Today’s story comes from Camille, who gave us a hilarious and refreshingly honest account of her flight from Vienna to Mallorca with her Yorkshire Terrier, Teddy. It’s a tale of airline pricing absurdity, and a clever trick for keeping a chatty little dog calm mid-flight. Here’s how it went.
About the trip
- From: Vienna, Austria
- To: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Pet: Dog, Yorkshire Terrier Teddy
- Age: 4 years
- Airline: Austrian Airlines
- Guide: How to fly with a dog
Hello Pet Abroad friends,
When I flew from Vienna to Mallorca last year, I couldn’t believe the prices. My ticket was 60 euros, which I thought was a great deal. But then I added Teddy to the booking—his in-cabin fee was 80 euros. So there I was in economy, while my dog, who spent the whole flight in a bag under my seat, was basically flying first class :).
At Vienna Airport, Teddy got a lot of attention. People kept stopping to look at his little top-knot and tiny paws. The Austrian Airlines staff were nice but strict—they weighed his carrier (it had to be under 8 kg) and of course checked his Pet Passport. Teddy just sat there, probably knowing his ticket cost more than mine.
Teddy is a high-energy dog, and the noises and movement on the plane usually stress him out. So I tried a simple trick: I draped a light scarf over his carrier once we were seated. It didn’t block the air, but it cut down on the bright lights and people walking by. He calmed down and even fell asleep, which is rare for him.
I would like to share some final thoughts about the prices
Looking back at the whole experience, I have to be honest about the cost. While I adore Teddy and wouldn’t dream of traveling without him, paying eighty euros for a dog to sit in a bag at my feet—or occasionally on my lap during the flight—feels a bit like paying an “existence tax.” When you think about it, you aren’t paying for extra legroom, a meal, or even a real seat; you are essentially paying a premium just for the permission to have your best friend breathe the same cabin air as you. It feels like a lot of money for “nothing” in terms of actual service provided by the airline, especially when my own ticket, which included an actual physical chair and a suitcase in the overhead bin, was cheaper.
🐾 — All about flight ticket prices for pets — ✈️
I want to end this on a positive note, though. Teddy and I had the absolute best time by the sea, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about our trip. Even if the airline’s pricing structure leaves me scratching my head sometimes, it was worth every moment. I’m really hoping that the way we fly with our dogs continues to evolve; we are already starting to see some positive shifts in the industry.
Thank you, Camille, for sharing your flight experience with us! If you would like to join and share your own pet travel story, you can do it here!
If you are preparing for your first flight with a dog or cat, you can check out our article about the things you can expect here.