Title: “Paws on a Plane: Surviving Air India’s Pet Policy Without Losing Your Mind or Your Moggy”
If you’ve ever dreamt of boarding an Air India flight with your golden retriever, hamster, or 10-year-old cat who already hates the vet, you might be wondering—can I actually fly with my furry soulmate on Air India? Is it a delightful, Bollywood-style travel montage… or a bureaucratic Kafkaesque nightmare involving forms, crates, and a suspiciously quiet beagle?
Spoiler alert: It’s a little of both. But hey, we’re in this together.
In this (very thorough and occasionally sarcastic) guide, we’ll sniff out everything you need to know about the Air India pet policy, whether you’re flying domestic or international, with a Pomeranian or a parrot. Bring snacks. This is going to be a 2,000+ word ride.
🛫 Chapter 1: Can My Pet Even Fly on Air India?
Let’s cut to the chase. Yes, Air India lets you travel with pets—but only if:
- They’re a dog or a cat (sorry, hamsters, lizards, or emotional-support alpacas).
- They meet health and documentation requirements.
- You’re okay with schlepping them as accompanied baggage in the cargo hold, or in very rare cases, in-cabin.
That’s right—Air India is not Southwest Airlines with a cute pet fee and a smiley gate agent handing out dog treats. This is Air India. Be ready for paperwork, processes, and some serious crate math.
📄 Chapter 2: The Documents (a.k.a. The Paper Mountain You Must Climb)
Welcome to the Everest of pet travel: documents.
Here’s what you’ll need:
✅ Health Certificate
- From a registered vet, issued within 10 days of departure.
- Must certify your pet is fit to fly and disease-free.
✅ Vaccination Record
- Rabies is a must.
- International flights may require titer testing and additional jabs. (Because apparently, your dog is now auditioning for quarantine reality TV.)
✅ Import/Export Permits
- If traveling internationally, prepare for customs regulations, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Animal Quarantine & Certification Service (AQCS), and possibly advance permission from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
✅ ID Tags and Microchips
- Highly recommended, even if not strictly required.
It’s like applying for college, except your pet won’t even appreciate the boarding pass.
✈️ Chapter 3: Domestic vs. International Flights—Who Gets the Window Seat?
🏠 Domestic Flights (Air India Mainline)
- Pets can fly as checked baggage in the aircraft hold.
- Limited availability per flight, so book early.
- Cabin travel may be permitted for tiny pets (<5kg including carrier), at the pilot’s discretion.
- Emotional support animals? Not a thing. Prepare to pay and follow standard rules.
🌍 International Flights
- Far more paperwork.
- Not all international Air India flights allow pets, so you must call and confirm.
- Pets usually travel as cargo, not in-cabin.
- Destination country regulations (especially the U.S., U.K., UAE, Singapore) can vary wildly.
Let’s face it—your pug probably won’t be sipping tomato juice at cruising altitude. But at least they’ll be in the same hemisphere.
💰 Chapter 4: How Much Will This Cost Me (and My Pet’s Trust)?
🧾 Pet Charges – Domestic
Air India doesn’t charge a flat pet fee like Spirit or JetBlue. Instead, they calculate cost based on:
- The combined weight of your pet + crate
- The excess baggage rate, usually around INR 300 per kg (subject to change).
So if your Persian cat, crate, emotional baggage, and unnecessary treats weigh 10kg, you’re looking at ₹3,000.
🧾 Pet Charges – International
- Again, it’s based on weight and route.
- There’s no “pet fee”—you pay as if your pet was a bag. Which, to be fair, is what airlines think of all of us anyway.
Pro tip: Call customer care to get an actual quote. Or three. And write them down because the answer may change with each rep.
📦 Chapter 5: What Kind of Pet Crate Is Airline-Approved?
To paraphrase Liam Neeson: your pet needs a very specific set of skills—and an even more specific crate.
