Hi all, i followed this group for help before our travel from San Francisco-EWR-Delhi-Bengaluru relocation with pets and decided to share our experience.
We started on 19th April in the wee hours from Lodi California to San Francisco by car, took United and reached Delhi on 20th night with a 12.5 hr time difference. After 2 nights stay in Delhi we came to Bengaluru by Akasa Air on 22nd night. There’s a lot that we learnt, lot that we could have anticipated in advance but above all both our dogs arrived here hail and hearty and doing very well adjusting in the current environment.
I started training my dogs in September 2025, i used Roverlund and Mr Peanuts to train initially, moved on to Katziela luxury Lorry with wheels from Roverlund as it is all mesh and one of my dogs has claustrophobia, the other one did well in the Mr Peanuts.
At the check-in counter United didn’t even look at the pet carriers. We had bought an extra seat which helped i guess. The maneuvering at the airport was super easy, but after security checkin there was no pet relief area. My pups didn’t poop or pee from 3.30 am 19th till 11 pm on 20th, our total travel was 21 hrs plus 3 hrs at San Fran, 3 hrs at EWR and close to 2 hrs on the road. I would have worried less if they could poop or pee during such a long journey. I did put belly bands but they remained dry.
The immigration, red channel and green channel were all very smooth and easy for us in India, out vet in Lodi and Airpets in India took care of most of our requirements.
If i have to do a long travel with my dog again, i would try and restrict my anxiety from rubbing on them, ensure i take them walking leaving every other chore until they have their system cleaned and not hold poop and pee for 31 hrs.
All the best to all pet parents who are preparing or about to fly to a new place, may you have a smooth and safe journey. Those traveling to India from US, let me know if you have any questions for traveling with pets in Cabin.