must fit in an airline-approved carrier, which, by PAL's standards, is defined as a soft-sided, fully enclosed carrier with dimensions no more than 45 cm (length) x 25 cm (depth) x 28 cm (height). The dogs must stay in the carrier at all times and wear diapers for the entire flight.

Your pets must also be medically fit to fly. Pets flying FurPAL must bring with them the following travel documents to prove their pups are ready to jetset all over the country:

• FurPAL Declaration, Release and Waiver Form

• Veterinary Health Certificate valid for three days

• Anti-Rabies Vaccination Certificate administered within a year or 12 months.

• Shipping Permit issued by Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture.

It goes without saying that some passengers might not be comfortable flying with dogs around. You'll be glad to know that there is a limit to the number of pups in a flight. Each passenger may have only one pet in their care. Moreover, depending on the type of plane, only two or three pets can be accommodated. Passengers booking with pets will also be assigned FurPAL-designated seats—yup, there are only select seats to accommodate FurPAL bookings. So, rest assured, your flight won't be a flying zoo or pet hotel.

You can book FurPAL as an add-on to your flights through any of PAL's direct booking channels: online booking, PAL ticket offices, and contact centers. Just note that passengers who booked FurPAL are required to undergo manual check-in at the airport so that PAL personnel can check the dog's eligibility to fly.

Unfortunately, only dogs are allowed on FurPAL at the moment, but word on the street is PAL is already exploring the possibility of adding cats to the mix. Here's to hoping catmoms and dads can start flying with their kitties, stat!

or more information about FurPAL, check out Philippine Airlines' website.