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Air India

Connecting India to the World

  • IndiaCountry
  • AIIATA Code
  • AICICAO Code
  • Star AllianceAlliance
  • Full-ServiceAirline Type

Guide reviewed

About Air India

Air India is India’s flag carrier and a Star Alliance member, flying from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru across India and to the Gulf, Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. Domestic Economy fares include 15 kg (Value), 20 kg (Classic) or 25 kg (Flex) of checked baggage. This guide covers baggage by fare and region, web check-in, the DGCA power bank rules, your rights on domestic flights and how Air India compares with IndiGo.

Air India traces its history to 1932, when J.R.D. Tata launched Tata Air Services. It returned to the Tata Group in 2022 and is renewing its fleet with new Airbus and Boeing aircraft and refitted cabins.

Air India flights to Delhi
Photo: Zoshua Colah / Unsplash

Web Check-In and Airport Tips

Web check-in opens 48 hours before departure on the Air India website and app for most flights. Free standard seats are given out from that point on a first-come basis, so check in early if you want to sit together.

At Delhi most flights use Terminal 3, and at Mumbai, Terminal 2. Indian airports check your ticket and ID at the terminal door, so arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international ones.

Power Bank Rules on Indian Flights

India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, tightened power bank rules from January 2026. They apply to Air India and every airline flying in India.

  • No charging a power bank during the flight, including from the seat power socket.
  • Power banks and spare batteries go in hand baggage only, never checked bags.
  • Keep them with you, not in the overhead locker, so crew can spot overheating.
  • Power banks over 160 Wh are banned; 100–160 Wh needs the airline’s approval.
  • Tell the crew straight away if any device gets hot, smokes or smells unusual.

Your Rights on Domestic Flights

DGCA rules give extra protection on flights within India.

  • Free look-in period: eligible domestic bookings can be cancelled or changed without a fee within 48 hours of booking.
  • Taxes back: government and airport taxes are refundable even on non-refundable fares.

For flights to or from the USA, the US 24-hour cancellation rule also applies.

Families, Special Assistance and Pets

Families can add infants and children to the same booking, and bassinets are available on long-haul flights. Unaccompanied minor services are offered on many routes.

Wheelchair assistance can be requested in advance and is widely used at Indian airports. Small pets can travel in the cabin on some domestic flights under strict rules; others travel in the hold.

How to Find Cheap Air India Flights

Air India flights to Mumbai
Photo: Zoshua Colah / Unsplash
  • Compare Value and Classic: Classic adds 5 kg on domestic flights and a second bag on US and Europe routes.
  • Avoid festival peaks: fares jump around Diwali, Christmas and summer holidays.
  • Book long-haul early: India–US and India–Europe nonstops fill up fast.
  • Check Gulf connections: Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad via the Gulf can undercut nonstop fares.
  • Compare airlines: use the FlightSelects flight search to see Air India next to IndiGo and others.

Air India vs IndiGo

On domestic routes most travellers choose between Air India and IndiGo.

Air IndiaIndiGo
TypeFull-serviceLow-cost
AllianceStar AllianceNone
Cheapest domestic fare checked bag15 kg (Value)15 kg
Business classYes, on many routesIndiGoStretch on selected routes
LoyaltyMaharaja ClubBluChip

Choose Air India for Star Alliance miles and international connections; see our IndiGo guide if price and frequency matter most.

Arriving in Delhi

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is linked to the city by the Airport Express metro line from Terminal 3, and prepaid taxis and app-based cabs are widely available.

You can also book an airport transfer in advance at a fixed price.

Is Air India a Good Airline?

Air India offers the widest choice of nonstop flights between India and the rest of the world, Star Alliance connections and a fleet that is improving quickly. Some older aircraft still feel dated, so check the aircraft type when booking a long flight.

For more options, see our Air India Express guide, our airline guides and the FlightSelects travel blog.

Facts checked in October 2026 against the Air India checked baggage page and DGCA guidance. Rules change, so check the official Air India website before you travel.

Star Alliance & Airline Partnerships

Air India is a member of Star Alliance, one of the world's largest airline alliances, offering greater global connectivity, smoother transfers and more travel options for its passengers.

Learn more about Star Alliance

Codeshare & Interline Partnerships

Air India has codeshare and interline partnerships with several international airlines, helping you reach more destinations with a single booking.

Hubs & Focus Cities

Air India operates from key hubs in India, including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, connecting passengers to major cities across the globe.

