Air India Fare Types — Complete Comparison

Pick the right fare for your trip — compare baggage, cancellation, seat, meal and miles across all Air India (AI) fare classes. Last verified 2026-09-21.

See Comparison Table ↓ ← Air India Overview

Air India brands every cabin the same way: Value is cheapest and most restrictive, Classic sits in the middle, Flex is the flexible one. The ladder repeats in Economy, Premium Economy and Business. Baggage rises with the brand as well as the cabin. Figures below are DOMESTIC; international allowances are set by region and are higher.

Quick Pick — Which Air India Fare Should You Choose?

Cheapest
Economy Value
Fixed plans and the lowest headline fare
Best Value
Economy Flex
Travellers whose plans may move
Most Flexible
Premium Economy
Extra space without paying Business fares
Fare details verified on 2026-09-21 from official Air India sources. Airlines update fare structures periodically — always confirm at www.airindia.com before booking.

Air India Fare Types — Side-by-Side Comparison

This comparison shows the typical inclusions for each Air India fare class. Inclusions can vary by route — the fare comparison shown at booking is always authoritative.

  Economy Value Economy Economy Classic Economy Economy Flex Economy Premium Economy Premium Economy Business Business First First
Description The cheapest Air India fare and the most restrictive to change or cancel. Worth it only when your dates are certain.The middle Economy brand. It adds 5 kg over Value, halves the cancellation fee, and changes very cheaply if you move more than 3 days out.The flexible Economy brand: the largest Economy allowance and by far the cheapest fees, at ₹999 to cancel and ₹250 to change.A separate cabin with wider seats, sold in the same Value and Flex brands. Premium Economy Flex changes free of charge.Air India Business, also sold as Value or Flex. Business Flex cancels for ₹999 and changes free.Air India First, on the limited domestic routes that carry the cabin. The only Air India fare that cancels free outside 72 hours.
Cabin baggage 7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg10 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg10 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
Checked baggage 15 kg domestic20 kg domestic25 kg domesticDomestic: per the Economy brand ladder; international allowances are higher30 to 40 kg domestic40 kg domestic
Seat selection ChargeableStandard seat selection includedFree seat selectionIncludedIncludedIncluded
Meals Included (Air India serves a meal in Economy)IncludedIncludedIncludedFull Business serviceFull First service
Cancellation fee Domestic: ₹5,000Domestic: ₹2,500 more than 72 hr before departure, ₹3,500 inside 72 hrDomestic: ₹999, in any time bracketDomestic: Value ₹5,000 • Flex ₹999Domestic: Value ₹7,500 • Flex ₹999Domestic: free more than 72 hr before departure, ₹1,000 inside 72 hr
Reschedule fee Domestic: ₹3,000 + fare differenceDomestic: ₹300 more than 3 days out, ₹1,000 within 3 days, + fare differenceDomestic: ₹250 + fare differenceDomestic: Value ₹3,000 • Flex free, + fare differenceDomestic: Value free more than 3 days out, ₹5,000 within 3 days • Flex free, + fare differenceDomestic: fare difference only
Refundability Refundable after the cancellation feeRefundable after the cancellation feeRefundable after the ₹999 feeRefundable after the cancellation feeRefundable after the cancellation feeMost refundable Air India fare
Miles earning Maharaja Club points, lowest accrualMaharaja Club pointsMaharaja Club points, higher accrualMaharaja Club points, premium accrualMaharaja Club points, Business accrualMaharaja Club points, highest accrual
Ideal for Fixed plans and the lowest headline fareMost travellers, the balanced pickTravellers whose plans may moveExtra space without paying Business faresBusiness travel and long domestic sectorsPremium travel on the few routes that offer it

Air India Fare Classes — Detailed Breakdown

Economy Value Economy

The cheapest Air India fare and the most restrictive to change or cancel. Worth it only when your dates are certain.

7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
15 kg domestic
Chargeable
Included (Air India serves a meal in Economy)
Domestic: ₹5,000
Domestic: ₹3,000 + fare difference
Refundable after the cancellation fee
Maharaja Club points, lowest accrual
Fixed plans and the lowest headline fare
Lowest Air India fareMeal included
Economy Classic Economy

The middle Economy brand. It adds 5 kg over Value, halves the cancellation fee, and changes very cheaply if you move more than 3 days out.

7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
20 kg domestic
Standard seat selection included
Included
Domestic: ₹2,500 more than 72 hr before departure, ₹3,500 inside 72 hr
Domestic: ₹300 more than 3 days out, ₹1,000 within 3 days, + fare difference
Refundable after the cancellation fee
Maharaja Club points
Most travellers, the balanced pick
20 kg baggageCheap changes beyond 3 days
Economy Flex Economy

The flexible Economy brand: the largest Economy allowance and by far the cheapest fees, at ₹999 to cancel and ₹250 to change.

7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
25 kg domestic
Free seat selection
Included
Domestic: ₹999, in any time bracket
Domestic: ₹250 + fare difference
Refundable after the ₹999 fee
Maharaja Club points, higher accrual
Travellers whose plans may move
25 kg baggage₹999 cancellation₹250 changes
Premium Economy Premium Economy

A separate cabin with wider seats, sold in the same Value and Flex brands. Premium Economy Flex changes free of charge.

7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
Domestic: per the Economy brand ladder; international allowances are higher
Included
Included
Domestic: Value ₹5,000 • Flex ₹999
Domestic: Value ₹3,000 • Flex free, + fare difference
Refundable after the cancellation fee
Maharaja Club points, premium accrual
Extra space without paying Business fares
Wider seatFlex changes free
Business Business

Air India Business, also sold as Value or Flex. Business Flex cancels for ₹999 and changes free.

