Air India now has a named pet-travel service, Paws on Board, that explains the airline’s pet policy in detail. The service gives pet parents clearer rules for flying with dogs and cats.
Under the current Air India pet policy, dogs and cats can travel in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as cargo, across more than 80 domestic and international destinations.
This guide explains Air India’s pet travel rules, Paws on Board charges, the booking process, required documents, carrier requirements, airport reporting, connecting-flight rules, and situations in which a pet may not be accepted.
How to Book Pets on Air India
Air India pet booking is not an on-counter service. A simple booking flow can be explained like this:
- Check whether your route accepts pet travel.
- Confirm whether your pet qualifies for cabin, checked baggage, or cargo.
- Prepare vaccination records, health certificate, indemnity form, and other required documents.
- Upload your trip details and pet documents through Air India’s customer-support portal.
- Wait for document verification and booking confirmation.
- Report at the airport at least three hours before departure.
- Carry printed and digital copies of all pet documents.
- The name of the pet owner on the documents and the name of the passenger on the ticket must match.
- The pet’s health and physical condition will be checked at the airport; document verification doesn’t automatically mean travel approval.
Pet parents should also confirm current charges and route-specific restrictions before paying for the service.
Air India Pet Policy Rules
1. For Cabin Travel:
For cabin travel, Air India currently specifies:
- Pets travelling in the cabin must be at least 8 weeks old
- Only domesticated cats and dogs are allowed
- The combined weight of the pet and soft carrier does not exceed 10 kg
- The soft carrier must not exceed 17 × 10 × 9 inches
- The pet must be booked at least 48 hours before departure
- A health certificate, issued within 7 days before departure, is required
- Booking is confirmed only after document verification
- Only one pet per passenger is allowed
- Pets travel with the passenger in aisle seats in the last five Economy rows only
- There must be at least five rows of separation between two cabin pets
- The passenger must report at the airport three hours before departure
- No food items are permitted inside the pet container
- Pregnant animals are not allowed
- Wheelchair passengers can’t carry pets with them in the cabin
- For passengers travelling with infants, the pet will go in cargo
- Minors travelling alone are not allowed to take pets in the cabin
- The pet must remain inside the carrier during the journey; you can’t carry them in your lap
- Even an empty passenger seat cannot be used for pets
- Pets need to be muzzled at the airport and during boarding
- Sedated pets are not allowed
The pet should also be calm enough to stay inside a closed carrier throughout airport entry, check-in, waiting, boarding, flight time, landing, and exit.
2. For Checked Baggage and Cargo
Pets weighing above the cabin limit travel as separately booked checked baggage or cargo, depending on the combined weight of the pet and carrier.
- Pets travelling as checked baggage in the cargo hold must be at least 3 months old.
- Pets above 10 kg and up to 32 kg may be considered for checked baggage or cargo under Air India’s rules.
- Pets above 32 kg must be booked as cargo.
- Pets should be secured inside an IATA-approved hard crate.
- For pets travelling in cargo, the passenger must report at the airport four hours before departure
- After check-in, pets are handled by the staff members.
- Brachycephalic pets are not allowed in the cargo compartment; they may be accepted only when the temperature is below 25°C
- Pregnant pets are not accepted as cargo
- If your pet has given birth within the last 48 hours, you must inform the airline team before travel.
- Birds listed under CITES cannot be transported as personal cargo.
- Duly signed and stamped vaccination and health certificates, validated by the sanitation department, confirming that your pet is in good health at least 72 hours before travel, are required
The cargo option should be considered carefully. For anxious pets, senior pets, heat-sensitive pets, or pets who panic in crates, this may be stressful even when the process is properly managed.
Note: Pet travel as checked baggage and cargo follow different booking methods, but both usually place the pet in the aircraft hold. Pet travel as checked baggage is handled through passenger check-in, while a pet booked as cargo is processed separately through the airline’s cargo system.
Air India Pet Travel Charges
Air India’s Paws on Board service is a paid ancillary service:
| Pet travel type | Domestic India | International routes listed by Air India |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin pet travel, up to 10 kg | ₹7,500 | From US$140, depending on route |
| Checked baggage, 10 kg – 32 kg | ₹16,000 | US$350 in listed categories |
| Cargo travel, above 32 kg | Cargo charges apply; confirm directly with Air India Cargo booking | Cargo charges apply; confirm directly with Air India Cargo booking |
Key points to know:
- The fee is charged separately from the passenger’s baggage allowance.
