Yes, you can travel with a pet in India: Indian Railways lets dogs travel in a first class compartment or a dog box in the brake van, and Air India and Akasa Air carry cats and dogs on domestic flights, each with its own limits and paperwork. Whether it's a Diwali trip home from Mumbai or a move to another city, the rules change from train to plane and from airline to airline. This guide to travelling with pets in Indian Railways and on domestic flights sets out what the official pages say, so pet parents can plan ahead. Rules change, so always check the latest version before booking.
Key Takeaways
On trains, dogs can go in AC First Class or first class with the agreement of fellow passengers, or in a dog box in the brake van (Indian Railways page last updated September 2023).
Dogs are not allowed in AC sleeper, AC chair car, sleeper or second class coaches.
Air India and Akasa Air both take cats and dogs in the cabin up to 10 kg (Air India counts the carrier), with different booking and certificate deadlines.
See your vet before any trip, and crate train your pet well in advance.
Can I Travel With My Pet on a Train in India?
Yes, you can travel with your dog on a train in India, in an AC First Class or first class compartment if fellow passengers agree, or in a dog box in the brake van. Indian Railways, the national rail network, says in the luggage rules on its passenger enquiry website: "A passenger traveling in First Air condition class or first class may take a dog into the compartment only with the concurrence of fellow passengers on payment of charges".
If fellow passengers later object, the page says the dog "will be removed to the Guard's van, no refund being given."
Other classes are off limits: "Dogs are not allowed to be carried in ACC Sleeper Coaches, Acc chair car coaches sleeper class and second class coaches." The page also says:
"The dogs must be provided with Collars and Chains."
"Owners should make their own arrangements for food and water for the dog during the journey."
The page, last updated in September 2023, covers dogs only and has no rules for cats. Reports suggest pet booking rules have changed, but we could not confirm this from an official source, so check the current rules with Indian Railways before booking a dog or cat.
What Is the Price of a Dog Ticket in a Train in India?
The Indian Railways rules page gives no fixed rupee fare for dogs; it charges them at luggage rates based on a set weight. Dogs are charged "at Scale 'L'(luggage Rates)" with "a minimum charge of Rs.10/- per dog, charges being Prepaid". The weights used are 30 kg for the dog box and 60 kg for a passenger compartment. Check the current charge before booking.
Can I Book a Ticket for My Dog?
Yes, and you must, because the charges are prepaid and unbooked dogs cost far more. Under the same rules, "Dogs detected unbooked will be charged at six times the Luggage Scale Rate subject to a minimum of Rs.50/-". Ask Indian Railways how to book your dog and what it costs now.
Which Airlines Allow Pet Travel in India?
Air India and Akasa Air both publish pet policies that allow cats and dogs on domestic flights. When we checked on 29 October 2026, we could not find a pet policy in IndiGo's conditions of carriage, FAQs or special assistance pages, and SpiceJet's information pages would not load, so ask those airlines directly before booking.
Can I Bring My Pet on an Air India Flight?
Yes, Air India carries cats and dogs on domestic flights, in the cabin or in the hold. Air India, a full-service Indian airline, says in its pet travel FAQs that it allows "domesticated cats and dogs on board our domestic and select international flights in the passenger cabin or the aircraft hold as checked baggage, subject to approvals by Air India."
Key limits (checked 29 October 2026; check before booking):
Cabin weight: "The combined weight of the pet and the carrier must not exceed 10 kg / 22 lb to travel in the cabin."
Hold: heavier pets go as checked baggage, and over 32 kg combined "they must be carried as cargo."
Age: "Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to travel in the cabin and 3 months or older to travel in the cargo hold."
Booking: "The booking must be made at least 48 hours before departure for the carriage of pets in the cabin."
Carrier: "Only a soft kennel of 17x10x9 inches [LxWxH] is permitted."
Dogs: "A pet dog must be muzzled and on a leash in flight."
Passengers must "report at least three hours prior to departure".
Does Akasa Air Allow Pets in the Cabin?
Yes, Akasa Air, an Indian low-cost airline, takes cats and dogs in the cabin on domestic flights. Its Pets on Akasa page says the service "is available for cats and dogs aged 3 months or older".
Its limits (checked 29 October 2026; check before booking):
"In cabin with guest- Maximum up to 10 kgs."
"Check-in at airport - Maximum up to 32 kgs"
"two pets can be carried in the cabin and one in the cargo compartment"
A cabin container that does "not exceed" 19 x 12.6 x 10 inches (L x W x H)
"Booking your pet's travel at least 24 hours before your flight is mandatory"
What Are the Flight Charges for Pets in India?
