No airline nod for cat’s travel, pet parent’s Pune flight plan derailed
Times of India | 12 September 2024
Kolkata: Frequent flyer Michu, a two-year-old feline resident of Jadavpur, missed her latest air travel and vacation to Pune on Monday, because the airline, which especially caters to pet parents, failed to approve her travel. This is the first time Michu has thwarted her septuagenarian owner’s travel plans.
Retired bank official Nirmalya Bhattacharyya, who is also the vice-chairman, Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, West Bengal, has to travel across the country, given his engagement with the national organization, headquartered at Vivekananda Rock, Kanyakumari.Michu has always accompanied him. “As I live alone and have no one to look after my cat when I am away, the best option is to take her along even if it means paying an extra Rs 7,500 or so.” On Monday, the two were due to fly to Pune, where Bhattacharyya’s son and daughter live. They would have returned to Kolkata on Sept 21.
“I have travelled with Michu by Air India and other airlines. For a change, I decided to try Akasa Air as they seemed to have specialisation in handling pets on flights. But I was disappointed. Despite exchanging several emails, as required by the airline, to pets@akasaair.com, Michu and I could not fly on the scheduled date,” Bhattacharyya said. “I had sent several documents on my cat, as required, over the past 10 days. The mandatory clearance for a pet’s travel was supposed to be released 48 hours ahead of the flight.” But he did not get one and had to cancel his trip. The airline has deducted Rs 5,000 for the cancellation.
“Michu fulfilled all the criteria specified by the airline. She weighs 5 kg (less than the stipulated 10 kg),” Bhattacharyya said. Michu’s carrier also matched the airline’s guidelines. Bhattacharyya had to attach photos of the carrier, with a measuring tape, showing the plastic box was within the required dimension of 18×10×10 inches. He also sent a photo of the brochure of the pet carrier transport box, published by the company from which it was procured. Last but not the least, the “fit to fly” certificate from his vet was also furnished.
When contacted by TOI, an Akasa Air official sought Bhattachryya to resend all the emails so that they could be forwarded to the department concerned. “We are looking into the matter. We may refund the money,” he said.