Flying a Dog Interstate in Australia: Costs, Airlines and Puppy Age Rules

Flying a dog interstate in Australia usually costs about $350 to $700 for a small dog through a pet transport company, with larger dogs and longer routes costing more.

Most dogs travel as cargo in the hold with Qantas or Virgin Australia. Small dogs under 8 kg, including their carrier, can also fly in the cabin on selected Virgin routes.

Below you will find the real cost of flying a dog interstate, each airline’s rules, minimum puppy ages, crate requirements and what to check when buying a puppy from another state.

How Much Does It Cost to Fly a Dog Interstate in Australia?

Most owners pay between $350 and $1,500 to fly a dog interstate, depending mainly on the dog’s size, the crate and the route.

Airtasker’s Australian pet transport cost benchmarks put interstate transport for small dogs at roughly $350 to $700. Medium dogs sit at about $400 to $1,000 and large dogs at around $380 to $1,500.

These are benchmarks, so get two written quotes for your route.

Dog size	Typical interstate cost (benchmark)	What usually pushes it higher
Small (toy and small breeds)	$350 to $700	Buying a crate, home pickup and delivery
Medium	$400 to $1,000	Larger crate, connecting flights
Large	$380 to $1,500	Heavy combined weight, long or regional routes

What Is Included in a Pet Transport Quote

A full-service quote usually covers the airline freight charge, booking and paperwork, airport handling and often home pickup and delivery. Ask whether the crate is included or hired, because buying a correctly sized travel crate can add noticeably to the total.

Factors That Change the Price

The combined weight and size of your dog and crate matter most, since airlines charge freight on both. Long routes, connecting flights, school holidays and after-hours pickups add cost, and the vet check is billed separately.

Which Airlines Fly Dogs Interstate?

Qantas and Virgin Australia both carry dogs on domestic flights, while Jetstar does not carry pets.

Jetstar accepts only approved service dogs in the cabin and has no pet cargo service, so owners flying Jetstar need to send their dog with another carrier such as Qantas Freight.

Option	Where the dog travels	How to book	Minimum age	Weight rule
Qantas Freight	Hold (cargo)	Qantas Freight or an approved pet travel specialist	12 weeks	Crate size and combined weight needed to book
Virgin Australia Cargo	Hold (cargo)	A commercial pet transport company	8 weeks, vet certificate from 8 to 12 weeks	65 kg maximum, pet and crate combined
Virgin Australia Pets in Cabin	Cabin, soft carrier under the seat	Virgin Australia, eligible routes only	8 weeks, vet certificate from 8 to 12 weeks	Under 8 kg, pet and carrier combined
Jetstar	No pets carried	Not available	Not applicable	Not applicable

Qantas Freight Pet Travel

Qantas carries pets in the hold only, on selected domestic flights. The Qantas Freight domestic pet travel checklist sets a 12 week minimum age and asks for vet certification for pets older than 12 years. Flat-faced breeds must be booked through a Qantas approved pet travel specialist.

Virgin Australia Cargo

Under Virgin Australia’s pet cargo rules, owners book through a commercial pet transport company rather than directly. The combined weight of the animal and crate cannot exceed 65 kg, and puppies aged 8 to 12 weeks need a vet certificate issued within 14 days of travel.

Virgin Australia Pets in Cabin

The Virgin Australia Pets in Cabin service lets small dogs and cats under 8 kg, including the soft carrier, travel under the seat. The introductory fee is $149 per pet, per flight, with up to four pets per flight on routes linking Melbourne, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Cairns.

How Old Does a Puppy Need to Be to Fly Interstate?

A puppy must be at least 8 weeks old to fly with Virgin Australia and at least 12 weeks old to fly with Qantas Freight.

Virgin accepts puppies from 8 weeks in cargo and in the cabin, but anything aged 8 to 12 weeks needs a recent vet certificate confirming it is healthy to travel. Qantas applies its 12 week minimum to all pets, including flat-faced breeds.

Eight weeks is also the usual minimum age for puppies leaving their mother in Australia. A puppy flying then may be making the trip within days of leaving its litter.

Before booking a young puppy, ask your breeder’s vet whether it is fit to fly and how the flight fits around its vaccination schedule. Choose a direct flight at a cooler time of day where possible, and arrange for someone to collect the puppy promptly on arrival.

Crate Rules and Getting Your Dog Ready to Fly

Every dog flying as cargo must travel in an IATA-approved crate that lets it stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.

Qantas Freight asks for the crate size and the total weight of crate plus pet when you make a booking. Transport companies can usually supply or hire one.

Start crate familiarisation several weeks before the flight. The RSPCA explains how to help a pet feel comfortable in a transport carrier through short, positive sessions.

Do not sedate your dog for a flight unless your vet specifically advises it. The Australian Veterinary Association policy on medicating pets for air travel states that dogs should not be sedated, because sedation can lower blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Your vet may suggest anti-nausea or non-sedating anxiety options instead.