- A connecting itinerary may incur separate pet charges for each flight segment.
- Taxes may also apply, and the final amount should be confirmed during booking.
- Air India also says the Paws on Board service is generally non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Charges are refundable if the pet cannot travel in the cabin due to airline-established conditions.
Documents Required for Air India Pet Travel
Air India requires certain documents for pet travel. The exact documents vary depending on whether travel is domestic or international, the route and destination rules, and whether travel is cabin or cargo. Common documents include:
- Valid vaccination records
- Health certificate or fitness-to-fly certificate issued within 7 days before departure by a veterinarian
- Rabies vaccination proof, where applicable
- Air India indemnity form
- Destination-country documents for international travel
- Import/export clearance, permits, or AQCS-related (ANIMAL QUARANTINE & CERTIFICATION SERVICES) documents where required
- Passenger ID and booking details
Documents must be uploaded through Air India’s customer support portal for cabin pet booking and verified before confirmation.
For a detailed checklist on pet travel documents for all travel modes, read our guide on documents required for pet travel in India.
Carrier Rules for Cabin, Checked Baggage and Cargo
For cabin travel, Air India specifies a soft carrier size of 17 × 10 × 9 inches. The carrier should be secure, ventilated, leak-proof, and suitable for being placed under the seat.
For checked baggage or cargo travel, pet parents should use an IATA-approved hard crate or confirm the latest kennel requirements directly with Air India before booking. A cargo or hold container should be strong, escape-proof, properly ventilated, and suitable for the pet’s size and comfort.
The carrier should be chosen so your pet can stay inside it safely and calmly for the entire journey. Before the travel day, let your pet spend time inside the carrier at home so it feels familiar rather than frightening.
When to Reach the Airport?
Air India requires passengers travelling with pets to report at the airport 3 hours before departure for cabin travel and 4 hours before departure for cargo travel. At the airport, the airline may need to verify:
1. Passenger booking
2. Pet booking confirmation
3. Documents
4. Indemnity forms
5. Carrier dimensions
6. Pet and carrier weight
7. Route eligibility
8. Pet behaviour and condition
9. Captain acceptance, where applicable
Do not arrive at the last minute. Pet check-in can take time, and any missing document or carrier issue can disrupt the journey.
When Air India May Refuse Pet Travel
Air India can refuse pet travel in several situations, even when a booking request has been made. Your pet may not qualify for cabin travel when:
❎ The combined weight of pet and carrier exceeds the limit
❎ The passenger is travelling with an infant
❎ The passenger requires wheelchair assistance
❎ The pet is sedated or tranquillised
❎ The pet is pregnant
❎ The pet appears aggressive or unsafe
❎ The pet chews, damages, or tries to escape the carrier
❎ The carrier does not meet Air India’s requirements
❎ The route does not allow cabin pet travel
❎ Legal or destination-country requirements are not met
❎ The airline determines that carriage may inconvenience other passengers
Air India Pet Policy Rules for Connecting Flights
Air India permits pets on qualifying direct, transit, and connecting flights.
However, pets are not accepted as part of an interline transfer from another airline onto Air India under this pet process.
If you plan a connecting journey, you need extra care because approval at the first airport does not automatically approve documents for the next.
For Air India connections, the pet document checklist must be transmitted to the connecting station, captain acceptance is required again, and signed indemnity forms are needed for every flight segment.
Air India requires:
- Two indemnity-form copies for direct flights
- Four indemnity-form copies for connecting flights
For connecting travel, you should check:
- Whether all sectors are operated by Air India
- Whether pet charges apply separately per sector
- Whether the connection time is long enough for pet handling
- Whether the onward flight also accepts the pet
- Whether additional documents are needed for international transit or destination rules
Air India International Pet Policy: Key Route Restrictions
- Air India now offers cabin pet travel on eligible domestic and select international routes.
- Current international pricing and route rules include several destination categories, including parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Gulf, East Africa, Europe excluding the UK, and Israel.
- Pets in cabin are not accepted on every international route. Routes to the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are excluded from cabin pet travel.
- Ultra-long-haul flights also have exclusions. Pets travelling to the UK are currently accepted only as cargo through London Heathrow or Gatwick, while the service is unavailable at Birmingham.
- Air India also states that pets cannot travel in the cabin on flights departing India for the UAE, although cabin carriage may be possible on eligible flights departing the UAE, subject to destination regulations.
