Flying Air India with a pet: cabin rules, carrier size and charges

Air India carries dogs and cats in the Economy cabin if the pet and its soft carrier together weigh 10 kg or less; heavier pets up to 32 kg go in the hold as checked baggage ¹². Within India the cabin charge is ₹7,500 per sector and the checked-baggage charge ₹16,000, plus taxes, as listed on 4 October 2026 ¹². You need a health and rabies vaccination certificate from a registered vet issued within 7 days of departure, the indemnity form, and a booking made at least 48 hours ahead ¹².

In the cabin: Pet plus soft carrier up to 10 kg, Economy only¹²
Cabin carrier: Soft kennel 17 × 10 × 9 inches (L × W × H), fits under the seat, no wheels¹²
Charge within India (seen 4 Oct 2026): Cabin ₹7,500 per sector; checked baggage (over 10 kg, up to 32 kg) ₹16,000; taxes extra¹²
Vet certificate: Health and rabies vaccination certificate, not older than 7 days on the day of departure¹²
Booking: At least 48 hours before departure; reach the airport 3 hours early¹²
Minimum age: 8 weeks for the cabin, 3 months for the hold¹

Cabin or hold: which applies to your pet

Pet + carrier weight	How it flies	Charge within India (seen 4 Oct 2026)
Up to 10 kg	In the Economy cabin, in the carrier under the seat in front of you ¹²	₹7,500 per sector, taxes extra ¹²
Over 10 kg, up to 32 kg	In the hold as checked baggage, in a hard carrier built to IATA standards; depends on the aircraft type ¹²	₹16,000, taxes extra ¹²
Over 32 kg	As cargo, booked separately ¹²	Cargo charges apply ¹

Documents to carry

Vaccination record or pet passport, with vaccinations up to date ².
Health and rabies vaccination certificate, signed and stamped by a registered vet, not older than 7 days on the date of departure ¹².
A health certificate saying your pet is fit to travel by air ².
Air India's indemnity form, downloaded from its pet FAQ and filled in: two copies for a direct flight, four for a connecting flight ¹².
Originals plus photocopies. They are checked at the check-in counter ¹².

How to book

Raise a request on Air India's Contact Support page and upload the documents. Once they are approved, customer support contacts you to make the booking. Airport and city booking offices can also book ².
Book at least 48 hours before departure. Later requests depend on time and resources ².
Connecting flights are allowed only if every leg is Air India, and each sector is charged separately ¹.
On the day, report at least 3 hours before departure. Passengers with pets get priority check-in and boarding ¹.

Carrier and cabin rules

Cabin carrier: a soft kennel of 17 × 10 × 9 inches (about 43 × 25 × 23 cm), leak-proof, ventilated on three sides, without wheels, that fits under the seat ¹².
One pet per carrier. Put the pet's name on a label on the carrier, an absorbent mat under the pet, and no food inside ¹.
A pet dog must be muzzled and on a leash in flight, and the pet stays in its carrier under the seat in front of you ¹.
Pets sit with their owner in Economy aisle seats at the back. Two pets in one cabin are seated at least five rows apart, and never in exit rows. The pet can't take a seat ¹².
Up to two pets per flight in the cabin. Each passenger can take one pet in the cabin and one in the hold ¹.

Who can't fly with a pet

Pregnant pets. Tell Air India if your pet gave birth in the last 48 hours ¹.
Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds can't go in the hold. In the cabin, Air India asks you to take your vet's advice first ¹.
Unaccompanied minors can't travel with a pet ¹².
Emotional support animals are not accepted ¹.
Don't sedate your pet before the health check at the airport ¹.

Check again before you book

Airline pet rules and charges change. These were read on airindia.com on 4 October 2026 ¹².

Not fully clear yet

Official sources disagree or leave gaps on these. Confirm before you rely on them.

Seat: the FAQ says pets sit in 'the aisle seats of the last row' ¹; the travel page says 'the aisle seats of the last five rows' ².
Wheelchair users and passengers with an infant: the FAQ says carrying a pet in the cabin is 'not recommended' ¹, while the travel page says they are 'not permitted' to ². Ask Air India customer support before booking.
Carrier size: under its section for pets over 10 kg, the FAQ also gives 46 × 46 × 30 cm as the maximum 'for carriage of pets in the cabin' ¹, which doesn't match the 17 × 10 × 9 inch soft kennel stated for cabin pets ¹². Use the 17 × 10 × 9 inch size for the cabin and confirm with Air India.
Air India says taxes apply on top of the pet charges but doesn't state how much ¹².

Last checked 4 Oct 2026. Facts checked against the official sources below by Thapki. Written with AI help from the sources below and checked against them line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves each page before it goes live.

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Sources

Pet travel FAQs: guidelines and requirements (read in a browser; the page blocks automated fetches) · Air India · seen 4 Oct 2026
Travelling with pets: guidelines and policies (Paws on Board) · Air India · seen 4 Oct 2026