Extra Rules for Flat-Faced Breeds

Flat-faced breeds may be prone to breathing difficulty when stressed or warm, so airlines treat them as higher risk. A French Bulldog flying with Qantas must be booked through a specialist, and Qantas recommends a crate at least 10 percent larger than standard. The same applies to the Pug and similar breeds. The RSPCA’s policy on transporting animals by air advises against flying these breeds unless strictly necessary.

Buying a Puppy From Interstate: Who Books the Flight?

Either the breeder or the buyer can book a pet transport company, but the safest arrangement is for the buyer to pay that company directly after checking it independently.

Agree in writing who books, who pays and what happens if the flight is delayed. Even if the breeder recommends a company, look it up yourself rather than relying on a link or phone number the seller supplies.

Before the puppy flies, ask for its microchip number, vaccination and worming records, a recent vet health check and any breeder registration or source number your state requires. Make sure the microchip transfer to your name is arranged once the puppy arrives.

Ideally visit the puppy, or have a trusted friend visit, before paying in full. A live video call with the puppy and its mother is the minimum.

Avoiding Fake Pet Transport Scams

Never pay extra transport, crate or insurance fees to a company the seller introduced without verifying it first. Scamwatch puppy scam alerts describe fake sellers who claim to have moved interstate, then demand transport or medical payments for a puppy that does not exist. Other warning signs of a puppy scam include prices well below market and refusal of visits.

Alternatives to Flying a Dog Interstate

Driving yourself, road pet transport, a flight nanny or Virgin’s in-cabin option can suit a young or anxious puppy better than cargo.

• Driving yourself keeps the puppy with you and costs fuel and accommodation, but long trips need planned breaks. Practical tips for travelling with a puppy in the car make it far easier.
• Road pet transport can suit large dogs but may take several days on long routes.
• A flight nanny escorts the puppy, which suits small puppies but costs more.
• Virgin Pets in Cabin works well for small dogs on eligible routes, if you are flying the same day.

For a puppy under 12 weeks, a shorter road trip with its new owner is often less stressful than a solo cargo flight. Weigh the distance, the puppy’s age and size, and the weather before deciding.

Tasmania and Western Australia Entry Rules

Tasmania requires most dogs to be treated for hydatid tapeworm before arrival, while Western Australia has no specific entry requirements for pet dogs.

Biosecurity Tasmania’s dog import rules require treatment with a praziquantel wormer at 5 mg per kg of body weight within 14 days before arrival, plus evidence of that treatment. Puppies under 12 weeks are exempt, and dogs must also be free of ticks.

For Western Australia, the WA government guidance on bringing animals into the state confirms that pet dogs need no inspection or specific import entry requirements. Local council registration and microchipping rules still apply once you arrive.

Conclusion

Flying a dog interstate is straightforward once you know the costs, the airline rules and your puppy’s age limits.

Get two written quotes, confirm the current rules on the airline’s own page and start crate training early.

When your puppy lands, a calm plan for the first night with a new puppy helps it settle quickly. If you are still searching, browse puppies for sale from breeders across Australia and ask each breeder about transport early.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can dogs fly interstate in Australia?

Yes. Qantas and Virgin Australia both fly dogs interstate, usually as cargo in the hold. Virgin cargo bookings go through a commercial pet transport company, and Virgin also offers in-cabin travel for small pets on selected routes. Jetstar does not carry pets, only approved service dogs.

2. Can my dog fly in the cabin on a domestic flight?

Only on Virgin Australia’s Pets in Cabin routes, and only if your dog and its soft carrier weigh under 8 kg together. The introductory fee is $149 per pet, per flight, and each flight takes up to four pets. Qantas carries pets in the hold only.

3. Can an 8 week old puppy fly interstate?

Yes, with Virgin Australia, which accepts puppies from 8 weeks if they have a vet certificate issued within 14 days of travel. Qantas Freight requires puppies to be at least 12 weeks old. Ask your vet whether a young puppy is fit for the journey first.

4. Do I need a vet certificate to fly my dog interstate?

A vet certificate is required for puppies aged 8 to 12 weeks on Virgin Australia and for older or unwell pets on both airlines. Even when not required, a pre-flight vet check is sensible, and transport companies may ask for vaccination records before accepting a booking.

5. Can I book my dog directly with the airline?

Virgin Australia requires cargo bookings through a commercial pet transport company, although Pets in Cabin is booked with Virgin itself. Qantas Freight takes bookings directly or through approved pet travel specialists, and flat-faced breeds must be booked through a specialist on Qantas.

6. Is it cheaper to drive or fly a dog interstate?

Driving yourself is often cheaper for one dog on a shorter route, since you pay only fuel and accommodation. Flying through a transport company typically costs $350 to $1,500 but is much faster, which matters on long routes such as Perth to the east coast.

7. Should I sedate my dog for a flight?

No, not unless your vet specifically advises it. The Australian Veterinary Association states that dogs should not be sedated for air travel, because sedation can affect blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Crate training and non-sedating medication prescribed by your vet are safer options.