Air India carries domesticated cats and dogs in three ways: in the Economy cabin if the pet and its soft kennel weigh up to 10 kg (22 lb), as checked baggage from 10 to 32 kg, and as cargo above 32 kg. Cabin fees run from INR 7,500 within India to USD 140 to 225 on most international routes, and checked pets cost USD 350 internationally. The catch for US travelers: Air India's own page says it is currently unable to carry pets into or out of the USA, Canada or Australia in the cabin or as checked baggage.
That last point is the one most guides miss, and it changes the plan for anyone moving a pet between India and the United States. This guide follows Air India's Travelling with Pets page and pet travel FAQ as read in October 2026. Air India has been changing its pet program quickly since launching "Paws on Board", so confirm your route with Air India before you plan around it.
Air India pet rules at a glance
The table sets out how Air India carries pets by weight.
| Rule | In the cabin | Checked baggage | Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (pet plus carrier) | Up to 10 kg | 10 to 32 kg | Over 32 kg |
| Container | Soft kennel, 17 x 10 x 9 in | Hard IATA-compliant carrier | Per cargo rules |
| Minimum age | 8 weeks | 3 months | Per cargo rules |
| Fee, within India | INR 7,500 | INR 16,000 | Quoted by cargo |
| Fee, international | USD 140 to 225 per sector | USD 350 | Quoted by cargo |
| Snub-nosed breeds | Allowed, vet check advised | Not allowed | Not allowed in the cargo hold |
| USA, Canada, Australia | Not available | Not available | Ask Air India |
The US, Canada and Australia restriction
Air India's page says that, because of destination restrictions and operational reasons, it is currently unable to transport pets into or out of the USA, Canada and Australia in the cabin and/or as checked baggage. Its cabin fee table repeats that pets in cabin are not allowed on flights to America, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, and it adds that pets are not carried in the cabin on ultra long haul flights at all. For the UK, pets travel only as cargo through London Heathrow and Gatwick, not Birmingham.
So if you are moving a dog or cat between India and the US, Air India's passenger pet service is not the answer right now. The usual route is a pet relocation agent who books manifest cargo, often on a carrier connecting through Europe or the Middle East, timed so the pet arrives at a US airport that meets the CDC rules for India. Ask Air India's cargo team whether its own cargo service is open for your dates, and get the answer in writing. Our guide to pet transport from India to the US covers the alternatives.
Cabin rules
Only domesticated cats and dogs can travel. A pet in the cabin must weigh no more than 10 kg (22 lb) including its soft kennel, which can be no larger than 17 x 10 x 9 inches, leak-proof, secure, ventilated on three sides and without wheels. The pet must be at least 8 weeks old, not pregnant and not sedated. Each passenger can bring one pet, and Air India allows at most two pets in the Economy cabin per flight. Pets travel only in Economy, and owners are seated in aisle seats in the last rows, with at least five rows between two pets in the same cabin.
Some passengers cannot take a pet in the cabin: unaccompanied minors, passengers who need wheelchair assistance, and passengers travelling with an infant. In those cases the pet may go in the hold instead, subject to the usual rules.
Cabin fees by route
Air India charges per sector, so a connecting trip pays for each flight. The published cabin fees are:
- Within India: INR 7,500.
- Oman, Turkey, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait: USD 140.
- Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka: USD 140.
- Mauritius and Kenya, Hong Kong and China, Japan and Korea: USD 140.
- Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia: USD 140.
- Europe excluding the UK: USD 140.
- Israel: USD 160.
- UAE and Singapore: USD 225.
Pets can fly in the cabin on flights departing the UAE, subject to destination rules, but not on flights from India to the UAE. Taxes are extra, and the service is non-refundable and non-transferable unless Air India itself stops the pet from flying in the cabin.
Checked baggage
Pets weighing 10 to 32 kg with their carrier must be booked separately as checked baggage or cargo, in a hard carrier that follows IATA container guidelines. The published fees are INR 16,000 within India and USD 350 on short-haul and medium-haul international routes (Asia, the Middle East, SAARC countries, Europe excluding the UK, and Israel). After check-in, staff take the pet to the aircraft, and you collect it in its carrier near the baggage belt on arrival. Air India notes this service depends on aircraft type, so ask when you book. Above 32 kg, the pet must travel as cargo.
How to book
You request pet travel through Air India's contact support page by uploading your documents, or at an airport or city reservation counter. Once the documents are approved, customer support contacts you to create the booking. For cabin pets, book at least 48 hours before departure; requests inside that window depend on time, resources and destination rules. On the day, report to the airport 3 hours before departure with all original documents and entry paperwork.
