Emma here, back with another color-coded tab. Air India Express earned a rare green cell in my sheet: dogs travel in the hold, which is more than a lot of carriers offer. Luna, naturally, judged me for even researching cargo holds she'll never see. If you fly a larger dog, this is one of the few airlines that says yes on paper, and the numbers below back it up.

Air India Express'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 Express handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Hover the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

In the hold / cargo Accepted
Snub-nosed breedsNot accepted

Cabin policy

One-way fee250 USD“$20 off a $250+ pay-now hotel rate with promo code PAWTY Home Air Travel Air India Express Air India Express No Reviews Share Share Website Website Air India Express is a low-cost airline based in Kochi, India”
Minimum age8 weeks“Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to travel in the cabin and 3 months or older to travel in the cargo hold.”
Advance booking notice48 hours“For reservations of pet in cabin (under 10 kg), passengers must book their travel at least 48 hours prior to the flight departure.”
Sedation allowed Yes“Pet travel categories by weight: Up to 10 kg – In the cabin with you (Economy) 10- 32 kg – Must be booked separately as checked baggage/cargo Over 32 kg – Must be booked as cargo Pet in Cabin travel b ensitivity.”
Carrier size10 cm“Container requirements A soft kennel of 17x10x9 inches [LxWxH] is allowed. It must be leak-proof, secured, ventilated on 3 sides, and without wheels.”
Crate must have/bea carrier“Container requirements A soft kennel of 17x10x9 inches [LxWxH] is allowed. It must be leak-proof, secured, ventilated on 3 sides, and without wheels.”

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Accepted“No Reviews Share Share Website Website Air India Express is a low-cost airline based in Kochi, India. Pets are not permitted to travel in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as cargo on Air India Express flights. Visit…”
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yes“Cabin eligibility: Domesticated dogs and cats are eligible for cabin travel. Cargo restrictions: Snub-nosed or flat-faced breeds (brachycephalic) are not permitted in the cargo compartment due to the increased risk of…”
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)32 kg“with you (Economy) 10- 32 kg – Must be booked separately as checked baggage/cargo Over 32 kg – Must be booked as cargo Pet in Cabin…”
Hold: Crate must have/beabsorbent liner, a carrier“Use a familiar blanket and absorbent mat inside the container and walk your pet before heading to the airport. Hard case carrier as per IATA container guidelines is required Car”
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yes“Cabin eligibility: Domesticated dogs and cats are eligible for cabin travel. Cargo restrictions: Snub-nosed or flat-faced breeds (brachycephalic) are not permitted in the cargo compartment due to the increased risk of…”
Cargo: Minimum age8 weeks“Additional travel requirements: Pets must be 8+ weeks old. Pregnant or sedated pets aren't allowed.”
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hours“For reservations of pet in cabin (under 10 kg), passengers must book their travel at least 48 hours prior to the flight departure.”
Cargo: Crate must have/beIATA-compliant, a carrier“At the airport for pet travel Report 3 hours before departure with required entry documents; review AQCS , US CDC , and IATA Program & Policy for more details.”

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yes“Health certificate stating that the pet is fit to travel by air Certificate must be issued within 7 days before departure or as per the rules of the destination state/country.”
Health certificate validity7 days“Certificate must be issued within 7 days before departure or as per the rules of the destination state/country.”
Health certificate valid within days · Health certificate valid within days7 days“Health certificate stating that the pet is fit to travel by air Certificate must be issued within 7 days before departure or as per the rules of the destination state/country.”
Cabin pets under 10 kg require booking at least 48 hours before departure. Reserve the pet space no later than 48 hours ahead of the flight. Do not wait until check-in to add the animal. Confirm the cabin slot at booking, not at the airport. Missing the 48-hour cutoff removes cabin eligibility for that flight.
Snub-nosed and flat-faced breeds classified as brachycephalic cannot travel in the cargo compartment. Check the dog against the brachycephalic list before booking hold travel. Choose an alternate route or carrier for banned breeds. A brachycephalic dog will be refused at the cargo hold. Verify breed eligibility rather than assuming any dog qualifies for the hold.

Frequently asked

Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly Air India Express?
Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the hold.
How much does it cost to fly a pet on Air India Express?
On flights within Metropolitan France, Air India Express charges from 250 USD in the cabin, one way per pet. Longer routes cost more — price your exact itinerary.
How far in advance must I book my pet on Air India Express?
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.
The one-way cabin pet fee is 250 USD. Budget 250 USD for each direction of travel. A round trip therefore costs 500 USD in pet fees alone. Add this amount on top of the passenger fare. Pay the 250 USD charge per one-way segment, and account for both legs when comparing total trip cost.
So the spreadsheet verdict: Air India Express is workable, but the fees and the 48-hour rule reward the prepared. I keep a printed copy in three places now, and you should too. Rather than eyeballing my tabs, build a personalized plan for your exact route, breed, and dates with Pawgo's plan-builder. It does the cross-checking so you can spend the energy on the actual trip.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Air India Express →

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.