Pets In, Kids Out: The Travel Industry’s Quiet War on Families

Italy’s flag carrier ITA Airways announced this week that it will allow pets up to 30 kgs (66 lbs) to fly in the cabin on certain domestic flights — no carrier required. Large dogs will sit next to their owners on “Large Pet Friendly” routes launching this spring.

This is more than a lifestyle story. Italy is also one of the few markets with a clear, enforceable rule that bars airlines from charging families to seat adults next to children under 12, with fines that can reach €50,000. 

Italy’s regulations show how a country can support both families and pets — the U.S. protects neither, and the U.S. market is making clear which customer it wants. 

Hotels have become dramatically more pet-friendly while becoming structurally hostile to families with children. Airlines have followed the same logic. The adults-only hotel pipeline is exploding. 

The Math Driving This Choice

This shift isn’t just cultural, it is economic.