India’s Pet Culture Is Growing Up
We’re not alone in this journey. In fact, millennials and Gen Z now make up 65–66% of pet parents in India, and 70% of them are first-timers, according to a Mars Petcare survey. Pet parenting isn’t just about food and walks anymore. Indian households now spend around ₹50,000 a year on pet care, with premium food, grooming services, medical care, and accessories becoming part of the norm. The pet-care industry is set to grow from $1 billion in 2022 to $2.5 billion by 2025. And interestingly, much of this growth is coming from Tier II and III cities, where online pet product sales have doubled in FY2025. In short, India is in the middle of a pet-care revolution. We’re no longer treating animals as property or background noise—they’re family, and we want the world to treat them that way too. So, it honestly didn’t surprise me that Akasa Air—a young, forward-thinking airline—was ahead of the curve. What did surprise me? How easy, seamless, and genuinely enjoyable they made the journey.Flying with My Dog Mia on Akasa Air: Mumbai to Delhi
We recently flew from Mumbai to Delhi with Mia, and from start to finish, the experience was far from the nightmare I had imagined. In fact, it was the kind of travel moment that made me feel like India might finally be getting it right for pet parents. Akasa isn’t just allowing pets on board—they’re welcoming them. Their “Pets on Akasa” program doesn’t feel like a checkbox—it feels like someone on the team actually knows what it’s like to travel with a pet.How I Booked Mia’s Flight on Akasa Air
Booking Mia’s ticket on Akasa was surprisingly easy and pet-parent friendly.
📨 Contact Akasa for Booking
I called the Akasa Air Care Centre at +91 9606 11 21 31 and also emailed pets@akasaair.com. The team responded quickly and shared a list of documents they needed to reserve Mia’s seat.
📋 Share Documents in Advance
- Vaccination certificate
- Fit-to-fly certificate from our vet
- A photo of Mia’s carrier, along with its measurements
💳 Pay & Enjoy Perks of Pet Travek
Once the documents were verified, they sent me a payment link. The fare for Mia was ₹7500, which included:
- A pre-booked window seat
- Priority check-in
- Priority baggage handling
- Early boarding
🖱 You can also find detailed instructions and forms here: 👉 Pets on Akasa – Official Guidelines
At Mumbai Airport: Smooth from Start to Finish
I expected stress, but the Akasa team made it effortless.
- Staff were warm and welcoming — even excited to meet Mia!
- They checked her documents and weighed the carrier with zero fuss.
- One staffer smiled and said, “We get more pets than you’d think!”
At security, I carried Mia through while her carrier was scanned. She was calm, and honestly, I think she could sense we were going on an adventure.
In-Flight with Mia: Peaceful & Thoughtful
Akasa provides priority boarding for pet parents and reserves a window seat by default, which was such a relief.
Mia’s carrier fit comfortably under the seat in front of me. She was close enough that I could check on her, and I whispered to her a few times through the mesh to keep her reassured.
The flight crew even checked on us mid-air. It didn’t feel awkward, performative, or like we were an inconvenience. It felt… normal. And that meant everything.
The Pet Carrier We Used (And Recommend!)
After researching several cabin-approved pet carriers, we went with the KIKA Goldfinch Airline Approved Pet Carrier — and it worked out perfectly for Akasa’s cabin travel requirements. It’s soft-sided, breathable, and fits easily under the seat. Mia was comfortable the entire journey, and I loved that it had both side and top openings, which made airport checks and in-flight comfort much easier to manage. Highly recommend if you’re flying with a small dog or cat! Amazon Link: Click Here
