Are you a pet parent who loves to travel? But does the idea of leaving your fur babies behind make you feel nauseous? I know this is a dilemma faced by many of us including me. But in recent news, Akasa Air has been making headlines as they introduced a new policy allowing pets on the flight.
Before this, even thinking about booking the tickets for our pets was such a hassle, let alone going through the actual process of documentation. So, we decided to delve further into the recently launched Akasa Air Pet travel policy to make your vacation an enjoyable experience.
Which Pets Are Allowed To Travel By Akasa Air?
Now, you must be like, thank god! No more leaving your pet fish behind with the neighbor. Well, you will have to think again because this pet policy is only limited to domesticated dogs and cats. Good news for them right?
Authorities have distributed the pets into three different categories of travel that are in-flight, in-baggage, and in-cargo. It is specified according to their weight. Let us have a look in more detail:
Pets Below a Weight of 7 kg
For the pets that are below a weight of 7 kg including the weight of their crate or container, they are permitted to travel with their parents or guardians in-flight cabins. So what happens is that your pets that are in the crate are allotted a cabin. A cabin is a place where passengers are supposed to keep their baggage and is located just above their seats.
In the category of pets below 7 kg, dog breeds like Chihuahuas, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, etc, and cat breeds like Munchkin, Siamese, Cornish Rex are eligible to travel in-flight cabins. There are a few things that you need to take care of while selecting the container as well:
- The size of the container should not exceed 18 x 13 x 13 inches and make sure the container is IDA-approved because it is mandatory.
- You have to place a label on the container specifying what kind of pet you have (dog/cat).
- If you have a pet dog, it should be muzzled properly. I know your dog must not like it, but it is what the guidelines say.
- Place a moisture-absorbent mat inside the container in case your pet needs to pee.
- Sadly, no food items are allowed inside the container, not even doggy treats.
So make sure to plan a visit to your vet and get all the specifics checked because you do not want your dog to be bumped into the cargo category without any prior notice.
Pets Within the Weight of 7-32 kg
For those who have big fur babies, you will have to endure the entire duration of the flight without them as they will have to be in the cargo compartment of the flight. But again no worries because they will be well taken care of by the crew.
- Make sure that your pet does not exceed the 32 kg weight limit including the weight of the crate.
- Stick a label on the crate specifying the kind of pet and their breed.
- Place a water container and a water-absorbent mat inside the crate as well.
Pets Above The Weight of 32 kg
In case your pet weighs more than 32 kg then the tickets will have to be booked as per the cargo regulations and the carriage should be dropped off at the cargo terminal of the airport. The weight of the pet including their crate should not exceed 100 kgs. There are a few things you need to take care of:
- The size of the crate should not be bigger than 28 x 28 x 36 inches. Ensure that you buy the crate from a trusted source because it should be very rigid with a secure door lock.
- The crate should be spacious enough for your pet so that it can stand, turn around, and lie down properly.
- Like everything else, there should be no food items inside the crate but you can place a water container for your pet.
- A label showing the type of your pet should be stuck on the container as well.
Which Pets Are Not Allowed To Travel?
- If you are a parent to a pug or a bulldog, then sadly you will not be able to fly with them. Akasa Air does not allow brachycephalic dog breeds, in simple words, dogs that are snub-nosed or flat-faced are not permitted on flights as they might start having respiratory problems in the cargo compartment.
- Puppies and kittens that are below the age of 3 months and pets that are more than 4 weeks pregnant are not allowed.
- If you have a child accompanying you along with your pet. Then your pet needs to be carried in the cargo compartment only.
- Each passenger is allowed to carry a maximum of 2 pets. Where 1 pet can be in-flight cabin and other in the cargo compartment.
How to Book Tickets?
The procedure to book tickets for their pet’s travel with Akasa is quite streamlined. The ideal time for booking is at least 72 hours before your flight. This is when you can convey your intention of taking your pet along to the staff available.
The tickets for your pets can only be booked through the Akasa Care Centre on +91 9606 11 21 31. The number is available around the clock or you can visit the airport and talk to the staff there in person as well.
Keep in mind that bookings cannot be through a travel agent or any website. We are a little unsure of the pricing. However, the airlines have mentioned that the price of booking the tickets for their pets will be according to the normal baggage rates. To know more, about the pricing, you can call their customer care number.
Things To Keep in Mind:
- Akasa Air’s pet travel policy states that booking will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis. So make sure to book your tickets at least 48 hours in advance.
- No more than 72 hours prior to flying, visit your veterinarian. Obtain the proper health and vaccination certificates to ensure that your pet is in good health and vaccinated.
- Airports are busy places where dogs can get easily agitated, so train your dogs to be on a leash.
- Also, Akasa Air has made it mandatory for the pet parents to sign an indemnity form which exempts the airlines from any loss, injury, or death of pets on a flight.
Wrapping up
Well, this was all to the Akasa air pet travel policy. I know being a pet parent, it gets difficult to make travel plans. Talking about travel, if you are planning on visiting Manali anytime soon then you must plan your stay at the White Musk Resort. This luxurious resort is completely pet-friendly.
Seeing those sad puppy eyes, you do not want to leave your pet behind and have fun without them. So, I hope this article was helpful in easing your anxiety about leaving your pet behind. Also, we will keep updating you if there is any new information on the same.