Air India (AI) is India's flag carrier — Mochi has never been on one. They accept cabin pets on most domestic routes and select international ones, with the booking made 48 hours before departure. Snub-nosed breeds face hold restrictions, and India's quarantine framework adds complexity on international segments.
Air India's pet policy splits into cabin and cargo. This page summarizes the weight limits, fees, brachycephalic-breed restrictions, and carrier specifications for both modes — sourced from the airline's official pet pages.
How Air India treats your pet
Cabin policy
Hold policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Accepted in the hold | 95% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not accepted in the hold | 95% | |
| Pet + carrier max weight | 32 kg (incl. carrier) | 95% |
Cargo policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Not accepted in the cargo | 95% | |
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not accepted in the cargo | 95% | |
| Advance booking | Add to booking ≥ 48 h before departure | 95% |
Air India requires passengers to book pet travel at least 48 hours prior to flight departure. Use the call centre or Manage My Booking online. The per-flight pet count is capped, and same-day requests at check-in are refused. Bring the rabies vaccination certificate dated within the validity window and the Indian Animal Quarantine permit for international segments.
Air India bars snub-nosed and flat-faced breeds from the cargo compartment due to documented respiratory risk and temperature sensitivity in unpressurised hold conditions. Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Persian and Himalayan cats all fall in this group. The cabin lane remains open for those breeds when they fit the under-seat weight and dimension limits.
Frequently asked
- How many pets can I bring on Air India?
- Air India allows 1 in the cabin, per passenger. Each pet needs its own carrier.
- What is the cabin weight limit on Air India?
- In the cabin, your pet plus its carrier must not exceed 10 kg. Heavier pets (up to 32 kg) travel in the hold.
- Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly Air India?
- Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the cabin, not accepted in the hold.
- How far in advance must I book my pet on Air India?
- Add your pet to the booking at least 48 hours before departure — do it when you book the ticket, not at the airport.
- What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
- If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
- What happens if I forget a document?
- At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
Air India is a reasonable cabin pet carrier for India-origin routes when the booking is locked 48 hours out. Your plan answers two questions: does the pet fit the cabin under-seat dimensions, and is the breed on the brachycephalic list (cabin-only if so). International routes add the Indian Animal Quarantine layer — bake that into the timeline.
Glossary
- ISO chip
- ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
- FAVN
- Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
- Brachycephalic
- Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
- AVIH
- Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.