Baggage Rules for IndiGo, Air India and Long-Haul Flights from India in 2026
By Kabir Malhotra (Kabir Malhotra writes about how Indian travel buyers actually pay — UPI vs credit card vs forex card surcharges, reward-point math on the top travel credit cards, RBI tokenisation, EMI-on-flights and the small fees that compound across a year of bookings.) · Published · 12 min read
Excess baggage is one of the most predictable airline penalties in Indian aviation. Here are the 2026 allowances by airline and route, with the real rupee cost of going over and the workarounds that still work.
Why baggage is one of the highest-margin fees in Indian aviation
Airlines around the world have steadily unbundled baggage from the base fare, and Indian carriers have moved in the same direction since 2018. Domestic LCC fares in 2026 routinely advertise headline numbers that include only the basic 15 kg check-in plus 7 kg cabin — and on the new lite fare classes from IndiGo and AI Express, even the check-in allowance is unbundled and paid separately.
The economics for the airline are excellent. A bag fee at the counter is high-margin revenue, whereas the same revenue in the headline fare would face inventory dilution and competitive matching. The economics for the customer are less good — the unbundled fare looks 8 to 15 percent cheaper on the search page, but the bag fee closes most of the gap, and customers who underestimate their bag weight pay 50 to 200 percent more at the airport.
This article walks through the actual 2026 free baggage allowances by airline and route from India, the real cost of going over, the comparison with foreign long-haul carriers, and the hand-baggage and special-item rules that catch people out.
IndiGo domestic baggage rules in 2026
IndiGo's domestic baggage rules in 2026 differ by fare class. The headline allowance for the standard Saver fare is 15 kg check-in plus 7 kg cabin, single piece for cabin and single or multiple pieces for check-in not exceeding the total weight. Lite fare (introduced in late 2023 and expanded across the network) does not include a check-in bag — cabin 7 kg only, and check-in must be purchased separately.
- IndiGo Saver fare (standard): 15 kg check-in + 7 kg cabin. The cabin bag must fit dimensions of 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm including handles and wheels.
- IndiGo Lite fare: 7 kg cabin only, no free check-in. Check-in bag must be added at booking (cheapest), online before flight (cheaper than airport) or at airport counter (most expensive).
- IndiGo Flex fare: Same 15 kg + 7 kg allowance as Saver, with added flexibility on changes and cancellation.
- IndiGo 6E Add-Ons: Pre-purchased extra baggage in 3 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg or 15 kg increments. Online pre-purchase typical pricing in 2026: 3 kg around 600 rupees, 5 kg around 950 rupees, 15 kg around 2,250 rupees on domestic routes.
- Airport excess baggage: Around 600 rupees per kg on domestic routes if paid at the airport counter. A 5 kg excess paid at counter is 3,000 rupees versus the 950 rupees if pre-purchased online — more than 3x markup for waiting until the airport.
The single most consequential operational point: weigh your bag at home before leaving. A spring-scale luggage weighing device costs 300 rupees on Amazon and pays for itself the first time it prevents a 3,000 rupee airport excess charge.
IndiGo international baggage rules in 2026
IndiGo's international allowances vary materially by destination region, reflecting both bilateral norms and competitive matching against incumbents on each route.
- India to Gulf (DXB, AUH, DOH, RUH, JED, SHJ, MCT, KWI, BAH): Typically 20 kg check-in + 7 kg cabin on standard fares. Some routes increased to 25 kg in 2024-2025 to match Emirates and flydubai competition.
- India to Southeast Asia (BKK, SIN, KUL, HKT, DPS, CMB, PNH, PEN): Typically 20 kg check-in + 7 kg cabin. Sri Lanka and Bali sectors carry the standard 20 kg on most fare classes.
- India to Central Asia and Turkey (TBS, IST via codeshare, baku, almaty): 25 kg check-in + 7 kg cabin on the IndiGo direct flights and through code-share fares.
- India to Africa (NBO via wet-lease): 30 kg check-in + 7 kg cabin on the BOM-NBO operation.
