Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members can now enroll their dogs, cats and even ferrets into the Flying Paws program where they can earn gifts for themselves and Flying Club miles for you. The program is offered to pets who are part of Britain’s Passports for Pets scheme and is available on most transatlantic routes.

On the pet’s first Virgin Atlantic flight, they will get a welcome onboard pet pack designed for them. Dogs will receive an exclusive Virgin Atlantic doggie t-shirt and sparkling dog tags, cats will get a toy mouse called “Red” and a Virgin Atlantic collar tag and ferrets will receive a limited-edition flying jacket and collar tag. The pets will also get a passport to record all of their flights and allows them to collect “paw prints” (one per flight) which you can redeem for gifts for them.

Gifts will be available for redemption after five paw prints have been collected such as a handmade Virgin food bowl and non-slip mat. Or you can donate their awards, worth 50 British pounds, to a animal charity or sanctuary — or you can receive 1,000 bonus Flying Club miles into your account. As your pet continues to fly, more award options are available such as blow dries and pedicures, Burberry, Prada and Gucci pet clothing and a “pawtrait” pet photo. Pets cannot earn credits toward getting a free flight of their own.

Virgin Atlantic has seen an increasing number of pets in flight. In 2003-04, it carried 687 pets, but the next year, pets in flight almost doubled to 1,250. For more information on the Flying Paws program, email [email protected].