Flying with your pet in India
Air India and Akasa Air take dogs and cats in the cabin up to 10 kg including the carrier. IndiGo, by recent reports, carries only guide dogs. Several popular guides get this wrong, so each cell below links to its source.
| Airline | In cabin | Cabin fee | Hold / checked | Hold fee | Min. age | Booking | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air India | Yes, up to 10 kg incl. soft carrier, Economy | INR 7,500 per sector | Checked baggage 10 to 32 kg; cargo above 32 kg | INR 16,000 per sector | 8 weeks | At least 48 hours before departure | Verified 20 Oct 2026 |
| Akasa Air | Yes, up to 10 kg incl. carrier | Rs 7,500 (reported) | Yes, above 10 kg | About Rs 15,000 (reported) | 3 months (reported) | Confirm with Akasa | Reported, confirm |
| IndiGo | Guide dogs only (reported); disputed | n/a | Not offered (reported) | n/a | n/a | Call IndiGo | Sources conflict |
What every airline asks for
- A health or fit-to-fly certificate from a registered vet, issued shortly before travel (Air India: within 7 days; Akasa: valid up to 15 days).
- Rabies vaccination record.
- A carrier that meets the airline's size rules: soft and under-seat for the cabin, hard IATA-style kennel for the hold.
Snub-nosed breeds such as pugs, Shih Tzus and Persian cats are refused in the hold on Air India. If yours is over the cabin weight limit, talk to your vet and the airline before booking.
Moving abroad? Start with the route guides; international rules are stricter than airline rules.