If you are a pet parent, the thought of travelling with your pet in India during the pandemic has surely given you some forehead creases. Read on to know how you can navigate the uncertain ways of how to travel with your pet In India during a pandemic with your pets in tow. By Ananya Bahl
Even under ‘normal’ circumstances, checking in your pet dog or cat in a plane is a stress-inducing thought. During uncertain times of an ongoing pandemic, most people are worried about travelling in general. So, if you were to add to it a dear pet’s safety, we are sure your fears would be compounded.
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Questions like “will my pet be safe?”, “can we travel on the same flight?”, “what are the new rules of pet transport?”, and several other “what ifs” are bound to be on your mind.
With your pet In India – What you need to know
From a macro perspective, Veneeta Rawat, Director, Amazing Vacations, sums it up for us. “Currently, only Air India and SpiceJet offer pet transport services on domestic flights. The pre-requisites include a NOC certificate from the owner, a vet’s certificate and a license. The tickets must be issued at the airport. It is good to cross-check the list of approved dog breeds with airlines before embarking on such trips,” she says.
To answer a couple of your questions — you can travel with your pets during the pandemic. Yes, some airlines let you do so safely. Now that we have addressed the main concerns let’s get down to the details.
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Pet Spot, a Gurgaon-based pet grooming and relocation firm, assists pet parents when it comes to travelling with their dogs and cats.
Since the first lockdown was lifted sometime in mid-May last year, they have helped transport many pets domestically. This includes both dogs and cats. “And this number only includes the direct transfers,” says Vizal Atheya, Owner, Pet Spot.
Now, what is a direct transfer? It’s the same logic that works for a flight. As we all know, flight frequencies haven’t returned to the pre-pandemic normal. Additionally, some routes have also been omitted for now. So, the previously possible bookings of a direct flight from destinations A to B might need connecting flights in the ongoing scenario.
Airlines do not offer transit flights for pets. If you want to travel with your pet In India,that’s where firms like Pet Spot step in.
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“We offer extensive services to cater to this need. Say you have to transport a pet from Guwahati to Bengaluru, but there are no direct flights. We board your pet on a flight from Guwahati to Kolkata or New Delhi, pick them up from the destination airport, arrange their lodging in that city until the next flight, and ensure they are well-rested and ready for the final flight to Bengaluru,” says Atheya.
She adds that her firm offers such lodging services only at major metro cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Another aspect to note is that previously, Air India allowed pets weighing below five kilograms to be taken into the flight as hand baggage. During the pandemic, however, animals are not allowed at passenger terminals, which rules out the possibility of them being categorised as hand or check-in luggage. Both Air India and SpiceJet offer pet transport via cargo.
The pet must be at least three months old and vaccinated along with a health certificate from a local vet that was issued not more than 48 hours before the travel time. The pet must also have a spacious and comfortable International Air Transport Association (IATA)-approved box to sit in for the duration of the flight. The cost of a ‘cargo ticket’ for a pet is calculated basis the volumetric weight and size of the kennel, and the weight of the crate with the pet in it. The prices vary for each sector.
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The railways allow dogs only in first-class compartments, and the pet parents must book an entire compartment in such cases. Sometimes, if you have the permission of fellow passengers, then you needn’t book the entire compartment. Pets are not allowed in chair coaches and second-class compartments. In general, the railways are following the same pre-pandemic rules. You can go through the details on the IRCTC website.
If you are still apprehensive about air travel with your pet, take a leaf out of Gyro’s book. This adorable German shepherd made his way with the Pet Spot team from Jorhat to Hyderabad during the pandemic last year. His journey included travel by road from Jorhat to Guwahati and then to New Delhi by flight where he had to wait for three days for a flight to Hyderabad. Upon landing in Hyderabad, it still took a two-hour drive for him to get to his destination. But, he did, safely. And no pandemic could ruin this canine companion’s thirst for wanderlust! To contact Pet Spot, call Vizal on +91 9811133950 or write at vizal@petspot.in
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on #IndiaFightsCorona for all the latest travel guidelines.
