When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand their pet policy. These policies vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to know the answers to all your questions before making your decision to fly your pet on any commercial airline. Does Air Mauritius allow pets on my route? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on Air Mauritius? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for Air Mauritius? All your answers related to Air Mauritius pet policy are answered below.
Note: It is important to mention that the pet policy of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policy of the airline that owns the route. This is important to note because if the operating airline changes during your trip, then you will likely need to claim and recheck your pet on the next airline. This will cause you to clear customs and enter the layover country. You will need time and extra documentation to accommodate this process during the layover unless flying domestically.
Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines
- In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
carrier stowed under the seat. - Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
- Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? No
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? Yes
Where is Air Mauritius based?
Air Mauritius [IATA:MK] is based out of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. in Mauritius. Most layovers within Air Mauritius‘s network will occur in this airport.
What countries does Air Mauritius fly to?
Air Mauritius offers service to pets to the following countries: France, India, Italy, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Réunion, South Africa, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Air Mauritius Pet Policy – In Cabin
With the exception of trained service dogs, Air Mauritius does not offer service to any live animals in the cabin.
Service dog pet policies
All service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge. They must be trained by a person or organization that specializes in service dog training to provide specific tasks for a person with a disability.
Service dogs must be suitably marked, harnessed and leashed. They must fit in the space provided at their passenger’s feet without intruding on cabin operations or other passengers. They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew.
Air Mauritius Pet Policy – Checked Baggage
If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, or it is a pet other than a cat or dog, it will be transported as checked baggage on Air Mauritius if it is flying with an adult passenger. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
Live animals are checked in by reservation employees and are checked in at the airport terminal. The airline will move your pet between aircraft in their fleet during layovers if the layover is not over about 3 hours in length.
Pets flown on Air Mauritius as checked baggage
Dogs, cats, household pets and other animals are permitted to fly on Air Mauritius as checked baggage. Larger pets, reptiles and rodents must fly as air cargo.
Age requirements
To comply with requirements to import a pet to Mauritius, pets must be a minimum of 5 months old. Pets flying to other destinations must conform to import requirements.
Pet crate requirements
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information on pet requirements, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Route or aircraft restrictions
Pets cannot fly to the United Kingdom as checked baggage. Pets are allowed to fly as air cargo to London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.
Forms Required
A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets), proof of current rabies vaccination, permits, and all forms required for your destination country.
Check in
Pets should be checked in at the ticket counter at the origination airport in their crate well in advance of departure.
Air Mauritius Pet Policy – Air Cargo
All live animals flying as air cargo travel under an airline manifest or air waybill and are tracked throughout the entire flight. The airlines are responsible for caring for your pet during layovers as well. Unlike checked baggage, pets are generally checked in and claimed at the airline’s cargo facility. This facility is located on airport grounds; however, not the terminal. Many airlines require that an agent books the transport. If you need a licensed agent to arrange your pet’s transport, send us an email at info@pettraveltransport.com.
Pets flown on Air Mauritius as air cargo
Dogs, cats, household pets and other animals are permitted to fly on Air Mauritius.
Reservations
Contact Air Mauritius Cargo Office to reserve transport for your pet. You can also contact an agent who can assist you with booking transport for your pet.
Pet crate requirements
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Forms Required
A health certificate issued within ten days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination (dogs, cats and ferrets), proof of current rabies vaccination, permits, and all forms required for your destination country.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Check in
Your pet will be checked in at the Air Mauritius cargo facility which is located on airport grounds; however, with few exceptions, not at the airport terminal.
Cost
The cost will depend on weight of your pet and its crate, crate measurements and your route.
Pet Crate Requirements
All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood.
The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. Mauritius requires either metal or plastic threaded nuts and bolts to secure both halves of the crate.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
All pets should be acclimated to their crates prior to travel. This may take weeks or even months to accomplish; however it is the best thing you can do for pet before flying.
Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier
Temperature Restrictions – Checked Baggage and Air Cargo
When temperatures rise above or drop under certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.
Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate, however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C).
Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets.
Cold-blooded animals are exempt from these restrictions.
Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold
Breeds Banned by Air Mauritius
Snub-nosed animals should only be flown in the cargo hold with an abundance of caution. Owners of brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets should contact Air Mauritius to discuss restrictions on flying their pet.
Private Jet Charter
Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.
Other Information
The information published here is a guideline for Air Mauritius airline pet policy. For more airline pet policies, click the banner below.
Further Reading
How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
Flying with a snub-nosed breed
More information on airline pet travel
Have a comment or question about flying with Air Mauritius? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, Forum, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Air Mauritius pet policy.
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