Pet Travel

Currently, only domestic dogs and cats are allowed in the cabin on Air India flights.

We allow only domesticated dogs and cats aboard our flights. All breeds of dogs and cats are permitted to fly with Air India in the cabin. However, some breeds of dogs and cats, such as brachycephalic (snub-nosed/flat-faced), may be at risk of flying in the cargo compartment and are not allowed to be carried in the cargo compartment of Air India flights. If you choose to take at-risk breeds of dogs and cats in the cabin, please seek the advice of your vet. Air India shall not be liable in this regard.

The combined weight of the pet and the container must be at most 7 kg/15 lb. Pets of heavier weight will be carried in the aircraft hold (cargo compartment).

If your pet weighs more than 7 kg/15 lb, then it must be transported in the aircraft hold (cargo compartment) of the aircraft as baggage if the combined weight of the pet and the container is up to 32 kg/70 lb.

You can book your pets in the cabin (up to 7 kg/15 lb) or in the cargo compartment as baggage (up to 32 kg/70 lb) through the airline ticketing office or at our check-in counters at the airport. Please ensure you make the booking at least 72 hours before departure and have all the required paperwork with you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our customer service portal.

Standard excess baggage charges by weight/piece will be applied, regardless of whether free baggage allowance is utilised or not.

Carriage of pets, including container/pet carrier weight, shall not be included in the free baggage allowance.

The weight of the pet, plus a container or pet carrier (also food carried per container/per carrier in case carried as baggage), will be charged.

For connecting flights, standard excess baggage charges by weight/piece will be applied for each segment of your journey, regardless of whether the free baggage allowance is utilised. You will be required to pay at your origin for all segments of your trip.

A trained guide dog meeting Air India’s requirements and regulations of the destination country is carried free of charge if the dog is trained to assist a passenger with impaired vision/hearing.

Passengers with PETC will be assigned a seat in the last row of the booked cabin class.
If you are travelling with a pet on a single cabin configuration (all-economy flight), one passenger and their accompanying pet will be assigned the last row, and the other will be at least five rows apart.

The pet will not be allowed to occupy a passenger seat, even in case the adjoining seat is unoccupied or blocked by the passengers.

Emergency exit rows are not assigned to the passenger and their accompanying pet.

The decision to allot a seat will solely be at the discretion of Air India.

Properly validated vaccination and health certificates must be furnished, at most 72 hours before the date of travel, from the sanitation department (duly signed and stamped) advising that the animal is in good health. A certificate that the animal has been inoculated for rabies by a registered veterinarian is required. You must hold entry permits and other documents, as required by the countries of entry or transit. Please bring the original documents along with a photocopy to be submitted at the time of check-in at airports. 

For more details, please visit AQCS , US CDC , IATA Program & Policy

For destination-specific regulations and documents required for pet travel, please refer to IATA Travel Centre. 

Due to specific destination restrictions and operational reasons, we are currently unable to transport your pet into or out of the destinations below in the cabin and/ or the cargo hold: 

USA

Canada

Australia

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

For more information, please reach out to our customer support executive or head to our airport or city ticketing office.

We allow pets on direct, transit, and connecting flights, provided the connecting flights are between Air India flights only (AI - AI) and not with other airlines. This applies to routes where pets are currently accepted.

Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to travel in the cabin and 3 months or older to travel in the cargo hold.

Pregnant pets are not accepted on Air India flights. Also, passengers are required to advise if their pet has given birth in the last 48 hours.

Apart from the weight restrictions on pets, the following conditions must also be met:

• Your pet can only be brought into the cabin only if it weighs less than 7 kg/15 lb.
• A pet dog must be muzzled and on a leash in flight.
• A moisture-absorbent mat should be placed under the pet. Please carry enough absorbent mats for the pet to relieve itself during carriage.
• When soiled, we request you to dispose of it and replace it with a new one.
• A label indicating the name of the pet must be affixed on the kennel/pet carrier.
• No food items are permitted inside the container.
• Each container must have only one pet inside it during carriage.

