Air India Now Allows Pets Up To 10 Kg To Fly In-Cabin Under New ‘Paws On Board’ Policy
The updated rules simplify in-cabin travel, reduce booking time and introduce clearer weight and carrier guidelines for pet parents across 80+ routes.
Air India has rolled out a major upgrade to its pet travel policy, allowing small pets weighing up to 10 kg — including their carrier — to travel inside the cabin with their owners. The new rules apply to more than 80 domestic and international routes, making the airline one of the few in India to permit in-cabin pet travel on such a wide scale.
Under the revised policy, eligible pets will be accommodated in the last-row aisle seats of the economy cabin, with a maximum of two pets allowed per flight. The carrier must be soft, ventilated, leak-proof and within the airline-approved dimensions. Pets older than eight weeks are permitted, while pregnant, critically ill or sedated animals are not allowed to fly.
For pets that weigh between 10 kg and 32 kg with their carrier, Air India will allow travel as checked baggage in an IATA-approved hard-case crate. Pets exceeding 32 kg will only be accepted as cargo. Some long-haul or certain international routes may also restrict in-cabin travel due to aircraft configuration or regulatory requirements.
One of the key changes is the reduced confirmation window. Pet bookings must now be finalised at least 48 hours before departure — down from the earlier 72-hour requirement — and are subject to document verification. The airline has introduced these upgrades under its new programme, ‘Paws on Board’, aimed at offering greater convenience and transparency for pet parents.
Fees have also been standardised. In-cabin travel will cost ₹7,500 on domestic flights, while the charges for international routes range from $140 to $160 depending on the flight duration. Pets travelling as checked baggage will be charged ₹16,000 on domestic routes and $350 internationally. All charges for pet bookings are non-refundable.
With these updates, Air India says it hopes to make journeys “better when your furry companions are part of your journey,” offering pet owners a more accessible, clearly defined and pet-friendly flying experience.
