Animals aren’t programmed to travel by air, yet at times they’re left with no choice. Neha Gupta Kapoor suggests a checklist before flying with your pet
If it’s your car, you’re free to take your pet with you on a road trip of your own accord, without much ado, ensuring its comfort at all times. However, when choosing alternative modes of transport, one must understand that even though some airlines and trains allow pets on-board, they weren’t built with them in mind.
Earlier this year in April, the internet was outraged at the demise of Simon, the 90cm (three-foot) giant bunny rabbit. Before boarding the flight, Simon had undergone a thorough check-up and received a healthy chit from his vet. Hence, the “mysterious” death of this animal came as a shock to many. To date the cause of Simon’s death remains unknown.
A couple of months prior to this incident, United Airlines was under the scanner for accidentally killing Janet Sinclair’s six-year old Bengal cat and five-year-old greyhound due to negligence. Sinclair was assured that her pets would be taken care of at all times during the journey from California to Massachusetts, including the layover at Houston.
However, on arriving at her final destination, she was mortified to see both animals’ cages covered in blood, faeces and vomit. The cat didn’t survive the journey, and the dog was critical. Sinclair says she had declined compensation offered by United. Later, she set up a Facebook page — United Airlines Almost Killed My Greyhound. To this day pet parents post their tragic stories there.
ARE AIRLINES SAFE FOR ANIMALS?
United States Department of Transportation (DoT) reported that from the data it collected from American carriers, there have been “26 animal deaths, injuries to 22 other animals, and no lost animals, for a total of 48 incidents” in 2016. It further goes on to state that last year, “5,23,743 animals were transported, for a rate of 0.92 incidents per 10,000 animals transported”. These are for the USA alone. Similar statistics for Indian airlines aren’t available.
Air travel is stressful for animals, and in some cases, it can be dangerous too. Though we may be assured of temperatures in the cargo hold being regulated to suit the animal, there is no way of checking on this. This adds to their discomfort. Animals are confused almost all the time during air travel, especially since they have no clue where their parent is or when they will be united. Moreover, being in a crate doesn’t help the situation either.
“Crate training is not done in India,” says Dr Srilakshmi Amirtheswaran, a dog behaviourist and trainer. “Even if you do crate train your pet, the experience in the house is very different from that in the actual situation. Animals aren’t prepared for the noise and crowd at airports, and air pressure is not something they’re accustomed to.” She adds, air pressure can be a tad bit much for animals to handle, causing respiratory and cardiac problems to name a few.
As for anti-anxiety pills, Amirtheswaran strongly advises against them for the simple reason that if the animal has any physical ailment, airline personnel would not be able to identify it as the animal would be in a drowsy state. She goes on to advise that though it may be wonderful to have your pet accompanying you on trips, it isn’t worth putting the animal through the stress it has to endure during air travel. When it comes to relocating, that’s a risk you must take if rail or road travel isn’t an option.
HOW TO FLY PETS?
Amongst Indian airlines, AirAsia India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara don’t allow pets on-board. A spokesperson for IndiGo justifies this rule saying that because of the fluctuating pressure in the cargo hold, it wouldn’t be fair for them to transport pets. The airline also doesn’t think the animals can endure air pressure in its passenger cabin.
AirAsia India and GoAir, however, allow service dogs accompanying people with disabilities in their passenger cabin. They must pay a full adult fare as they will be occupying a seat in the aircraft.
As for Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet, they have provisions to fly your pet in the cabin hold, unless:
- they’re below eight weeks old
- pregnant
- have unweaned offspring
Pets, except guide/service dogs who accompany the patient in the passenger cabin, are checked in as cargo. Their weight, along with the crate in which they are transported, is calculated within the check-in baggage allowance.
Indian airlines mandatorily follow IATA Live Animal Regulations, which insists that the crate/cage must be big enough for the animal to sit, stand and turn around in comfortably. Ventilation must be provided on all four sides of the crate.
Attach the feeding and water bowls to the crate’s door and include a pipe with it so authorities can feed your pet without having to open the door. Also, tie an extra feed to the crate with pet-sitting instructions, in case of delays. Make sure the floor pad/mat in the crate is absorbent.