Pets in the aircraft hold (cargo compartment) can weigh only a maximum of 32 kg/70 lb. The pet must be free from clinical signs and symptoms of infectious and contagious diseases, including distemper, leptospirosis, etc.

• The names, addresses, telephone numbers and 24-hour contact details must be affixed to the container.
• A label indicating the name of the pet must be affixed on the kennel/pet carrier.
• Each container must have only one pet inside it during carriage.

• The design and construction of the pet container must conform to IATA standards. 
• The maximum permissible side of the container for carriage of pets in the cabin is 18” X 18” X 12”.
• It must be of the right size for the pet to turn, stand up, sit, and lie down in its natural position.
• Well-ventilated from at least three sides with majority ventilation on the upper part of the container, and the ventilation holes must not be taped over or blocked in any way for sufficient airflow to circulate through the container. The ventilated area must be at least 16% of the total surface of the four sides of the container.
• Be made of a strong required material that is leak-proof and cannot be easily destroyed by the animal inside it, protecting the pet from unauthorised access.
• Be securely fastened to prevent the pet from escaping.
• Have means of access to the container for water and food from outside.
• All wheels must be removed or rendered inoperable. 
• When calculating the minimum internal height of the container, the height of bedding should be added to the height of the animal.

Animal measurements:

A = length of the animal from the tip of the nose to the base/root of the tail. 

B = height from ground to elbow joint. 

C = width across shoulders or widest point (whichever is the greater). 

D = height of the animal in natural standing position from the top of the head or the ear tip to the floor (whichever is higher).

The calculated dimensions are internal container dimensions. Minimum internal container dimensions for a single animal: 

Container length = A + ½ B 

Container width = C x 2 

Container height E = D + bedding

Visit IATA for more information.

 No, emotional support animals are not allowed on Air India flights.

 The booking must be made at least 72 hours before departure for the carriage of pets in the cabin or in the aircraft hold (cargo compartment).

Passengers must report at least three hours prior to departure for their flight. 

Each passenger can carry one pet in the cabin and one in the cargo hold as baggage.

Unaccompanied minors cannot travel with a pet.

Due to safety considerations, it is not recommended that a passenger requiring wheelchair assistance or travelling with an infant carry a pet in the cabin. However, the pet may be carried in the cargo hold.

 Air India allows only two pets per flight in the cabin. Each pet must have an accompanying passenger.

Please refrain from sedating your pet before the health assessment before departure. This is to ensure that the pet is fit to travel. It is important to note that sedated or tranquillised pets are not recommended for flight acceptance, according to IATA standards and regulations. This is because it can be dangerous to their health due to pressure differences.

Before travelling, download and fill in the indemnity form. Check-in at the airport with the original document and a photocopy.

For direct flights, fill out and carry two copies of the indemnity form.

For connecting flights, please carry two copies of the indemnity form for each segment of your journey, i.e., a total of four indemnity forms.

No, your pet must always be in the container and placed under the seat in front of you.

The pet can be refused carriage due to any of the following reasons:

• Pets with incomplete or missing vaccinations, health certificates or any other document as required by the country of departure or arrival.
• If, due to safety reasons, the container is not suitable for transportation.
• Pets showing disruptive behaviour, which includes but is not limited to aggression or of an overtly aggressive nature, showing excessive signs of chewing, cage destruction, barking, or biting.

Air India is entirely indemnified against all direct and indirect liabilities that may arise from the carriage of any pet and is not responsible if such pets are refused entry into or transit through any country or territory.

If you are on the same flight, the pet booked as baggage in the aircraft hold (cargo compartment) will be handed over to you at the arrival terminal.

We will assign a different seat based on availability to ensure a comfortable journey for everyone. This can be done at the time of check-in or boarding or in the aircraft.

Yes, passengers travelling with pets will be allowed to check in and board on priority.