Search "how to travel with pet in India" and you will get a wall of generic advice — pack water, bring a leash, talk to your vet. None of it tells you the one thing that actually decides whether your dog flies with you or gets left behind: every Indian airline has a genuinely different policy, and a few of them contradict each other across the internet. This guide compares what each airline actually allows, in cabin and in cargo, with real 2026 numbers — and is honest about where the information itself is still unsettled.
Is it safe to fly with a dog in India?
Generally yes, for healthy adult dogs of normal build, on short-to-medium domestic routes. The two real risk factors are brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds in cargo — Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, and similar breeds face genuine respiratory risk in unpressurised or poorly climate-controlled holds, which is why airlines restrict or refuse them in cargo specifically — and very long international cargo routes with multiple transfers. For most dogs flying domestically in the cabin or as checked baggage, the bigger practical risk is paperwork and timing mistakes, not the flight itself.
Airline-by-airline: what's actually allowed
- Air India — cabin up to 10 kg (pet + carrier), cargo/checked baggage above that, up to 32 kg as baggage
- Vistara (now merged into Air India) — cabin up to 5 kg, cargo for heavier pets, select routes only
- Akasa Air — conflicting information exists; see the dedicated note below
- IndiGo — cargo only via IndiGo CarGo, no cabin pet option as of 2026
- SpiceJet — cargo only, booked through SpiceJet's cargo desk
Air India — the most pet-friendly mainstream option
Air India's "Paws on Board" program is the most developed pet policy among Indian carriers. Pets under 10 kg (including the carrier) can fly in the cabin, seated in the last-row aisle seats of economy, with a maximum of two pets per flight and at least five rows separating pets travelling in the same cabin. Pets between 10–32 kg travel as checked baggage in an IATA-compliant hard crate; above 32 kg, they go as manifest cargo. Bookings must be confirmed at least 48 hours before departure, and brachycephalic breeds are not accepted in cargo at all, though some may still fly in-cabin with veterinary clearance. Domestic cabin/cargo charges are roughly ₹7,500 flat for in-cabin travel and around ₹16,000 for checked baggage, though airlines do revise these periodically — always confirm the current fare when booking.
Documents needed: pet passport or equivalent, up-to-date vaccination record, a signed and stamped health and rabies certificate from a registered vet, and indemnity forms. Pets must be at least 8 weeks old, and pregnant or recently-delivered pets are not accepted.
Akasa Air — the one to call directly before booking
IndiGo and SpiceJet — cargo, not cabin
Neither IndiGo nor SpiceJet currently offers a cabin pet option. IndiGo moves pets exclusively through IndiGo CarGo, its dedicated cargo arm, in the pressurised belly hold. SpiceJet routes pet bookings through its cargo department directly, with 24–48 hours advance notice recommended. Both require a health certificate, vaccination records, and a signed declaration at check-in.
Cabin vs. cargo: which should you choose?
What you actually need at the airport
- Health and fitness-to-fly certificate from a registered vet, typically required within 7–10 days of travel (confirm your specific airline's window)
- Up-to-date vaccination record, including rabies
- An IATA-compliant carrier — soft-sided for cabin (fits under the seat), hard-shell for cargo/checked baggage
- A pet not sedated before the flight — sedated pets are refused by every major carrier under IATA guidance
- Arrival at least 3 hours before departure if cargo/checked baggage is involved
Flying internationally with your dog from India
International pet travel adds AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Service) clearance on top of airline requirements, plus the destination country's own import rules. Some sectors — flights to the US, Canada, UK, and Australia on Air India, for instance — only accept pets as cargo, not in-cabin, regardless of weight. Pets are not permitted at all on flights departing India and landing in the UAE in the cabin — this catches people out specifically because it's not symmetrical with the return direction. Always check both the airline's policy and the destination country's import requirements separately; meeting one doesn't guarantee the other.