Popular Air India Routes

The domestic network links all major Indian cities, with frequent flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Nonstop international flights reach the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Europe, North America and Australia, and some India–US West Coast flights cross the North Pole. Choose a route to see recent schedules and fares.

Fares are the lowest recently found by our partners and can change quickly. Select a fare to check live prices and availability.

Air India Reschedule & Cancellation Policy

Air India sells its tickets in fare families, which it calls Smart Fares. In Economy you can choose Value, Classic or Flex, and on some domestic flights an even cheaper Basic fare. Premium Economy and Business come in Value and Flex. The fare family you pick decides how much a date change or cancellation will cost, so check it before you pay.

As a rule, the cheaper the fare, the higher the change and cancellation charges. Flex costs more up front but lets you reschedule without a change fee. Whichever fare you hold, you pay any difference in fare when you move to a more expensive flight, and government and airport taxes can be refunded even on tickets that are otherwise non-refundable.

  • Basic and Value fares Lowest prices, with the standard (highest) rescheduling and cancellation fees.
  • Classic fare Lower rescheduling fee and reduced cancellation charges.
  • Flex fare Rescheduling with no change fee (fare difference only) and the lowest cancellation charge.
  • Free 48-hour look-in Under Indian DGCA rules, you can cancel or change a ticket booked directly with Air India free of charge within 48 hours of booking, if departure is at least 7 days away (domestic) or 15 days away (international). Only the fare difference applies to a change.
  • Name spelling mistakes Corrected free of charge if you report them within 24 hours of booking directly with Air India.
  • Missed flight (no-show) The fare is usually lost, but you can still claim back the taxes.
  • Refund timing Card payments are refunded within 7 days; bookings made through a travel agent or website within 14 working days.
  • If Air India cancels your flight You can choose a free move to another flight or a full refund.
  • How to change or cancel Use Manage Booking on airindia.com or the Air India app with your PNR and last name. If you booked through an agent or travel site, contact them first.

Air India Seat Selection & Additional Services

On Air India's cheapest fares, choosing a specific seat costs extra. Classic and Flex fares and the premium cabins include seat selection. If you'd rather not pay, you can skip it: Air India will assign you a seat free of charge, and free standard seats open up when web check-in starts, 48 hours before departure. Seats go on a first-come, first-served basis, so families who want to sit together should check in as early as possible.

You can also add extra baggage, meals and upgrades to an existing booking through Manage Booking. Extras bought online before you fly usually cost less than the same thing at the airport.

  • Basic and Value fares Standard seats are paid. Skip selection and you get a free seat at check-in.
  • Classic fare Free standard seat included.
  • Flex fare Seat selection included, with preferred rows on many flights.
  • Premium Economy, Business and First Seat selection included.
  • Paid seat types Preferred front rows, extra-legroom seats and emergency exit rows. Exit rows are only for adults able to help in an emergency, so they can't be booked with an infant.
  • Prepaid excess baggage Extra kilos or pieces are cheaper when you buy them online before your trip than at the airport counter.
  • Meals Basic fares have no free meal, but you can pre-order vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Jain or diabetic meals up to 24 hours before departure. Other fares include a complimentary hot meal.
  • Upgrades Pay for an upgrade on eligible flights, or use Maharaja Club points or tier upgrade vouchers.
  • Special assistance Request wheelchairs, help for unaccompanied minors or medical support when you book, or as early as possible before you fly.

Air India Baggage Allowance

Your Air India baggage allowance depends on three things: your cabin, your fare family and your route. On domestic flights and on most routes to Asia, the Gulf, Africa and Australia, Air India uses the weight concept, a total number of kilos you can check in. To and from the USA, Canada, Europe, Israel, Japan and South Korea it uses the piece concept: a set number of bags, each with its own weight limit.

Your exact allowance is printed on your e-ticket. Check it before you pack, because extra weight paid for at the airport costs much more than buying it online in advance.

  • Cabin bag (Economy and Premium Economy) 1 bag up to 7 kg, no larger than 55 × 40 × 20 cm.
  • Cabin bag (Business and First) 1 bag up to 10 kg.
  • Personal item (all cabins) One small item such as a handbag or laptop bag, up to 3 kg, that fits under the seat in front.
  • Domestic checked (Economy) 15 kg on Basic and Value, 20 kg on Classic, 25 kg on Flex.
  • Domestic checked (Premium Economy) 15 kg on Value, 25 kg on Flex.
  • Domestic checked (Business and First) 30 kg on Business Value, 40 kg on Business Flex and First.
  • Gulf, Middle East and Southeast Asia (Economy) 25 kg on Value, 30 kg on Classic, 35 kg on Flex.
  • USA, Canada, UK and Europe (Economy) 1 bag of 23 kg on Value; 2 bags of 23 kg each on Classic and Flex.
  • USA, Canada, UK and Europe (Business and First) 2 bags of up to 32 kg each.
  • Heaviest single bag 32 kg anywhere on the Air India network.