Airlines also need a health certificate and a “fit to fly” certificate from your vet; in case of birds and rabbits, a letter from the wildlife department attesting that it isn’t an endangered species, is important. Most airlines have a list of banned animals and breeds on their website — these aren’t permitted on their aircraft. It is best to check with them before planning your trip.
As for international quarantine procedures for accompanying animals, airlines expect you to do your research on regulations at the departure airport, transfer point (if any), and arrival airport. For example, India doesn’t accept pets on tourist visas. Only if the pet is relocating here, can it enter the country.
In India, only dogs and cats are classified as pets. All other animals such as birds, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as rodents and rabbits are considered as cargo when being imported. In such case, owners need to verify that the animal being transported is not protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Other countries have similar laws and it is best to check the rules before planning your trip.
Even though you may have all the information on the airlines’ websites, always get in touch with the customer care personnel before booking your ticket to re-confirm:
- space availability in the cargo hold
- airline’s breed restrictions
- crate specifications
- costs involved
- address for pet check-in
- rules and regulations for flying pets
Once your tickets have been booked, contact the airline again to upgrade your ticket to one that confirms your pet’s place in the cargo hold. Just so you aren’t rushed, reserve at least 90 minutes before your check-in time to complete your pet’s check-in formalities, and comfort it before the journey.
TRAIN TRAVEL
Travelling by train is relatively less stressful than by air for any pet. The main reason for this is because you will be by its side at all times. Unless, of course, you don’t mind letting it travel in the luggage van — still, less severe conditions than any aircraft’s cargo hold.
Indian Railways insists you book an entire coupe (two berths) or cabin (4 berths) in AC First Class or First Class (Non AC) for yourself and your pet. This is if you want the pet to be with you at all times during the journey. However, if a fellow passenger objects to the accompanying animal in the same carriage, it will have to be moved to the luggage van.
Buying yourself a ticket for any other cabin class would mean packing your pet in a cage and having it placed in the break or luggage van. This will incur additional costs, based on the route you’re travelling and weight of the animal. It is imperative you contact the Railway Parcel Office at least 48 hours prior to the train’s scheduled departure to book the pet into the luggage van.
AIR INDIA
India’s national carrier allows dogs, cats and birds on-board its domestic flights, “subject to approval of the commander of the flight”. The weight of the pet including the container (maximum size 18-inch x 18-inch x 12-inch) should not exceed five kilos when travelling with you in the passenger cabin. Larger animals and birds are mandatorily put in cargo hold, except guide dogs. Each passenger is allowed to carry two pets. At the time of booking your ticket with Air India, you must book the pet as accompanied/excess baggage. airindia.in
JET AIRWAYS
The full-service airline permits domesticated dogs, cats, birds and rabbits on flights within India (except on ATR-operated flights); they need to be booked as accompanied baggage at least 24 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure. On international flights (except those to and from the UK) only dogs and cats (minimum age: four months) are accepted on-board and need to be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Of course, all of this is subject to space availability — maximum three pet containers on B737 aircraft and five pet containers on A330/B777 aircraft. jetairways.com
SPICEJET
The low-cost carrier will accept your pet only on its Boeing aircraft, and in the cargo hold — unless it is serving as a medical aide. On its website, the airline states: “Pet accepted at owner’s risk. The owner will assume all the risks of injury, sickness or death of the pet accepted for carriage.” It accepts dogs, cats and rabbits on domestic flights over three months of age. A maximum of three pets per passenger are allowed and they must be checked in at least three hours before departure at the SpiceJet cargo warehouse. On phoning the cargo office, I was informed that pets can be announced on the same day as your flight, subject to availability. SpiceJet doesn’t carry pets on international flights. spicejet.com
Service providers that help relocate your pet
- Furry Flyers: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm; tel: +91 98198 80222; furryflyers.com
- Pet Travel: office hours not specified; tel: +1 954 566-7300; pettravel.com
- Pet Fly: office hours not specified; tel: +91 98101 47810; petfly.in
