Here Are The Pet Policies Of Top Indian Airlines You Need To Know

Now, you don’t have to feel guilty about leaving your furry friend behind at home while you go on a trip. With Indian Airlines welcoming pets on board, you can achieve the dream of travelling with your little one.

Well, many Indian airlines like Indigo, AirAsia and Vistara allow only service dogs to travel. But don’t feel disappointed. Airlines, like Air India and Akasa Air, have the facility for pet travel. However, you need to meet specific criteria laid out by these airlines for a hassle-free journey.

So what are the requirements laid out by the Indian airlines? In this blog, we will exactly discover the answer to this question.

If you are ready to know more about these pet-friendly airline policies, then keep on reading further.

Pet Travel Policies Of Air India

1. Air India only allows the import and export of pets from certain cities only in case of international flights. You can only take the flight with your pet from airports located in Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.
2. For the safety of your pets and fellow passengers, you can’t let your little one roam freely in the cabin. So, you must place them in a kennel or cage. While buying the container, make sure that its size doesn’t exceed 46cm/18in x 46cm/18 in x 30cm/12 in. Also, make sure to put labels on the kennel so that the airline staff can easily get information about the owner.
3. Before placing your pet inside the kennel, keep a moisture-absorbent mat underneath.
4. The airline decides whether your pet will travel in the cabin or as check-in baggage or cargo according to their weight. Here are points that show the criteria set by Air India:
   • Your pet can only travel in a cabin if they don’t weigh more than 5 kg.
   • Pets who weigh between 5kg and 32kg will be checked in as baggage.
   • Pets weighing more than 32kg will travel as cargo.
5. Each passenger can travel with only 2 pets in the cabin.
6. Your pet needs to be at least 8 weeks old to travel. Also, one more thing to keep in mind is that Air India doesn’t allow pregnant pets on board.
7. Here are the certificates that you need to make to travel internationally with your pet:
   • ‘No objection certificate’ or ‘pre-import clearance’ from the animal quarantine and certification service.
   • A health certificate from the country of origin showing your pet is free from rabies, temper, and leptospirosis.
   • If you have a cat or dog over 3 months, you will need to get them vaccinated for rabies at least a month before travel.
8. The charges for pet transport would depend upon the weight of your pet, kennel and other belongings of your pet. Guide dogs can travel for free, but you need to foresee if they are adequately muzzled and leased.
9. Every country may have their own set of requirements, so you need to make sure that you adhere to them.
10. Ensure that you follow the quarantine requirements for pets if asked by the destination country. The time you will have to quarantine your pet will vary from country to country.

Pet Travel Policies Of Akasa Air

1. Currently, Akasa Air is only allowing cats and dogs above the age of three months to travel.
2. You need to obtain a vaccination and health certificate from a registered vet within 72 hours of travel. Your pet can travel in the cabin only if they do not weigh more than 7kg. Pets exceeding this weight will travel as cargo. However, if your pet weighs more than 100kg, then they can’t travel with Akasa Airlines. Pets weighing more than 7 kg but less than 32 kg need to be checked at the airport.
3. Each passenger can carry only one pet in the cabin and one in cargo while travelling.
4. The container for pets travelling in the cabin should not be more than 19″ L X 12″ W X 10″ H. For check-in cargo, the container should not be more than 36″ L X 28″ W X 28″ H.
5. Almost all breeds of cats and dogs can travel with Akasa Air. However, snub-nosed dogs can’t travel in cargo. The reason is that these dogs have a harder time breathing during flight. But in case you decide to travel with your snub-nosed pet in the cabin, then you need to seek airline assistance.
6. Your pet needs to stay in the closed container for the entire time during the flight.
7. Pets can’t travel by connecting or through flights. So make sure to look for only non-stop flights.

Conclusion: By adhering to the above Airline Pet Policies of Air India and Akasa Air, you can travel with your furry friend without any delays or complications. In case you find it challenging to keep up with all the requirements of pet-friendly airlines, then you can seek professional help from Pet Flights. We provide exceptional assistance at each step, from making all necessary preparations to delivering your pet to the required location. So contact us now for more information.