Documents
For domestic flights Air India asks for a pet passport or vaccination record, a health and rabies vaccination certificate signed and stamped by a registered vet, and a fit-to-fly health certificate issued within 7 days of departure (or as the destination requires). You also need Air India's indemnity form: two copies for a direct flight and four for a connecting trip. International travelers need all of that plus every entry permit or import licence the destination and transit countries demand. Air India verifies originals at check-in.
Snub-nosed breeds
Air India does not carry brachycephalic (snub-nosed or flat-faced) dogs and cats in the cargo compartment, because of their higher risk of breathing problems and heat stress. They can travel in the cabin if they meet the 10 kg limit, and Air India advises a vet check first. See our guide to the snub-nosed dog breed flying ban for why airlines treat these breeds differently.
When Air India can refuse a pet
Air India can refuse a pet for safety or security reasons arising from the kennel; for breaking laws, regulations or state orders; if the owner does not comply; if the kennel size or pet's age is wrong; if the pet is sedated, tranquilized or pregnant; if the animal is aggressive or tries to chew or destroy its cage at check-in; if the animal is banned by local law; or because of inconvenience to other passengers, including allergy risk.
Connections
Pets can fly on direct, transit and connecting flights, but only Air India to Air India and only on sectors where pets in the cabin are allowed. Air India does not accept pets transferring from other airlines. When you connect, the origin station sends a completed pet checklist to the connecting station, the captain of the next flight must accept it, and you need a signed indemnity form for each segment. If you connect from Air India to a different airline, that airline's pet rules apply. See connecting flights with a pet.
Who Air India's pet service suits best
Right now, Air India's pet program is strongest for travel within India and on shorter international routes. A family relocating from Delhi to Bengaluru with a small dog, or flying Mumbai to Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok or a European city with a cat under 10 kg, can book a cabin seat for the pet at a published price. Air India says Paws on Board covers more than 80 domestic and international routes. Larger dogs on those same routes can travel as checked baggage up to 32 kg, as long as the aircraft can take them and the breed is not snub-nosed. Long-haul moves to North America and Australia are where the service currently stops.
Planning an India to US move without Air India
Most India to US pet moves now run through a relocation agent who books the pet as manifest cargo and handles the AQCS export clearance, the USDA or CDC paperwork, and the arrival airport. The airline is usually a European or Gulf carrier that accepts pets on that route, with a connection in a hub such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London or Dubai. Each airline sets its own rules, so check them directly, starting with guides such as our Emirates pet transport and Lufthansa pet transport pages, and expect the total cost to be several thousand dollars once agent fees, crates, vet work and cargo charges are added. Our guide to international pet shipping cost breaks down where that money goes.
Moving a pet within India
For domestic flights, the paperwork is lighter but still strict. You need the vaccination record, a rabies certificate signed and stamped by a registered vet, and a fit-to-fly certificate issued within 7 days of the flight, plus two copies of the indemnity form for a direct flight. Book the cabin pet at least 48 hours ahead through customer support, upload the documents, and wait for confirmation. With only two cabin pets allowed per flight, popular routes and holiday dates fill up, so book as soon as you have your own ticket.
A checklist before you book
- Weigh the pet in its soft kennel; stay safely under 10 kg for the cabin.
- Measure the kennel against 17 x 10 x 9 inches, and remove any wheels.
- Confirm the route is open for pets, and that no leg is an ultra long haul flight.
- Check the breed is not snub-nosed if the pet must go in the hold.
- Get the vet certificates within the 7-day window and print the indemnity forms.
- For international trips, line up AQCS clearance and the destination's import permit first.
India's import and export rules
Air India reminds travelers that any pet entering or leaving India needs a No Objection Certificate or pre-import clearance from India's Animal Quarantine and Certification Service. Pets can be imported or exported only through Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad, and only through the airport named in your permit, so a permit from the Delhi office means landing at Delhi. Your pet also needs paperwork from its country of origin showing it is free of diseases such as rabies, distemper and leptospirosis. Our guide to pet transport to India walks through the AQCS steps from the US side.
The US side for dogs
India is on the CDC list of countries at high risk for dog rabies. Dogs entering the US from India must meet the CDC rules for high-risk countries, which depend on whether the dog's rabies vaccine was given in the US or abroad and can require a titer test, a CDC-registered animal care facility reservation, and arrival at a specific US airport. Build these into the timeline before booking any flight, because a titer test and its waiting period can take months, and the CDC paperwork must be filed before the dog leaves India.
Tips for a calmer trip
Air India's own advice lines up with what vets recommend. Get your pet used to its carrier a few weeks ahead with short sessions and treats. On travel day, give a light meal and water about two hours before putting your pet in the carrier, add a familiar blanket and an absorbent mat, walk your dog before leaving, and remove the leash before closing the carrier. Do not use sedatives or tranquilizers. Carry dry food in a sealed container in your cabin bag, along with a leash and harness for after landing.