Travelling Across India with a Dog

An epic tale of how we tried to fly somewhere far away — and almost succeeded

Yes, you might say — what could be better than enjoying the gentle sea, sunshine, and the chirping of peacocks and parrots?

Well... clearly, you’ve never been to Kerala.

Because the local sea is as gentle as a tax inspector on Monday morning.

The ocean here lives by its own laws: calm and quiet in the morning, and by lunchtime it can rise up in waves three to five meters high — the kind that make even local fishermen pause and double-check their boat insurance.

And the water? It’s like a silent film actor's mood: one day crystal clear, like a glossy postcard from a Maldivian beach, the next — murky, as if someone stirred it lovingly with a shovel full of sand.

In general, the sea here is like life itself — vivid, chaotic, and best admired from a safe distance.

So there you are, sitting on the beach, scratching your dog behind the ears, and suddenly you realize: enough lounging. It's time.

Time for the Grand Journey.

Where to? Doesn’t really matter. Delhi? Mumbai? Bangalore? Even Chennai will do.As long as it’s far from the waves, the predictable coastal beauty, and the slow village rhythm where each day blends with the next like two unsweetened cups of tea. And closer to the places where they serve wood-fired pizza even for breakfast, brew beer from imported European malt, and, for heaven’s sake, pour actual whiskey. Where you can sit with a shisha, gaze at the city lights, and dive for a few hours into civilization — loud, bright, and just slightly insane.

India, after all, was made for journeys — big and small, purposeful or spontaneous.

And all would be well — for India seems tailored for such escapes — if it weren’t for one small thing.

That “thing” is named Shanya.

Also known as Shining Diamond Lekato Venus.

A Norwich Terrier, who instantly turns every trip into a quest. And in India? That means a quest inside a quest wrapped in unpredictable weather, layered in bureaucracy, and occasionally garnished with incense.

### Travel options with a dog in India:

- Bus — not an option. There are no clear regulations for pet travel, and chances are high your dog won’t be allowed on board. Also, not all buses have air conditioning, and the ticketing system is as confusing as it is spiritual.

- Taxi — expensive but possible. A driver is much more likely to agree if your dog has the kind of gaze that makes flowers bloom in their heart. But in Kerala, it’s a long and winding road. Very long. We’ll write a separate chapter on this.

- Rental car — same as a taxi, but with route restrictions, mileage limits, and a constant sense that someone from the “You’re Not Using This Vehicle Correctly” department is watching.

- Train — only first class, and only if you book the entire compartment. Finding such tickets is a quest in itself — especially if you're planning to travel this month.

- Plane — fast and available. In India, only two airlines officially allow dogs in the cabin: Air India and Akasa Air. The rest either don’t allow pets at all or only transport them in the hold.

We tried Akasa once… and it felt like dealing with a meditation guru: lots of promises, some murmured intentions, and then complete silence.

So we turned to Air India.

A company with clear pet travel policies and, surprisingly, understandable instructions (current link — https://www.airindia.com/in/en/newsroom/articles/Air-India-s-guide-to-traveling-with-pets.html). It used to be much vaguer, but hey — things are changing.

We bought tickets from Trivandrum to Delhi and called their customer service 72 hours in advance to report a fluffy passenger. The staff was delighted and enthusiastically told us to visit their office to sort everything in a “proper ceremonial setting.”

The office… was closed.

No worries — we called the call center again. They calmly replied: “Then please go to our other office — at the airport.”

Alright. We went there. Waited. Finally, someone showed up. Their advice? Just show up with the dog four hours before your flight. Everything will be handled there — and by “everything” they meant waiting for the captain to decide whether we fly or not. Also, we must pray no one else shows up with a pet.

We asked why the call center said one thing and now we’re hearing another.

Blank stares. No explanation.

They repeated: “Bring a carrier, vet certificate, and that’s it. We don’t have scales here anyway.”

Kerala, my friends. A place where rules are bendable and logic takes the afternoon off.

We got the certificate, packed our terrier into the carrier, and headed to the airport — 3.5 hours before the flight. The flight hadn’t even been announced yet. The army officers at the airport waved at us and blew kisses at Shanya. But when asked about the Air India staff that was supposed to be waiting for us? They shrugged: “Why so early?”

Two hours before departure — check-in opened. We approached. “Wait,” they said.

Half an hour later, a man appeared with a stack of papers. He looked at us and said: “Wait.”

He asked a few questions, filled in a form, and then suddenly asked, “Where’s the muzzle?”

We showed him their website, which didn’t mention one.

He showed us his paper. And asked again.

We played several rounds of this bureaucratic ping-pong. Eventually, he said, “Okay… we’ll wait for the captain.”

We sat. We waited.

Turns out, someone had messaged the captain on WhatsApp — and we were all just sitting around waiting for him to read it.

Permission granted.

We flew.

The flight was great. In Delhi, people were friendly and cheerful. But the process repeated.

This time, we had a muzzle. And we arrived 2.5 hours early. But the same dance resumed — office says go to airport, airport says come on the day. Everything is handled “later.”

In the end, we boarded last. Again.

Conclusion?

Yes, you can fly with your dog in India.

Yes, Air India really allows pets in the cabin.

Yes, it works.

But prepare for it to work… differently.

This is India. Here, the rules are governed by a curious blend of persistence, patience, and peaceful resignation. ✈️ Update: August 2025

We flew with our dog from Trivandrum to Delhi and back — and for the first time ever, everything went smoothly. Yes, really!

The algorithm on Air India’s website has finally started working as promised, and the whole process was fast, painless, and almost enjoyable (minus a bit of confusion at the check-in counter, but we’ll take it!).

Here’s how it works now:

• 🎟️ You book tickets for a convenient Air India flight.

• 📞 No later than 72 hours before departure, you call the Air India call center and inform them you’ll be traveling with a dog.

• 👂 The operator walks you through the rules and requirements.

• ✅ You confirm that all requirements have been met.

• 📝 The operator marks it in their system and informs you that you must arrive at the airport no later than 3 hours before departure.

And that’s it. From there, everything goes according to plan — aside from a bit of confusion from staff during check-in, and the usual time spent explaining what’s what.

📎 Link to official rules and guide on Air India’s website