Excess baggage on IndiGo international is charged in USD-equivalent rupees, typically 5 to 15 USD per kg depending on route, with airport-counter rates higher than pre-purchase. A 10 kg excess on a Delhi-Dubai sector at airport counter can easily cross 6,000 to 9,000 rupees — often more than the original cabin-only Lite fare.
The 2024 introduction of IndiGo Stretch (premium economy product on select international routes) carries a higher baggage allowance — typically 30 kg check-in + 10 kg cabin on Asia and 30 kg + 10 kg on Central Asia. The price premium over economy is moderate and the baggage uplift alone often justifies the upgrade for travellers carrying close to the limit.
Air India domestic and international baggage in 2026
Post-merger Air India in 2026 uses a unified baggage policy across the merged Air India and Vistara networks. The class-based structure is more generous than IndiGo's, particularly in premium cabins.
- Air India domestic economy: 15 kg check-in + 8 kg cabin. The 8 kg cabin allowance is slightly higher than IndiGo's 7 kg.
- Air India domestic premium economy: 20 kg check-in + 8 kg cabin.
- Air India domestic business class: 25 kg check-in + 8 kg cabin.
- Air India international economy short-haul (Gulf, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent): 25 kg check-in (one piece, sometimes two depending on route) + 8 kg cabin.
- Air India international economy long-haul (Europe, North America, Australia, Far East): Two pieces, each up to 23 kg, + 8 kg cabin. Total check-in 46 kg.
- Air India international premium economy long-haul: Two pieces, each up to 23 kg, + 10 kg cabin. Some routes allow 2 x 25 kg.
- Air India international business class long-haul: Two pieces, each up to 32 kg, + 12 kg cabin. Total check-in 64 kg.
- Air India international first class: Two pieces, each up to 32 kg, + 12 kg cabin, generally matching business class but with higher cabin allowance in some configurations.
Excess baggage on Air India is charged in USD-equivalent rupees on international and INR on domestic. International long-haul excess can run 70 to 150 USD per additional piece or per kg over the allowance, paid at the airport. A single overweight bag on a Delhi-Newark flight can easily cost 8,000 to 14,000 rupees.
The Maharaja Club (formerly Flying Returns) loyalty programme provides tier-based bonus allowances — Silver members get +5 kg, Gold +10 kg, Platinum +15 kg on economy international long-haul. For frequent travellers this is a meaningful saving across a year.
Long-haul foreign carriers — Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa
Foreign carriers serving India generally offer more generous baggage than IndiGo internationally and competitive with Air India long-haul.
- Emirates economy: 30 kg check-in (weight concept) + 7 kg cabin. Skywards tiers add +12 to +20 kg.
- Emirates business / first: 40 kg / 50 kg check-in + 13 to 18 kg cabin.
- Singapore Airlines economy: 30 kg + 7 kg cabin. KrisFlyer tier bonuses apply.
- Singapore Airlines business: 40 kg + 7 kg cabin.
- Lufthansa economy long-haul: Two pieces of 23 kg each + 8 kg cabin + personal item (piece concept).
- Lufthansa business: Two pieces of 32 kg each + 8 kg cabin + personal item.
- British Airways economy: 23 kg single piece + cabin allowance.
- Qatar Airways economy: 30 kg (weight) + 7 kg cabin. Privilege Club bonuses.
- Etihad economy: 23 kg + 7 kg cabin; Saver fares now strip baggage.
- Cathay Pacific economy: 30 kg + 7 kg cabin.
Excess on long-haul foreign carriers typically runs 50 to 100 USD per kg or per extra piece at the counter. Pre-purchase 6 to 24 hours before flight is 25 to 40 percent cheaper.
The piece-versus-weight distinction matters. Weight concept (Emirates, Singapore, Qatar, Cathay) allows any number of pieces within total weight. Piece concept (Lufthansa, BA on certain fares, US-bound generally) limits both piece count and per-piece weight. A single 50 kg bag is over-piece-weight even if total is within allowance, and over-piece-weight is charged as excess.
