Foreign trips are the best way to discover new places. They help the traveler gather a broader perspective and worldview he is unaware of. Regarding traveling, each traveler has his own likes and dislikes, means and ways, and penchant for things. Each one has his own different travel itinerary. There are certain prerequisites that need to be completed before planning a holiday or a visit to a foreign country. And if ever a pet accompanies the person, another dimension to travel is added. The passenger needs to take into consideration the travel expenses of a dog or a cat on an international flight. Air India has a dedicated pet policy regarding carrying pets aboard flights from USA to India. There are certain do’s and don’ts that one needs to adhere to while flying with pets.
Traveling plans with a pet?
The work profile of the people or professional requirements demands a trip within a country or sometimes to a foreign country as well. People travel alone sometimes and sometimes with loved ones and friends as well. Each type of travel entails a different set of planning that is required before a scheduled visit. And travel planning and the procedure take a whole new dimension when one intends to travel with a pet to a foreign destination.
READ ALSO: Important Points To Consider Before Flying With Your Pet To India
It is often time-consuming to go through the instructions issued by different airlines regarding Pet travel policies but in the end it is necessary that you read and follow diligently the pet travel policy of the airlines. The owner of the pet is often bothered with the queries such as the safety of the pet during the flight, the paperwork that is required, the cost of air travel with the pet. It is immaterial whether one is traveling by air India, Lufthansa or Etihad or any other carrier, one should always adhere to the pet traveling policy.
It is of paramount importance to understand the pet policy of the airlines. If a pet is accompanying you and you wish to travel by Air India on your flight tickets to India then this article is for you. You need to complete certain documentation and paperwork beforehand for the transportation of dogs or cats, as it involves a very tedious process. One needs to comply with the stipulated regulations by reading the airline’s pet policy thoroughly.
How should I travel with my pet on flights from USA to India? Can a pet be taken to Air India? Is the pet comfortable and safe in the ecosystem of the flight? These are some of the questions that bother travelers who wish to carry pets on flights along with them. Air India strictly enforces rules and procedures in its international pet policy.
There are two types of policies that Air India has, one is the policy for the carriage of pets on domestic flights and another is the policy for the carriage of pets on international flights.
The policies are discussed here for your hassle and tension-free travel with your pet
- The pets should be in a proper crate and should be having valid health and vaccination certificates. Air India allows pets that meet the standards, including dogs, cats, and household birds, on its international flights.
- The policy for the carriage of pets on international flights states that the carrier will provisionally accept entry permits and other required documents for entry or transit, subject to the carrier’s norms and regulations.
- Passengers who want to export or import pets as part of their baggage to or from India must adhere to regulations.
- The animal quarantine and certification service(AQCS) in India provide a no-objection certificate or pre-import clearance in case one wishes to travel with the pet. It is mandatory that the passengers obtain these certificates from the body concerned even before the onset of their travel plan.
The below-given information is of paramount importance to supplement your understanding of Air India’s travel policy about pets.
There is one more important point and restriction even if a passenger has obtained the clearance and permission certificates from the Animal quarantine and certification service(AQCS) in India. The restriction allows transportation of pets only from the following six airports, and not from any other destination. The airports are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Air India’s pet policy states that you can only enter and exit pets from these airports.
The pet policy requires passengers to ensure that they properly crate their pets and have a health certificate issued by the country of origin. The health certificate is mandatory because it is proof that the pet is free from infectious and contagious diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis. When the pet owner has complied with all the rules and procedures pertaining to the pet carriage policy only then the airline staff will facilitate the transport of the pet.
- Flights from the USA to India allow a maximum of two pets or animals as checked baggage. Each aircraft permits one service dog with appropriate health documentation and a no-objection certificate, and all flights adhere to this rule.
- Normally, a pet or animal must receive mandatory rabies vaccination within the last 12 months before the scheduled flight. If pets are less than one year old, the vaccination must occur within the month before the flight schedule.
- You should clearly mention the pet owner’s name on the health certificate, and it should match the name details on the air tickets to establish ownership. Moreover, the passenger’s booking reference should state that he/she will travel with the pet.
- Please bear in mind that the carriage of the pet will not fall under the free baggage allowance even if the passenger might not have any other baggage except for guide/service dogs. Moreover, the pet owner needs to pay an additional charge for the pet they are transporting. The charges are based on the rule of weight. The more the weight more the charges. Count the weight of the pet, including the container and carried food items, as the total weight for pricing purposes.
You can bring a trained service dog into the cabin as a pet, provided it wears a muzzle, remains leashed, and carries complete documentation regarding pet import regulations. Furthermore, the above process requires approval from the flight’s captain. Air India’s staff will not be responsible if they refuse entry to the pet into the passage.
Lastly, Air India doesn’t have any provision to transport emotional support animals on its flight. Another important point to note: Airlines do not allow the transport of pets in the cabin on ultra long haul flights. A deaf or blind person may bring a service dog into the cabin for companionship and assistance.
Tripbeam hopes that the above article has cleared out the ambiguous air surrounding the pet policy of Air India and now you can plan accordingly in case you wish to take your pet with you.