Important note: airline acceptance does not guarantee entry into another country. International pet travel also depends on destination-country import rules, AQCS requirements, vaccination timelines, permits, microchipping rules, and other official documentation.
Is Flying the Right Choice for Your Pet?
Air India’s Paws on Board policy is detailed enough to help pet parents understand the main rules before booking. The service offers pet parents clearer choices for cabin, checked baggage, and cargo, with defined charges, weight limits, documents, seating rules, and route restrictions. But the most suitable option still depends on the individual pet.
For cabin travel, even when the owner is nearby, the pet remains inside a closed carrier for several hours. Airport noise, crowds, waiting time, security checks, boarding, limited space, and cabin movement can all feel overwhelming to a dog or cat who does not understand what is happening.
For pets travelling as checked baggage or cargo, the experience can be harder. The pet is separated from the owner, has to stay inside the container, and is handled, moved, loaded, transported, and collected after landing. Even if airline systems are well-organised, the pet experiences only a closed container, noise, temperature changes, and being away from familiar touch and voice.
This does not mean air travel should never be chosen. For some healthy, calm, carrier-trained pets, a short flight may be manageable. But for anxious pets, senior pets, very young pets, unwell pets, heat-sensitive pets, flat-faced breeds, or pets who panic when confined, flying may be stressful even when the airline is considerate.
So, make the final call about flying as you would with any decision about your pet’s wellbeing: with your vet’s input if there is any doubt, and without assuming that approval and good intentions can make discomfort acceptable.
Before you finalise the booking, read: Does Your Pet Need a Vet Check Before Travel?
Air India Pet Travel Checklist
Before booking Air India pet travel, check:
✅ Is your route eligible?
✅ Is it domestic or international?
✅ Is your pet a dog or cat?
✅ What is the combined weight of pet and carrier?
✅ Does your pet qualify for cabin, checked baggage, or cargo?
✅ Are cabin pets allowed on your specific route?
✅ Do you have the correct carrier size?
✅ Are vaccination and health documents ready?
✅ Have documents been uploaded and verified?
✅ Have you filled out the indemnity form?
✅ Do you need extra copies for connecting flights?
✅ Have you confirmed charges per sector?
✅ Is your pet fit to fly?
✅ Have you checked destination-country rules for international travel?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Air India allow pets in the cabin?
Yes, Air India allows eligible dogs and cats to travel in the cabin on eligible domestic and select international routes, subject to weight, carrier, document, route, and airline approval. The combined weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 10 kg.
How much does Air India charge for pet travel?
For domestic India, Air India currently lists ₹7,500 for cabin pet travel up to 10 kg and ₹16,000 for pets above 10 kg and up to 32 kg. Charges are per sector and taxes may apply.
Can pets above 32 kg travel on Air India?
Pets above 32 kg must be booked separately as cargo with associated charges.
Can pets travel on Air India international flights?
Yes, Air India allows pet travel on select international routes, but not all routes accept cabin pets. Routes to the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK have important restrictions, and destination-country rules must also be followed.
Can I travel with a pet and an infant on Air India?
Air India does not allow a passenger travelling with an infant to carry a pet in the cabin. The pet may be considered for the aircraft hold, subject to applicable rules.
Can a wheelchair passenger carry a pet in the cabin on Air India?
A passenger requiring wheelchair assistance cannot carry a pet in the cabin under Air India’s stated restrictions. The pet may be considered for the aircraft hold, subject to rules and eligibility.
Are Persian cats and pugs allowed on Air India?
Flat-faced pets such as Persian cats and pugs may be eligible for cabin travel if they meet Air India’s rules, but brachycephalic pets are not permitted in the cargo compartment because of respiratory and temperature-related risks.
Can I sedate my pet before an Air India flight?
No. Air India prohibits sedated or tranquillised pets.
Can Air India refuse my pet after booking?
Yes. Air India may refuse carriage due to route restrictions, document issues, carrier non-compliance, pet behaviour, legal requirements, allergies, inconvenience to other passengers, or operational reasons.
Note: Air India pet policies, charges, and route restrictions can change, so always verify the latest rules directly with Air India before booking travel with your pet.
Image Disclaimer: Some images used in this article are AI-generated or digitally created for illustration purposes. They are meant to help explain pet travel situations and may not show exact airline interiors, airport procedures, carrier placement, or real Air India arrangements. Always follow the latest airline instructions and official pet travel rules.