✨ Crate Requirements (Air India-Approved Style):
- IATA-compliant (International Air Transport Association)
- Big enough for your pet to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably.
- Secure locking mechanism
- Ventilation on at least 3 sides
- Food/water bowls attached
- Absorbent bedding inside (a.k.a. old towel or disposable liner)
- Label with your pet’s name, your contact info, and “Live Animal” signage in bold.
Bonus points if your pet actually likes the crate. Triple points if they don’t scream the entire time like a feline opera singer.
🐾 Chapter 6: What About Air India Express?
Ah yes, the budget cousin—Air India Express. If Air India is your polite (if slow) uncle, Express is the one who shows up late to family events on a scooter and forgets to bring plates.
Spoiler: Air India Express DOES NOT allow live animals in the cabin OR as checked baggage.
Exception: Guide dogs for visually impaired passengers may be accepted under very specific guidelines, with advance approval.
So unless your pet is a service dog with documentation, Air India Express is a no-go for traveling with pets.
😾 Chapter 7: Do Cats Count?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but with judgment.
Cats are technically allowed under Air India’s policy, but:
- They MUST be confined in a suitable crate.
- They should be used to being confined (Ha. Good luck.)
- Sedation is discouraged, but if used, must be under vet supervision.
Don’t expect your tabby to send you thank-you notes afterward. Expect revenge in the form of shredded curtains.
🧠 Chapter 8: Tips for Not Losing Your Sanity (or Pet) Mid-Flight
Flying with a pet can be… ruff. But here’s how to avoid needing a vacation from your vacation.
🧳 Pre-Flight Tips:
- Book early. Limited pet slots per flight.
- Crate train your pet weeks ahead.
- Print multiple copies of health certs, vaccination records, and boarding passes.
- Arrive at the airport early. You’re basically checking in a living teddy bear.
✈️ In-Flight Tips:
- If in cabin (rare), keep your pet quiet and under your seat.
- If in cargo, relax. Aircraft cargo is pressurized and temperature-controlled.
- No sedation unless prescribed. High altitudes + sedatives = risky biz.
🐶 Chapter 9: But What About Service Animals?
Air India permits guide dogs for visually impaired passengers free of charge on both domestic and international routes, subject to:
- Advance notification
- Valid documentation
- Harness and leash
However, emotional support animals (ESAs) are NOT recognized. Your shih tzu who gets anxious during landings and listens to lo-fi beats to chill isn’t getting a free ride.
🤔 Chapter 10: FAQs (Fur-quently Asked Questions)
Q: Can I travel with more than one pet?
Not unless you’re renting out the whole cargo hold. One pet per passenger is the general rule.
Q: Is sedation allowed?
Only with a vet’s approval. Most airlines—including Air India—discourage it due to risks during air travel.
Q: Can I send my pet alone as cargo?
Yes, through Air India Cargo. But it’s a completely different process, often used for relocations.
Q: Can I bring a goldfish?
Technically, no live aquatic animals in carry-on or baggage. And TSA-style security doesn’t like sloshing water.
✈️ Final Boarding Call: Is Air India Pet Travel Worth It?
If you:
- Have the time to prep,
- The patience of a monk,
- And a pet who doesn’t mind being treated like oddly noisy luggage…
Then yes, you can survive the Air India pet policy and live to tell the tail.
Is it the most pet-friendly airline in the world? Nope. But it’s definitely paw-sible with planning, paperwork, and a good sense of humor.
🎒 Last-Minute Packing List:
- Pet crate
- Health certificate
- Vaccination record
- Favorite toy
- Poop bags (always)
- Extra copies of documents
- Your sanity (just barely)
Now go forth, pet traveler! Whether you’re off to Delhi, New York, or a spiritual retreat in Rishikesh with your golden retriever named Yogi, may your crate fit the airline’s dimensions, and may your pet not barf in Terminal 3.
Namaste. And safe travels, four-legged friends. 🐕✈️