Excess baggage cost — the real airport math
Excess baggage charges are where the headline-fare savings of LCC bookings disappear. The pricing is consistently penal because it captures the customer at the moment of zero alternative.
Indicative 2026 excess baggage rates from India:
- IndiGo domestic excess at airport counter: around 600 rupees per kg.
- IndiGo international Gulf excess at airport: around 800 to 1,000 rupees per kg.
- IndiGo international Southeast Asia excess at airport: around 1,000 to 1,300 rupees per kg.
- Air India domestic excess: around 500 to 600 rupees per kg.
- Air India international long-haul excess: 70 to 150 USD per kg or per extra piece.
- Emirates excess from India: 50 to 100 USD per kg, varies by route.
- Singapore Airlines excess from India: similar 50 to 100 USD per kg.
- Lufthansa excess from India: typically 100 to 200 EUR per piece over allowance.
The arithmetic of pre-purchase versus airport is consistently in favour of pre-purchase. A 10 kg excess pre-purchased on IndiGo international 48 hours before departure typically costs 5,500 to 7,500 rupees, versus 9,000 to 13,000 rupees at the airport counter. The pre-purchase saving is typically 30 to 50 percent.
A surprisingly common workaround that still works in 2026: if travelling with a companion, pool baggage at check-in. Two passengers each with 25 kg allowance can travel with one 35 kg and one 15 kg bag with no excess charge, provided the airline accepts the pooled allowance — most do on the same booking reference. Verify with the airline before relying on this.
Hand baggage rules — liquids, laptops and the 100 ml limit
Cabin baggage rules in India in 2026 broadly align with international ICAO norms.
- Weight: 7 kg standard on most Indian carriers, 8 kg on Air India. Some international long-haul carriers allow up to 10 kg or two pieces.
- Dimensions: Typically 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm. Airlines have become stricter on dimensions in 2024-2026, with gate-side sizing boxes increasingly enforced on full flights. Bags that fit at home but bulge with contents can be flagged at boarding.
- Liquids: Individual containers up to 100 ml, all contained in a single transparent 1-litre resealable bag, one bag per passenger. The 100 ml limit applies to the container size, not the contents — a half-full 200 ml bottle is still over-limit and confiscated.
- Laptops and large electronics: Removable from bag for separate scanning in most security lines. Power banks must be in cabin baggage only, not checked. Power bank capacity limits vary by airline (typically under 100 Wh permitted, 100 to 160 Wh with airline approval, over 160 Wh forbidden).
- Personal item: Most Indian carriers in 2026 allow a personal item (handbag, small laptop bag) in addition to the 7 kg cabin bag, provided it fits under the seat in front. Strict carriers may insist this counts towards the 7 kg.
The single most common cabin-baggage violation at Indian security checkpoints in 2026 remains the liquid-container size. Toothpaste tubes over 100 ml, sunscreen bottles over 100 ml and shampoo containers are confiscated daily. Buy 100 ml travel-size versions at home or in the airport landside store, not airside where prices are inflated.
Sports equipment, musical instruments and special items
Several special-item categories have their own rules and fees.
- Golf bags: Most carriers accept them as a single piece if within weight. Some charge a flat sports-equipment fee of 50 to 100 USD on international.
- Surfboards and bicycles: Charged as a separate piece with a fixed fee, typically 75 to 150 USD on international long-haul. Pre-booking is required.
- Musical instruments: Small ones (violin, flute) travel as cabin if within dimensions. Larger (guitar, cello) need negotiated cabin allowance or careful checked handling.
- Pets: Air India accepts pets in cabin and cargo on most domestic and select international routes; IndiGo is more restrictive. Pet travel requires health certificate, vaccination records, country-specific permits and 30 to 60 day lead time.
- Medical equipment (CPAP, wheelchairs): Generally not counted under DGCA rules. Notify the airline in advance.
- Strollers and car seats: Typically free for passengers travelling with infants or young children.
Lithium-ion battery rules are increasingly enforced. Spare batteries and power banks must travel in cabin, not checked. Devices with installed batteries (laptops, phones) can go either way, but cabin is safer for fire-risk reasons.
