We are huge fans of flying—you’re soaring through the clouds, on your way to another grand adventure. But there’s one way your trip can be even better: if there’s an adorable animal passenger on the plane! They’re a burst of sunshine and happiness that lighten up even the darkest clouds.

Our team at Bored Panda has collected some of the most wholesome and adorable photos of animal companions that people brought with them on their flights. Scroll down to take a look and don’t forget to upvote the photos of the bestest boys and girls. Warning: your heart might melt from all the good vibes. (PS—tell your pets we said hi!)

#1 This Is The Only Acceptable Item That Can Poke Through Between My Seats

Image credits: bunnnnnnnyx

#2 Got To Meet The Passenger In Front Of Me On The Plane

Image credits: lazybeef

#3 Whiskey Thanked Our Airline Pilot For Landing Us Home Safely

Image credits: gracefulsea

Though many of us wish that every flight would be full of adorable animals to keep us company, the reality is that this won’t be the case. There are very strict rules and regulations in place for anyone flying on planes, for the sake of everyone’s safety and comfort.

That means that if you plan on flying anywhere with your pet, you ought to do some research beforehand about your country and airline’s rules, including fees and size and weight limits. In some cases, you’re allowed to bring your pet onboard the cabin. Elsewhere, your animal companion will have to travel in the cargo hold. Meanwhile, some exceptions might also be made if you have an emotional support animal or a service animal.

#4 The Best Flight Attendant

Image credits: googlethegolden

#5 The Best Surprise Passenger You Can Have Next To You On A Flight

#6 Best Flight Ever

Image credits: meep4

For instance, if you’re flying with airBaltic, you can have your dog or cat in the passenger cabin or the cargo hold. Meanwhile, other animals would have to be transported in the hold.

First of all, you’ll have to inform the airline that you’re taking your pet with you as you’re booking your tickets. Furthermore, you have to have the proper documentation ready. If you’re traveling within the European Union, ID-marking microchips, pet passports, and anti-rabies vaccinations are mandatory.

#7 Today I Had To Travel Alongside These Three Rescue Dogs. Rex, Balam And Orly

Image credits: darwinfranco

#8 On A Flight Last Week, I Was Staring Off Into Space When This Guy Popped His Head Up To Visit His Neighbors

Image credits: Cr3amy_G00dness

#9 Had An Excellent Seatmate For My Flight Back Home Today. 10/10. (Taken During Boarding)

Image credits: Puppybrother

Smaller animals flying with airBaltic have to be placed within a bag or container. The pet has to stay within it for the entire duration of the flight.

What’s more, the container has to be well-ventilated, the animal must be odorless, and any fellow passengers sitting nearby should not object to the pet being onboard. Having your pet in the cabin also means you have to pay an additional fee. Meanwhile, larger pets are placed in animal-friendly containers in the cargo hold.

#10 Catch Flights, Not Feelings

Image credits: louiethecream

#11 Airport Puppers Doin' A Sploot

Image credits: reddit.com

#12 Hears Someone Opening A Packet Of Crisps In The Seat Behind

Image credits: hugoandursula

Emotional support animals provide therapeutic benefits to people with mental health or psychiatric disabilities. In the United States, for example, emotional support animals are considered to be a different category from service animals or pets. Technically, emotional support animals can be any domesticated animal, whether that’s a dog, cat, bird, rat, ferret, etc.

#13 This Dog On My Flight

Image credits: __clayton

#14 Meet Biscotti. This Was His Very First Flight. Best Customer On The Plane, For Sure

Image credits: raedarlinn

#15 Good Boy’s Toy Doesn’t Fit In The Overhead Compartment

Image credits: internethard

According to Pettable, you should first check with your airline what their animal travel policy is like. It’s better to be diligent now than run into problems later. Send emails. Call the airlines. In short, get some clarity on their rules, as well as their fees.

For instance, some airlines might allow you to travel with your emotional support animal free of charge while others might ask you to pay a one-off fee. Different airlines will also have different rules regarding whether or not your pet can stay with you in the cabin.

#16 I Was Surprised With An Unexpected Guest On My Flight

Image credits: Praeministri

#17 His Fourth Time On A Plane, But First Time Next To The Window! I Was Confident Enough To Let Stanley Peep Out

Image credits: Dinabona

#18 Sig's First Time On A Plane! He Did It Amazingly

Image credits: InsulinRage

Pettable notes that many airlines will only accept dogs as emotional support animals. So, if you had any ideas to travel with your emotional support capybara or parrot, you might be out of luck. It’s also vital that you have all of your documentation proving that your travel companion is an emotional support animal. And, naturally, the animal should be well-behaved throughout the entire flight.

#19 Flight Number 9 Is In The Books

Image credits: AnswerLive45

#20 I Got To Sit Next To Two Puppies On My Flight Back Home

Image credits: ohheydonna

#21 Bumped Into A Cornish Rex Breeder On Our Flight Transporting This Baby To Its New Home. They Let Us Hold Him The Whole Plane Ride And He Fell Asleep On My Husband. My Husband Fell Asleep Too

Image credits: lilpowderpuff

The New York Times recently did a digest of the major US airlines’ pet policies. For example, if you’re flying with Southwest Airlines, your dog or cat is allowed to travel in an approved carrier, if they’re placed below your seat. The pet cannot leave the carrier, and it’s considered a carry-on bag. What’s more, a maximum of 6 pets are allowed to be booked per flight.

United Airlines charges $125 each way for traveling with pet dogs or cats. But if you have a service animal, you will not have to pay a fee, just fill out some forms. If you happen to be traveling with two pets, you will have to book two seats. Meanwhile, Delta requires that any dogs or cats that fly be older than 8 weeks old and fit into a soft-sided carrier no bigger than 18 by 11 by 11 inches. You’ll also have to pay $95 for your carry-on companion.

#22 Plane Puppy

Image credits: aussiedomxo

#23 Bodie's First Flight

Image credits: WetWoolley

#24 Couldn’t Ask For A Better Neighbor On My Flight

Image credits: ajwiedma

American Airlines charges $150 for cats and dogs in carry-on containers. Meanwhile, Spirit and JetBlue charge $125, Frontier charges $99, and Alaska Airlines charges an extra $100 for your pets. The fee is charged each way. However, if money is no issue for you, you may want to consider private or charter flights.

#25 Puppy Was Sleeping Peacefully The Whole Flight

Image credits: nobuthefluffy

#26 This Furry Passenger On Our Flight Was Traveling To Meet His New Family

Image credits: DeceptiveDuck

#27 I Spent The Whole 2 Hours Of My Flight Looking At This Feline Flyer

Image credits: Egyptianpenguin

Though very expensive, chartered flights allow you and your pets far more freedom. For instance, the wittily-named and animal travel-focused BarkAir charges around $6,000 for a dog and its owner to travel between NYC and LA, as well as NYC and London.

On these flights, your pet does not have to be in a carrier and can sit on your lap, seat, or bed.

#28 Our Flight Has A Kitten! So Cute

Image credits: yodagnic

#29 My Best Friend Has Never Been On A Plane Before. I Thought He’d Be Scared But He Loved It

Image credits: LittleStJamesBond

#30 My Husky Helping Out With Pre-Flight Checks

Image credits: Jagomagi

Which of the photos in this list made you smile the most? When was the last time you flew on a plane that had an animal on it? Have you ever flown with your pet, dear Pandas? Did you run into any issues with the airlines? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments.

When you've enjoyed this list to the fullest, check out Bored Panda's other posts about animals on transportation!