Labs- we all know how hyper energetic they are, especially the puppies and I was supposed to air travel with mine, a big 9 months old, for the first time from Bangalore to New Delhi. Naturally, I was pretty much nervous and worried because, one- I didn’t know how to proceed and what all was needed to be done; and two- my dog gets really anxious when I leave him at some place or with someone, even if he knows them.
Then to seek answers, I posted for suggestions in a Facebook group ‘The Cubbon Park Canines’ and to my surprise, not just one or two but ALMOST EVERYONE SUGGESTED- Devyani Jadhav from Pawsome Hotels and Travels.
Right from the word hello (on the call) I knew she was the right person. There was a brimming energy in her voice which made her sound strikingly different from the people we are used to hearing. I could feel that she was more excited than me for helping my boy fly, the way only a true animal lover can be. She could sense my anxiety and assured me that the process was very simple. She explained me all the necessary procedures I needed to follow and told me about all the documentation I needed to carry. I was feeling much relieved on learning that it was much simpler than I had thought. But I told her about my worry number 2 that was regarding how my dog would behave at the airport and when I’d leave him and also inside the luggage compartment. She then assured me, citing her experiences with handling dog transports for numerous clients and also those she had had with her own labrador, that everything will be fine; that it’s us humans who get more anxious then our furbabbies and I should not over think. I couldn’t have asked for more.
So, I booked a Jet Airway Ticket for myself as suggested coz Jet charged flat 5300 for pets which went as accompanied baggage, all the formalities were done in the airport itself and also at Delhi my dog would be brought to me just like accompanied baggage is and I wouldn’t have to run from pol to post for him- unlike other air liners where I would have to go to the cargo terminal for everything and pay more than twice and go to the Cargo terminal in Delhi as well to get my dog.
But, unfortunately for all of us, just 2 days before my travel, there was a new rule included in DGCA’s and Jet’s website stating that if the weight of the animal including the crate is more than 32 kgs, he needs to travel as cargo. Cummon! The crate itself weighs 10 kgs which lab would weigh less than 22 kgs?!
So whatever we were trying to avoid, we had to go through all of it now. It was a tough time for me but Devyani was there to help me with all she could. It was a bad news for them as well.
I had to decide to book him on a different flight as Jet people told me that it would cost me around 18,000 to 20,000. So finally i decided to send him via Air India but there still wasn’t any clarity as to which flight in the morning would take him, and, I had my flight at 10:30 in the morning. An equally worried Devyani was trying to make arrangements in case his flight was after mine. She assured me that her person will come and take care of my dog and send him in case I flew before him, even if they would have to send him a day later, and that I should not worry. And in case he flies much earlier and reaches Delhi first, her person would take him from the cargo, give him a nice walk and drop him to my relative’s or friend’s place, wherever I wanted. This was not just professionalism speaking but a ‘WE CARE FOR YOUR PET ATTITUDE’ that many lack. Even on the day of flying, I was called up before and after the fight, multiple times, asking about the status- not many do that.
I know I have written a long story but I am not a ‘writing person’ and that’s why I might have not been able to convey exactly how my experience with Pawsome was. All I would say is you need to experience it yourself to know more and I highly recommend it.
On the whole, a NICE EXPERIENCE WITH PAWSOME but a real ordeal with our VERY PET UNFRIENDLY AVIATION INDUSTRY (haven’t mentioned much about this here).
Thank you Pawsome, will surely choose you the next time as well (on a train though) 