How to plan baggage for a long international trip from India
The practical approach to baggage planning for an international long-haul trip from India in 2026 has three steps.
Step 1: Read the fare class baggage allowance before booking. The same Bombay-Frankfurt sticker fare on Lufthansa Economy Light, Classic and Flex carries different baggage allowances. The Light fare often strips the first checked piece, and the saving on the fare can be wiped out by the bag fee. Use a comparison tool that shows baggage allowance per fare class — FlightGPT surfaces baggage info inline on search results to help with this.
Step 2: Pre-purchase additional baggage online if needed. If the basic allowance is insufficient, buy the extra piece or weight allocation at the time of booking or within the airline's pre-purchase window (typically until 4 to 6 hours before departure). The discount versus airport-counter pricing is reliably 30 to 50 percent.
Step 3: Weigh at home and budget contingency. Weigh each bag with a portable luggage scale before leaving for the airport. Plan to be 2 to 3 kg under the limit on each bag to absorb any miscalculation. For long trips where bag weight will grow (souvenirs, gifts), pre-purchase a return-leg bigger allowance even if the outbound leg is comfortable.
The combined effect of these three steps is to keep baggage cost at the planned amount rather than at the airport-extortion amount. Across a year of international travel, this typically saves an active business or family traveller 15,000 to 50,000 rupees compared to dealing with baggage at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the free baggage allowance on an IndiGo domestic flight in 2026?
Standard Saver fare includes 15 kg check-in plus 7 kg cabin baggage. The Lite fare class (expanded across the network in 2024-2026) includes only 7 kg cabin, with check-in bags requiring separate purchase. Flex fare matches the Saver 15+7 allowance with added booking flexibility. Cabin bag dimensions must not exceed 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm including handles and wheels.
How many bags can I check in on Air India long-haul international economy?
Air India international economy long-haul (to Europe, North America, Australia, Far East) allows two checked pieces of up to 23 kg each, totalling 46 kg, plus 8 kg of cabin baggage. Short-haul international (Gulf, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent) is typically a single 25 kg checked piece. Business class long-haul allows two pieces of up to 32 kg each, totalling 64 kg, plus 12 kg cabin.
What does excess baggage cost on an Indian flight in 2026?
On IndiGo domestic, around 600 rupees per kg at the airport counter, with online pre-purchase discounts of 30 to 50 percent. On IndiGo international, 800 to 1,300 rupees per kg depending on route. On Air India international long-haul, 70 to 150 USD per kg or per additional piece. On foreign carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines, 50 to 100 USD per kg. Pre-purchase via the airline website 6 to 48 hours before departure is materially cheaper than paying at the counter.
Can I carry two bags on a Lufthansa flight from India?
Yes. Lufthansa uses the piece concept on India-Europe long-haul economy, allowing two checked bags of up to 23 kg each plus 8 kg cabin plus a personal item. Business class allows two pieces of up to 32 kg each. The piece concept differs from Gulf carriers like Emirates that use the weight concept — under the piece concept, a single bag over 23 kg counts as over-weight even if your total is within limit.
How much liquid can I carry in cabin baggage on an Indian flight?
Individual containers must be 100 ml or smaller. All liquid containers must fit into a single transparent resealable plastic bag of 1 litre total capacity, one bag per passenger. The 100 ml limit applies to the container size, not the volume of liquid inside, so a half-full 200 ml bottle is over-limit. Common items confiscated include toothpaste tubes, sunscreen bottles and shampoo. Buy 100 ml travel-size versions at home rather than at the airport.
What is the cabin baggage weight limit on Indian airlines in 2026?
Most Indian carriers limit cabin baggage to 7 kg, with Air India allowing 8 kg. Some international long-haul carriers serving India (Lufthansa, BA, Air India long-haul premium cabins) allow up to 10 kg or two cabin pieces. Cabin baggage dimensions are typically 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm. Airlines have become stricter on dimension enforcement in 2024-2026, with gate-side sizers used more frequently on full flights to flag oversize bags.