1 hr ago
Airlines Expand Options for Travelling With Pets
More people want to take their pets with them when they travel.
Some airlines let cats and dogs fly in the cabin if they and their carriers are small enough.
Bigger pets may have to travel in the aircraft hold or as cargo.
Each airline has its own rules, and countries have separate rules for animals entering or leaving.
Owners may need vaccinations and paperwork before booking.
Travel advisers recommend checking the country’s requirements first and choosing direct flights when possible.
Some companies also offer private or shared flights designed especially for pets, but they can be very expensive.
Air India and Akasa Air accept cats and dogs, with cabin travel generally limited to pets weighing up to 10 kg including their carrier.
Air India charges Rs 7,500 for domestic cabin travel and Rs 16,000 for pets weighing 10–32 kg travelling as checked baggage; heavier animals go as cargo.
Akasa charges Rs 7,500 for cabin pets and about Rs 15,000 for pets in the hold, and allows up to three pets per flight.
Travellers must check destination-country entry rules as well as airline policies; some requirements, including vaccinations and documents, can take time.
Specialist charter operators such as BARK Air and K9 Jets offer pet-focused flights, generally at much higher prices than scheduled airlines.
- Who
- Pet owners, airlines including Air India and Akasa Air, and specialist pet-flight operators.
- What
- Airlines and charter companies are offering ways for people to travel with cats and dogs, subject to weight, carrier and travel-document rules.
- Where
- Air India and Akasa routes, international journeys, and specialist charter routes including New York–San Francisco and New York–London.
- When
- The article describes current airline policies and refers to selected BARK Air flights in 2026.
- Why
- Pet owners increasingly want to take animals on holidays or relocations, while airlines and travel providers respond to demand.
Arguments for taking pets along
Practical limits and concerns
Pets travelling with owners
Arguments for taking pets along
Some owners prefer bringing pets on trips or relocations rather than leaving them with neighbours or in boarding kennels.
Practical limits and concerns
Owners may decide against travel if their pet cannot fly in the cabin; airline weight limits, hold restrictions and destination rules can prevent or complicate a journey.
Choosing how to travel
Arguments for taking pets along
Pet-focused charter flights and airline pet services provide additional ways to travel with animals.
Practical limits and concerns
Specialist charter fares can be very expensive, and international journeys may require substantial documentation and planning.
Key facts
- Air India cabin limit
- Up to 10 kg, including the carrier, in Economy; carrier maximum 17×10×9 inches.
- Air India domestic fares
- Rs 7,500 in cabin; Rs 16,000 as checked baggage for pets weighing 10–32 kg including the crate; above 32 kg is cargo.
- Akasa pet rules
- Cats and dogs must be at least three months old; cabin limit is 10 kg including the carrier; up to three pets per flight.
- Akasa published fares
- Rs 7,500 for cabin travel and about Rs 15,000 for hold travel.
- Air India booking timing
- Cabin pet bookings should be made at least 48 hours before departure.
- Akasa pet traffic
- Dogs account for about 60% of its pet passengers; Bengaluru–Delhi–Bengaluru accounts for 13.66% of pet traffic.
- BARK Air example fares
- Around $7,450 for New York–San Francisco and roughly $9,900 for New York–London on selected 2026 flights.
Quotes
Sanjana Kapoor
New Delhi-based frequent flyer who travels with her Shih Tzu, Coco.
“Pets are no longer necessarily left behind with a neighbour or at a boarding kennel. They are increasingly coming along for the holiday and, of course, the relocation”
businesstoday.in
“Outsource the complicated documentation and airport handling, but not necessarily the entire move.”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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