How to carry your pet on a flight: Rules and charges

Here’s how you can carry your pet on a flight:

Dogs permitted on almost all the flights with rules being different on different airlines, the major ones are Air India and Spicejet!

Rules for AirIndia:

Domestic pets such as dogs, cats, and birds permitted on Air India flights in the cabin or as checked in baggage depending on the regulations of the country of destination subject to the following conditions:

1. Properly carried in soft ventilated bags/kennel in the prescribed size. (kennel size not to exceed 18″ x 18″ x 12″).

2. The pet properly muzzled and leashed and the weight of the pet including the container should not exceed five kgs. Pet carried at an additional charge and not included in the free baggage allowance.

3. Valid health and rabies vaccination certificates.

4. Entry permits and other documents required by countries of entry or transit

5. Pet accepted at owner’s risk and Air India not responsible in the event of such pets refused entry into or passage through any country or territory.

6. The owner will be responsible for compliance with all governmental customs and health requirements, including quarantine arrangements at destinations.

7. The owner will assume all the risks of injury, sickness or death of the pet accepted for carriage.

8. A declaration indemnifying the airline obtained from the passenger.

9. The owner must ensure their pets meet the quarantine requirements. Pets subjected to quarantine at the destination at the owner’s expense. the quarantine period may vary and would be at the discretion of the vet authorities at the destination.

10. A trained dog or a service dog to assist blind or deaf passengers carried free of charge in addition to the normal free baggage allowance.

11. Maximum 2 animals- pets or service dog permitted per aircraft, with the concurrence of the commander.

12. Only one service dog per flight permitted.

Exceptions

1. For flights to/from via London – pets not permitted in the cabin or as accompanied baggage.

2. For flights transiting Middle East – live birds not carried as accompanied baggage either in the cabin or in the hold.

3. They permitted as accompanied baggage ex India to the Gulf.

Rules for Spicejet

SpiceJet carries live animals on the Boeing B737-800 and 900 series aircraft, only in the hold. We do not carry live animals on the passenger cabin.

Animals such as dogs, cats and other pets when properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates and other documents required for carriage by air, with the advance agreement of carrier, accepted for carriage, subject to Carrier’s regulations.

Domestic pets such as dogs and cats permitted on SpiceJet flights as freight, in the pressurized and temperature controlled area of the aircraft hold, subject to the following conditions:

1. Properly carried in a container/kennel which made of non-chewable material with smooth edges and properly ventilated in the prescribed size.

2. Pet accepted at owner’s risk and SpiceJet not responsible in the event of such pets refused entry into or passage through any territory.

3. The owner will be responsible for compliance with all governmental customs and health requirements, including quarantine arrangements.

4. The owner will assume all the risks of injury, sickness or death of the pet accepted for carriage.

5. A declaration indemnifying SpiceJet obtained from the passenger.

6. The owner must ensure their pets meet the quarantine requirements. Pets subjected to quarantine at the destination at the owner’s expense. The quarantine period may vary and would be at the discretion of the vet authorities at the destination.

Here are a few points to be followed with respect to Carriage of animals:

1. Note: SpiceJet policy prohibits certain aggressive breeds of dogs, hybrid dogs/cats, short-muzzled dogs, for transport by air.

2. Do not accept Females with suckling young and un-weaned animals.

3. Weaned puppies/kittens under 12 weeks not accepted.

4. Accepted on flights operated by Boeing aircraft only.

5. Do not use cabin to carry them. (Note: Service animals accompanying a disabled passenger in the passenger cabin do not fall under this category).

6. One passenger can carry a maximum of three containers / Kennels.

7. No Airline / SpiceJet liability in case of injury/death.

Security Requirements:

Scan all the animals with a Hand Held Metal Detector (HHMD) prior to acceptance for carriage by air as baggage/freight.

Container requirements:

1. The minimum container, packaging and handling requirements as published in the IATA Live Animals Regulations must be met. These regulations prescribe the materials.

2. The container should be escape proof, leak proof and of the proper size.

3. It should have ample ventilation.

4. The container must be strong i.e. not of chew-able material.

5. Each animal in the container must have enough space to turn about easily while standing and high enough to allow it to stand and sit erect and to lie down in a natural position.

6. Secure the cage properly.

7. Container made of non-chewable material carries the pets (Kennel size not to exceed 18″ x 18″ x 12″).

8. Two small pets of the same species and the same owner can share a container if they are between 8 weeks and not weighing over 10 Kgs each, or, a mother with offspring of fewer than 4 months.

Documents required:

1. Hence, Health certificate from a qualified veterinary doctor.

2. Moreover, Letter/certificate from the veterinary doctor stating the animal’s fitness for carriage by air.

3. Thus, Vaccination / Immunization record with Rabies vaccination date.

4. Hence, A declaration indemnifying the SpiceJet with the owner/passenger assuming all the risks of injury, sickness or death of the pet accepted for carriage, will be obtained from the passenger.

5. Thus, Other documents required, depending on local regulations.

6. Additionally, All documents must be in English unless otherwise specified.

To know more click here

For related post click here