How do you travel with pets on a domestic flight in India?
Take your pet to a vet before the scheduled flight so that it can be checked, vaccinated and given a health certificate
The Expert: Dr. R. T. Sharma, president of the NGO Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
Airlines do not allow pets that are below 8-12 weeks old, pregnant animals and females with unweaned offspring to fly owing to health and safety reasons. 70  Travel Secrets May-June 2014
THEEXPERT
I have been dealing with animals for years now and the one concern I hear pet owners repeat is the complication of travelling with pets, particularly on domestic flights. Each time they fret about this, I assure them that it’s not as difficult as it seems. In India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet and Air India allow pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits and certain domesticated birds on board. IndiGo allows only service animals required by people with disabilities for assistance. I suggest you contact the airline well in advance and check with them if they will accept your pet on the day and flight of your preference, since rules can vary greatly from carrier to carrier. Spice Jet, for instance, allows pets only on its Boeing flights. The basic protocols are fairly similar across the three carriers. Pets can either be booked as manifesto cargo, in which case the pet does not necessarily travel on the same flight as you, or they can be booked as excess baggage, wherein they are transported in the cargo hold of the same aircraft that you are flying. You are charged on the basis of how much your pet weighs and how much space or surface area it occupies. Some airlines charge a flat fee per container—it’s currently Rs 5,000 per cage on Jet Airways. Payment can be made along with your own booking, and most airlines take pet bookings only on the phone, not online. You are required to crate your pet in an IATA- approved container that gives your pet enough space to stand, lie down and turn around comfortably. The container should be well ventilated and clearly labelled, with a proper lock system.
Dr. R. T. Sharma A leading pet practitioner in Delhi, Dr. Sharma has been running his own pet hospital & boarding shelter for the last 20 years. He is also the president of the Small Animal Veterinary Association.
It is very important to take your pet to a vet before the scheduled flight so that it can be checked, vaccinated and given a health certificate (valid for 10 days). Having said that, airlines do not allow pets that are below 8-12 weeks old, pregnant animals and females with unweaned offspring to fly owing to health and safety reasons. Snub-nosed dogs, for example, can have breathing problems at an altitude. Some aggressive breeds such as mastiffs and bull dogs are also not allowed to fly. Let the crew know if your pet requires any special care. On long-haul flights or those with stopovers, request that your pet be looked up before takeoff or during the halt. Provide essential medication to the crew if your pet has certain sensitivities or suffers from epilepsy, arthritis or cardiac arrest. With the right preparation and caution, your pet will enjoy a cool and happy flight!
Dr. Sharma spoke to TS Correspondent to Sarita Santoshini
May-June 2014 Travel Secrets 71