Not without our pets

Although a relatively novel concept in India, travelling with your pet can be quite pleasurable and is less daunting than it seems

Not so long ago, most pet parents would find themselves seeking boarding facilities or severely curtailing their travel plans. Not anymore. Thanks to the surge in pet-friendly hotels, resorts and homestays, holidaying with your pet in tow has become more accessible than ever before. In fact, a recent survey of more than 1,100 travellers conducted by TripAdvisor found that 53 per cent of respondents travel with their pets, and 52 per cent will only stay at pet-friendly properties. As for transporting your pooch to your destination of choice, pet parents have the choice of road or air. 

You can take your pet for quick hygiene walks during the train’s longer halts

Furry flights

If you are a parent, to a small breed or a younger dog or cat like this writer, you can have your pet accompany you in the cabin of the aircraft. However, only one airline (Air India) permits this and your pooch with the carrier must weigh a total of 5 kg or less. Heavier pets must travel in the cargo. In December, when we travelled with our three-year-old cat, Samosa, for a two-hour flight, we were fortunate that he met the weight restrictions and was eligible to travel inside the aircraft. The website contains all the criteria but it makes for a confusing read when it comes to the actual process of notifying them about the presence of your pet. Having spoken with the Air India office at Mumbai airport prior to booking our flight, we were informed about carrying our cat’s vaccination records and a fitness certificate from the vet. We then went through the regular online ticketing process and on the day of our flight, arrived four hours early at the airport. Here, the staff weigh your pet and carrier, check your documents and have you pay a small fee depending on the weight of the carrier and pet. Travellers carrying pets are not permitted any additional hand baggage — it helps to travel with a companion so they can carry your essentials. The final step is receiving clearance from the captain of your flight. This can take a while and we were asked to proceed through security in the meanwhile, receiving the final clearance only minutes before boarding. As a pet parent, we were the last to board and alight. We were assigned a seat on the last row of the flight and could not book a separate seat for our pet. If your flight is crowded, you will have to place your pet carrier on your lap or near your feet.  

Train tales 

Khyati Kale, a marketing professional, and her husband Denis Jackson, a sales professional, have been on several vacations with their two-year-old labrador, Buffy. “We had driven down to Kochi during the lockdown and decided to travel back to Mumbai in January 2020 by train. Bear in mind that to do so, you must book a train that has a first-class compartment and request a two-seat coupe. Ideally, you should only travel with your pet once your tickets and the coupé seating are confirmed. On the day before departure, you must submit a letter mentioning that you will be travelling with your pet to the station master of the station you will be departing from. Along with the letter, affix a copy of your confirmed ticket and a fitness certificate for your pet, from your vet,” says Kale. On the day of departure, Jackson recommends arriving at the station at least three hours in advance. “Go to the parcel office with your original documents, where your pet will be weighed and charged for a ticket accordingly. The ticket charges are quite nominal,” he adds. In case the coupé is not available, your pet can travel in the guard’s room or, if the other travellers have no objection, in the four-berth cabin as well. The couple also recommends booking a train journey in accordance with your pet’s daily routine, when possible. “We found that Buffy was much more comfortable when she boarded the train after she had cleared her bowels. On the train, we only fed her dry food and some bananas,” Kale explains. 

The travel checklist 

>> Since dogs and cats can experience motion sickness, acclimatise them with shorter excursions before undertaking a longer journey. 
>> Always carry absorbent pads to clear any mess. 
>> Feed your pet a few hours before their travel to avoid discomfort.

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