When we checked on 29 October 2026, Air India listed INR 7500 for a pet in the cabin on a domestic flight and INR 16,000 for a pet as checked baggage within India, charged per sector, with taxes on top. Akasa Air's page does not state a fee. Check before booking with either airline.
What Documents Do I Need to Fly With My Pet in India?
You need a recent health certificate and vaccination record from a registered vet, and the deadline depends on the airline. Air India asks for "a valid health and rabies vaccination certificate, not older than 7 days prior from the date of departure (duly signed and stamped) from a registered veterinarian", plus its indemnity form. Akasa Air says the certificate "must be obtained within 72 hours of travel" and is "valid until 15 days from the date of its issuance." Check both before booking.
Check your pet is up to date with our dog and cat vaccination schedule for India.
How Do I Prepare My Pet for Train or Flight Travel?
Prepare your pet by seeing your vet, crate training early and planning around heat. The AVMA, the US vets' professional body, sets out most of these steps in its guide to travelling with your dog or cat.
1. Book a Vet Check
"Schedule a veterinary examination to ensure your pet is healthy enough for travel," the AVMA advises. The PDSA, a UK vet charity, agrees in its tips for travelling with pets.
2. Get Your Pet Used to the Crate
The AVMA says to "help your pet get used to the crate or carrier in which they will travel". The American Kennel Club's guide to crate training a dog says dogs "must form positive associations with it".
3. Choose a Safe Crate
For the hold, the AVMA says a crate must let the pet "stand (without touching the top of the cage), sit up, turn around, and lie down comfortably." It warns that "Defective crates or carriers are the most common cause of escaped or injured animals during air travel."
4. Plan Around the Heat
"During warm weather months, choose early morning or late evening flights," the AVMA recommends. Our guide to summer pet care in India covers heat safety.
5. Pack the Essentials
The AVMA's packing list includes "Proof of vaccination (especially rabies) and copies of relevant medical records", a leash, food and water bowls, and "Water, in case there is none available at a stop".
6. Talk to Your Vet About Stress
The PDSA notes that "Many pets can find changes in routine, environment and travelling stressful." Never give your pet any calming medicine without your vet's advice: the AVMA warns that such medicines "can increase the risk of heart or respiratory problems and generally are not allowed by airlines." For gentle ways to settle a nervous pet, read our guide to calming an anxious dog or cat.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Taking a dog into a sleeper or chair car coach.
Boarding with an unbooked dog.
Getting a health certificate outside your airline's deadline.
Using a crate your pet has never been inside.
Giving a pet calming medicine without your vet's advice.
When to Call a Groomer or a Vet
Call a vet, not a groomer, before any trip and whenever your pet seems unwell during or after one. Air India says pets "must be free from clinical signs and symptoms of infectious and contagious diseases".
Should You Groom Your Pet Before or After a Trip?
Either works: a groom at home before or after a trip keeps your pet clean without adding another car ride to a busy travel week. FurDial's groomers come to your home across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar: no cage, no car ride, and every groomer has 5+ years of experience.
For dogs, The Clean Aesthetic (₹1,699, about 90 minutes) includes a deep conditioning bath, a blow dry, a brush out, nail clipping and filing, and ear, paw and eye cleaning. For cats, The Glow Up (₹1,199, about 45 minutes) is a dry bath with waterless shampoo or foam, plus ear, eye and paw cleaning. Prices include GST, with no travel charge, and only pets with up-to-date core vaccinations can be groomed. If your pet is anxious after travelling, mention it in the booking note; the groomer may pause or reschedule if that is safer. See all grooming packages and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Snub-Nosed Breeds Fly in India?
On Air India they can fly in the cabin but not in the hold, and Air India asks you to seek your vet's advice first; Akasa Air's page does not say. Air India says brachycephalic breeds "are not allowed to be carried in the cargo compartment". The AVMA says short-nosed pets are "more at risk than others of overheating or breathing problems during travel".
Can My Pet Sit on My Lap During an Air India Flight?
No. Air India says "your pet must always be in the container and placed under the seat in front of you."
Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed on Air India?
No. Air India states: "No, emotional support animals are not allowed on Air India flights."
Final Thoughts
Travelling with a pet in India takes planning: book your dog on the train and pay upfront, check each airline's weight limit, booking deadline and certificate rules, and start crate training early. Rules change, so check the official page again before you book.
Back home and want your pet fresh without another trip out? Book a FurDial groom at home.