Maharaja Club: Air India Loyalty Programme

Maharaja Club is Air India's frequent flyer programme and the successor to Flying Returns. Membership is free. You earn Maharaja Points every time you fly Air India, Air India Express or one of the Star Alliance member airlines, and with non-airline partners. You can spend the points on award flights and cabin upgrades.

As you fly more, you move up through four tiers: Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Higher tiers add priority services, extra baggage, free seats, lounge access and more flexible change rules.

  • Red Entry tier. Earn and redeem points on Air India, Air India Express, Star Alliance and partner brands.
  • Silver Priority check-in and boarding, 5 kg extra baggage, one cabin upgrade voucher and a reduced fee for domestic changes.
  • Gold First priority boarding, lounge access with one guest, 20 kg (or one extra 23 kg bag) extra baggage, free standard seats and two upgrade vouchers.
  • Platinum All Gold benefits plus free choice of any seat, three upgrade vouchers, two free changes per ticket and free domestic cancellations up to 24 hours before departure.
  • Star Alliance Points can be earned and used on Star Alliance member airlines as well as Air India.
  • Joining Free to join online or in the Air India app. New members are often offered bonus points when they sign up.
Join or log in on the Air India website

Air India: Frequently Asked Questions

01What are Air India’s IATA and ICAO codes?

The airline's two-character IATA code is AI. It appears in flight numbers (for example AI 101), on tickets and on airport departure boards. Its three-letter ICAO code is AIC, which air traffic control and flight-tracking services use to identify the airline.

02Which airline alliance is Air India part of?

It is a member of Star Alliance. Alliance membership usually means easier connections, shared lounge access for eligible passengers and the option to earn and redeem miles across partner airlines.

03Where is Air India headquartered?

The airline is headquartered in Gurugram, India.

04When was Air India founded?

The airline was founded in 1932.

05What are Air India’s main hubs?

Its main hubs and focus cities are: Delhi (DEL) – Main Hub; Mumbai (BOM) – Hub; Bengaluru (BLR) – Focus City.

06What is Air India’s frequent flyer programme called?

The frequent flyer programme is called Maharaja Club. Members earn points or miles on eligible flights and can redeem them for award tickets, upgrades and other benefits.

07How much baggage is allowed on Air India domestic flights?

In Economy, checked baggage is 15 kg on Basic and Value fares, 20 kg on Classic and 25 kg on Flex. Every passenger can also bring one cabin bag of up to 7 kg plus a small personal item.

08What is Air India's cabin baggage limit?

Economy and Premium Economy passengers can carry one cabin bag of up to 7 kg (55 × 40 × 20 cm). Business and First allow 10 kg. You can also bring a personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag of up to 3 kg.

09Can I cancel an Air India ticket for free?

Under Indian DGCA rules, tickets booked directly with Air India can be cancelled or changed free within 48 hours of booking, as long as the flight is at least 7 days away (domestic) or 15 days away (international). After that, cancellation charges depend on your fare family.

10When does Air India web check-in open?

Web check-in usually opens 48 hours before departure on airindia.com and in the Air India app. Free standard seats are released at that time on a first-come, first-served basis.

11Is seat selection free on Air India?

On Classic and Flex fares, and in Premium Economy, Business and First, standard seat selection is included. On Basic and Value fares, choosing a seat in advance costs extra, but you'll be assigned a free seat at check-in.

12What happened to Vistara?

Vistara merged into Air India in November 2024. Its flights now operate as Air India, and Club Vistara members moved to Air India's Maharaja Club.

13What is the difference between Air India and Air India Express?

Air India is the full-service airline, with complimentary meals and premium cabins. Air India Express is its low-cost sister airline, focused on domestic and short international routes, where extras such as meals and seat selection are paid.

Air India, its logo and trademarks are the property of Air India Limited and are used for identification and informational purposes only. FlightSelects is not affiliated with or endorsed by Air India unless expressly stated. FlightSelects may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.