10 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
30 to 40 kg domestic
Included
Full Business service
Domestic: Value ₹7,500 • Flex ₹999
Domestic: Value free more than 3 days out, ₹5,000 within 3 days • Flex free, + fare difference
Refundable after the cancellation fee
Maharaja Club points, Business accrual
Business travel and long domestic sectors
30 to 40 kg baggageFlex cancels for ₹999
First First

Air India First, on the limited domestic routes that carry the cabin. The only Air India fare that cancels free outside 72 hours.

10 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg
40 kg domestic
Included
Full First service
Domestic: free more than 72 hr before departure, ₹1,000 inside 72 hr
Domestic: fare difference only
Most refundable Air India fare
Maharaja Club points, highest accrual
Premium travel on the few routes that offer it
Free cancellation beyond 72 hr40 kg baggage

Air India International Routes — Baggage & Cancellation by Zone

Air India switches BILLING CONCEPT by region, which matters more than the number: westbound long-haul is a PIECE concept (a number of bags, each up to 23 kg) while the Gulf, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and SAARC are a WEIGHT concept (one total allowance). The Value brand carries one piece fewer on piece-concept routes. International cancellation also attracts GST and a ₹354 refund application fee on top of the airline penalty.

Route zone Free checked baggage Cancellation
Weight regions: Gulf, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia / New Zealand, SAARC Economy 25 to 30 kg; Business 40 to 45 kg (single total allowance) Airline penalty by brand and cabin, plus GST; ₹354 refund application fee applies on international tickets
Piece regions: USA / Canada, Europe / UK, Japan / Korea, Israel Economy 2 x 23 kg, but Value only 1 x 23 kg; Business and First higher Airline penalty by brand and cabin, plus GST; ₹354 refund application fee applies on international tickets

General Cancellation & Reschedule Notes

Air India prices DOMESTIC cancellation by brand and cabin rather than by proximity to departure, with two exceptions: Economy Classic rises from ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 inside 72 hours, and First rises from free to ₹1,000. Economy Value is ₹5,000 and Economy Flex ₹999 in every bracket. In premium cabins Flex is ₹999 while Value is ₹5,000 in Premium Economy and ₹7,500 in Business. Air India is a full-service GDS carrier, so these are the airline PENALTY only: GST applies on top at 5% for Economy or 18% for premium cabins, and international tickets also carry a Refund Application Fee of ₹354. Do not compare these like for like against an all-inclusive low-cost fee. Cancellation closes 2 hours before departure.

Date changes separate the brands most sharply. Economy Flex changes for ₹250, and Premium Economy Flex and Business Flex change free, while Value costs ₹3,000 in Economy and Premium Economy. Economy Classic is ₹300 beyond 3 days and ₹1,000 inside 3 days, so changing early is dramatically cheaper. Fare difference applies on top in every case, and GST applies to the change fee as it does to cancellation.

DGCA passenger rights: Under India's Civil Aviation Requirements, statutory taxes (PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) are always refundable on request even for non-refundable fares. If Air India cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund or alternate flight at no extra cost.

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Air India Fare Types — Frequently Asked Questions

The cheapest Air India fare is Economy Value — The cheapest Air India fare and the most restrictive to change or cancel. Worth it only when your dates are certain. It includes 15 kg domestic of checked baggage with 7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg cabin baggage. Seat selection is chargeable and meals are included (air india serves a meal in economy). Cancellation: domestic: ₹5,000.
Economy Value is the lowest Air India fare that typically includes a complimentary meal — The cheapest Air India fare and the most restrictive to change or cancel. Worth it only when your dates are certain. Higher tiers above this fare also include meals. Lower fares charge separately for in-flight meals.
Economy Value is typically the least refundable Air India fare — refundable after the cancellation fee. Statutory government taxes (PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) are always refundable on request even on non-refundable fares. For the most flexible refund terms, choose First or above.
Economy Value on Air India typically includes 7 kg + 1 personal item up to 3 kg of cabin baggage and 15 kg domestic of checked baggage. Allowances can vary by route — international flights typically have higher allowances than domestic short-haul. Confirm the exact allowance at booking.
Seat selection on Air India Economy Value is chargeable. Air India usually charges separately for advance seat selection on this fare. The cheapest fare that includes it is Economy Classic, where seat selection is standard seat selection included.
Premium Economy typically has domestic: value ₹3,000 • flex free, + fare difference. Fare difference still applies if the new flight is more expensive. Refundable after the cancellation fee. Change fees vary by route, time-to-departure and destination — confirm exact fees in the fare rules at booking.
For long-haul business trips on Air India, Business is the strongest pick — Air India Business, also sold as Value or Flex. Business Flex cancels for ₹999 and changes free. For shorter sectors or budget-conscious business travel, Premium Economy delivers maximum flexibility in economy with domestic: per the economy brand ladder; international allowances are higher of baggage and refundable after the cancellation fee.
Air India does not usually allow direct fare-tier upgrades after booking. To change to a more flexible fare, you would typically need to cancel the existing booking (subject to the original fare's cancellation rules) and book the new fare. Some airlines offer paid upgrades at check-in subject to availability — confirm at the Air India website.
No — Air India fare-class inclusions can vary between domestic and international routes, and between short-haul and long-haul flights. Baggage allowances are typically higher on international routes; meals and seat selection rules may also differ. Always check the fare comparison shown at booking before paying.
The most authoritative source for Air India fare-class rules is the official Air India website at https://www.airindia.com. The fare comparison page shows current inclusions at the time of booking. The data on this page was last verified on 2026-09-21.