MANILA, Philippines — Fur parents who hate leaving their cats behind when traveling now have another option.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has expanded its FurPAL in-cabin pet program to include small cats, allowing eligible feline companions to travel inside the aircraft cabin alongside their owners on domestic flights.
The latest expansion means FurPAL is no longer limited to small dogs. PAL said passengers may now bring one small dog or cat into the cabin for a one-way fee starting at ₱2,500, subject to the airline’s requirements and available pet capacity.
The development marks another step in PAL’s push to make domestic air travel more accommodating to passengers who consider their pets part of the family.
Cats can now join domestic PAL trips
Under the expanded FurPAL program, eligible cats can travel in the passenger cabin rather than being separated from their owners during the flight.
The pet must remain inside a soft-sided, leak-proof carrier that can be placed underneath the seat in front of the passenger. PAL’s existing FurPAL guidelines also require pets to remain inside their carriers throughout the flight.
The airline previously expanded FurPAL nationwide in February, initially allowing small dogs on all PAL domestic routes.
At that time, PAL set the one-way FurPAL fee at ₱2,500, with passengers allowed to bring one eligible pet per passenger and with limits on the number of pets permitted on individual flights.
Now, cats are being added to the program.
What pet owners need to know
The ₱2,500 starting fee is an add-on for the pet, rather than the passenger’s airfare.
Pet owners should also prepare the required documentation and comply with PAL’s carrier and health requirements before heading to the airport.
PAL’s FurPAL requirements for in-cabin pet travel include documentation such as a veterinary health certificate, updated anti-rabies vaccination records, a Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) shipping permit, and the airline’s required declaration, release and waiver form.
The carrier must be suitable for under-seat placement and provide adequate ventilation. Earlier FurPAL guidelines specified a maximum carrier size of approximately 17 inches by 11 inches by 9.5 inches, while the combined weight limit for the pet and carrier was set at 10 kilograms.
Passengers should verify the latest requirements with PAL before traveling because the airline reserves the right to modify its FurPAL terms and conditions.
FurPAL started with dogs
PAL introduced FurPAL in late 2025, initially offering in-cabin travel for small dogs on selected routes involving popular destinations such as Boracay, Bohol and Siargao.
The service was subsequently expanded to all PAL domestic routes in February 2026. At the time, the airline said eligible dogs had to meet strict size, age, health and carrier requirements.
PhilSTAR Life reported in February that PAL had already indicated cats would eventually be included in the program.
That promise has now become reality.
There are still important restrictions
While the announcement is welcome news for cat owners, FurPAL does not mean every pet can simply board a PAL aircraft.
The program applies to eligible domestic flights and remains subject to PAL’s operational restrictions, aircraft limitations, documentation requirements and available pet slots.
Pets must remain secured in their carriers, and owners must follow PAL’s cabin safety rules.
PAL’s existing FurPAL guidelines also prohibit passengers from treating the cabin like a normal pet area: the animal must stay under the seat and cannot be freely carried around the aircraft.
For travelers planning a trip, this means booking early and confirming eligibility with PAL is still essential.
A bigger shift in Philippine pet travel
The expansion comes as more travelers seek ways to bring their pets with them rather than leave them at home or arrange separate transport.
When FurPAL launched in 2025, PAL described it as the Philippines’ first in-cabin pet travel service. The program’s expansion from selected routes, to all domestic flights, and now to cats represents a significant broadening of that offering.
For cat owners, however, the biggest change is simple: the next domestic PAL trip no longer necessarily means leaving the family cat behind.
At a starting price of ₱2,500 one way, FurPAL could give more Filipino pet owners a practical way to keep their four-legged companions close—even at 30,000 feet.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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