Pets Up To 10 Kg Now Allowed To Travel In Cabin On Air India Flights

Travel plans often get complicated the moment pets enter the picture. For many pet parents, flying with their fur babies is a tough choice due to long separations, costly pet boarding, or stressful cargo travel. Against this backdrop, Air India has quietly introduced a major change. The airline has updated its pet travel rules under its "Paws on Board" programme, making the process clearer, faster, and far more pet-friendly. Instead of complicated approvals and long waiting periods, the new policy focuses on ease and predictability.

Pets Join You Inside The Cabin

Under the revised rules, cats and dogs weighing up to 10 kg, including the carrier, can now travel inside the economy cabin on selected Air India flights. This applies across both domestic and international sectors.

Shorter Notice, Faster Decisions

One of the biggest relief points is the reduced booking timeline. Earlier, pet travel requests had to be made at least 72 hours before departure. This has now been cut to 48 hours. Bookings will still be confirmed only after document checks, but the process is designed to be simpler and quicker.

Routes Where The Rule Applies

The policy covers more than 80 routes across India and abroad. These include key destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. To ensure comfort inside the cabin, Air India will allow only two in-cabin pets per flight. Pets must be at least eight weeks old. Pregnant, sedated, critically ill, or medically unfit animals will not be accepted for travel.

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Seating And Onboard Rules

Pets travelling in the cabin will be seated in the last row, aisle seats of the economy class. This allows the cabin crew to monitor them easily during the flight. Pets must remain inside their carrier at all times, placed under the seat in front. Emotional support animals fall under separate rules, depending on the destination country's regulations.

Carrier Rules To Keep In Mind

Air India has clearly defined what kind of carrier is allowed in the cabin. It must be soft-sided, leak-proof, well-ventilated and secure. The maximum permitted size is 17x10x9 inches. Hard-case carriers are not allowed in the cabin. Pet parents are advised to use absorbent pads and ensure their pets are comfortable staying inside the carrier before flying.

What About Bigger Pets?

Pets weighing between 10 kg and 32 kg, including the carrier, will travel as checked baggage. These pets must be placed in an IATA-approved hard-case crate. Animals weighing over 32 kg will only be accepted through Air India Cargo services. Some long-haul routes may still restrict in-cabin pet travel due to aircraft layout or country-specific rules, so passengers should always check details while booking.

Clear And Fixed Charges

The airline has also standardised fees under the "Paws on Board" programme, removing confusion around costs.

For in-cabin travel:

• Domestic flights: Rs 7,500
• Short-haul international: $140 (approx. Rs 12.5K)
• Medium-haul international: $160 (approx Rs 14.3K)

For checked baggage travel:

• Domestic flights: Rs 16,000
• International flights: $350 across all routes (approx Rs 31K)
• Once confirmed, these charges are non-refundable.

Also Read: "Watched This 10 Times": Internet Gushes At Well-Behaved Cats Boarding A Plane To Paris

How To Request Pet Travel

Passengers must contact Air India's customer support or booking office at least 48 hours before departure. Required documents include vaccination records, a fit-to-fly certificate and any necessary permits.

With clearer rules, shorter notice periods, and in-cabin access for small pets, Air India's updated "Paws on Board" programme could make flying with cats and dogs far less stressful.