Air India LimitedAI

Air India is the flag carrier airline of India, headquartered in Gurugram near Delhi. Founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines, it was India's first airline and became Air India in 1946. After decades of government ownership, the airline returned to the Tata Group in January 2022, beginning a major transformation under the "Vihaan.AI" initiative.

The airline is now owned by Air India Limited (Tata Group 74.9%, Singapore Airlines 25.1%) following its merger with Vistara in late 2024. Air India operates to 87 destinations—42 domestic and 45 international across 37 countries and five continents. As a Star Alliance member, the airline offers connectivity to over 1,300 destinations worldwide.

Air India has placed the largest aircraft order in aviation history: 470 aircraft (250 Airbus, 220 Boeing) worth $70 billion, signaling ambitious expansion plans through 2030.

Carry-On Allowance

Personal Item (included on all fares):

• Dimensions: 16" x 12" x 6" (40 x 30 x 15 cm)
• Weight: 2 kg (4 lbs)
• Examples: Laptop bag, handbag, camera bag

Cabin Bag (included on all fares):

• Dimensions: 22" x 16" x 8" (55 x 40 x 20 cm)
• Weight limit: 8 kg (Economy), 10 kg (Business/First)
• Must fit in overhead bin

Cabin Class	Personal Item	Cabin Bag	Total Weight
Economy	✓ 2 kg	✓ 8 kg	10 kg
Business	✓ 2 kg	✓ 10 kg	12 kg
First	✓ 2 kg	✓ 10 kg	12 kg

Checked Baggage

Domestic Flights:

Class	Included	Weight Limit
Economy	1 bag	15-25 kg (flight duration dependent)
Business	2 bags	35 kg total
First	2 bags	40 kg total

International Flights (Piece Concept):

Class	Bags Included	Weight per Bag
Economy	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each
First	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Size Limit: 62 linear inches / 158 cm (length + width + height)

Excess Baggage Fees

Domestic:

• Prepaid online: ₹350-500 per kg
• At airport: ₹600-750 per kg + GST

International:

• Varies by route: $15-55 per kg
• Oversized bags: $40-180 depending on destination

Student Discount: Students on international flights receive an additional 10 kg allowance with valid documentation.

Special Items

Item	Fee	Notes
Golf clubs	Standard	Counts as checked bag
Skis	Standard	Within size limits
Car seat	Free	For traveling infants
Stroller	Free	Gate-check available
Wheelchair	Free	Assistive devices always free
CPAP	Free	Medical equipment

Verify current fees at airindia.com/baggage

Air India is undergoing a complete cabin refresh as part of its transformation. The new Airbus A350-900 represents the future standard.

First Class (Boeing 777-300ER):

• 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access
• 80" pitch, fully flat beds
• 32" HD entertainment screens
• Premium dining with Indian and international cuisine

Business Class:

• A350: 28 private suites in 1-2-1 layout with sliding doors
• 777: 2-3-2 layout, 76" pitch lie-flat seats
• 21" HD touchscreens (A350)
• Multi-course meals with Book the Cook options

Premium Economy (A350):

• 2-4-2 configuration, 24 seats
• 38" pitch, 18.5" width
• 8" recline with leg rest and foot paddle
• 13.3" HD touchscreen
• Enhanced meal service

Economy:

• A350: 31" pitch, 17.5" width, 12" HD screens
• 777: 33" pitch, 18" width
• Personal entertainment with 2,200+ hours of content
• Complimentary meals on all flights

Entertainment:

• New Panasonic eX3 system on A350s
• 250+ Indian movies in 8 languages
• 200+ Hollywood films
• WiFi available on A350 and retrofitted aircraft

Dining:

• Full meal service on all flights
• Indian cuisine featured prominently
• Special meals available (vegetarian, Jain, kosher, halal)
• Pre-order required for some dietary needs

Booking:

• Book direct on airindia.com for best flexibility
• Compare with Tata Neu app for potential discounts
• Student fares available with valid documentation

At the Airport:

• DEL T3: Air India operates from Terminal 3
• BOM T2: International Terminal 2
• Allow extra time during peak season (Diwali, summer)

Upgrades:

• Paid upgrade offers sometimes appear at check-in
• Maharaja Club status helps upgrade clearance
• A350 routes offer the best hard product

Maximizing Value:

• Credit flights to Star Alliance partners if beneficial
• Student discount: 10 kg extra checked baggage international
• Prepay excess baggage online for 20% savings

What's Improving:

• New A350s represent world-class product
• Retrofitted A320s now have new interiors
• Lounge quality improving at DEL and BOM
• WiFi being rolled out fleet-wide

What to Know:

• Legacy 777s still have older interiors (being refreshed)
• Domestic service more basic than international
• Meal pre-ordering recommended for special diets