To download your Air India boarding pass, go to airindia.com or the Air India app, tap “Web Check-in,” enter your booking reference (PNR) and last name, complete check-in, then download or email the PDF. Web check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes about 60 minutes before a domestic flight. It is completely free, and a digital/mobile boarding pass is accepted at security and the gate for domestic Indian flights.
Updated June 2026 · HappyFares
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A boarding pass is the document that lets you through security and onto the plane. With Air India you don’t have to wait in an airport queue to get one. You can check in online, generate the pass yourself, and walk in with it already on your phone.
This guide covers both the website and the app, exactly what to type, and what to do when the screen throws an error. If you held a Vistara ticket, that booking now sits with Air India too, so the same steps apply.
How do I download my Air India boarding pass online?
Use the web check-in page on airindia.com. Check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes roughly 60 minutes before a domestic flight, so the most reliable window is the day before you fly. You complete check-in once, then the boarding pass downloads as a PDF you can save, print, or keep on your phone.
Step 1: Open the Air India web check-in page
Go to airindia.com and click “Web Check-in.” You can also reach it through “My Bookings.” Both routes land on the same check-in flow, so pick whichever you see first.
Step 2: Enter your PNR and last name
Type your six-character booking reference (PNR) and the last name on the ticket. The PNR sits at the top of your confirmation email and SMS. Names must match the booking exactly, or the page won’t find your trip.
Step 3: Choose your seat and confirm
Pick or keep your seat, add any passengers on the same PNR, and confirm. Standard seats during check-in are free. Air India only charges for premium or extra-legroom seats and for excess baggage, so you can skip every paid add-on.
Step 4: Download or email the PDF
Once check-in is confirmed, choose “Download Boarding Pass.” Air India also offers to email it. Save the PDF to your phone, or add it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet so it opens fast at the gate.
Can I get my Air India boarding pass on the app?
Yes. The Air India app runs the same 48-hour check-in window and produces the same boarding pass. Many flyers find the app smoother because it stores your trip and pushes a reminder when check-in opens. The pass then lives in the app, ready to show offline.
App steps in short
Open the Air India app, go to your trip or tap “Web Check-in,” confirm your seat, and check in. The boarding pass appears inside the app. Tap to save it as a PDF or add it to your phone’s wallet as backup.
In our experience, doing app check-in the evening before travel is the sweet spot. Seats are still open, the network at home is steady, and you reach the airport with the pass already loaded. For a deeper walkthrough, see our Air India web check-in guide.
What do I enter to find my booking?
Air India check-in needs two things: your booking reference (PNR) and the last name on the ticket. That’s it. The PNR is a six-character code printed on your e-ticket, the confirmation email, and the SMS Air India sent after booking. No password or login is required for basic web check-in.
Where to find your PNR
Look at the top of your booking confirmation. If you booked on HappyFares, the PNR is on your itinerary and confirmation email. You can also look it up any time with our Air India PNR status guide before you start check-in.
If the name doesn’t match
Enter the name precisely as it appears on the ticket, surname included. A small spelling difference is the most common reason the page can’t locate a booking. If your legal name and ticket name truly differ, fix it through Air India manage booking before you try to check in.
Do I need to print my Air India boarding pass?
No. For domestic Indian flights a digital boarding pass is accepted at security and at the gate. You can show the PDF, the pass inside the Air India app, or the version saved in Apple or Google Wallet. A printout is optional, not required, so a flat battery is the only real risk to plan around.
Carry a valid government photo ID alongside the pass, because security checks the name against your ID. Keep a screenshot or saved PDF as backup in case the network drops inside the terminal. For the rules on which IDs work, see our guide to documents for domestic flights in India.
One nuance worth flagging: a few international destinations still prefer a paper boarding pass for their own processes. For any trip outside India, check the destination airport’s rules. For domestic travel, your phone is enough.
Is Air India web check-in free, or is there a counter charge?
Both web check-in and airport counter check-in are free on Air India. No Indian airline charges you to check in or to be issued a boarding pass. The only optional costs are paid seat selection and excess baggage, and you choose whether to add those. So whether you self-check online or use the counter, the pass itself costs nothing.
This matters because online rumours about “check-in fees” confuse a lot of travellers. We break the myth down fully in our explainer on whether web check-in is free in India. Short version: getting your boarding pass never costs extra.
If you’d rather use the airport counter
You can skip online check-in entirely and collect your boarding pass free at the Air India counter or a self-service kiosk. Just reach the airport earlier, since counter and bag-drop lines build up close to departure. Carry your ID and PNR.
What if Air India web check-in fails?
Web check-in can stall for ordinary reasons: the 48-hour window hasn’t opened, a name mismatch, an infant on the booking, or a payment still settling. Most fixes are quick. If the system blocks you online, the airport counter is always the free fallback, and it issues the same boarding pass.
If you didn’t get the boarding pass email
Check spam and promotions folders first, then re-open web check-in on airindia.com or the app. Once you’re checked in, the download button regenerates the PDF on demand, so you don’t depend on the email arriving. You can re-download as many times as you need.
If web check-in throws an error
Confirm you’re inside the 48-hour window and that your name matches the ticket exactly. Try the app if the website fails, or a different browser. Bookings with infants, special assistance, or certain fare types sometimes have to be processed at the counter. Our web check-in failure quick-fix guide walks through each cause.
Common Questions
When does Air India web check-in open?
Web check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes about 60 minutes before a domestic flight. International cut-offs can be earlier, so check in the day before to be safe. See our note on when web check-in opens across Indian airlines.
I had a Vistara ticket. How do I get my boarding pass?
Vistara has fully merged into Air India, so its bookings are now on Air India. Use airindia.com or the Air India app, enter your booking reference and last name, and check in there. The old Vistara site and app now point to Air India.
Can I download boarding passes for my whole family at once?
Yes. If everyone is on the same PNR, you check them in together and the system generates a boarding pass for each traveller. Download all of them as PDFs, or add them to your phone wallet. Each passenger still needs their own valid photo ID.
Is a mobile boarding pass really accepted at Indian airports?
Yes. For domestic flights, the PDF, the app pass, or a wallet pass is accepted at security and boarding. You do not need a printout. Carry a government photo ID and keep a saved backup in case your phone loses signal or battery inside the terminal.
What is DigiYatra, and do I still need a boarding pass?
DigiYatra is an optional, free face-recognition lane live at many Indian airports that speeds up entry. You still carry your boarding pass and ID as backup. Learn how it works in our DigiYatra guide.
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Search Flights on HappyFares →Related guides
- Air India web check-in guide 2026
- Air India manage booking guide
- Air India baggage allowance guide 2026
- Flight boarding pass guide for India
Sources: Air India Web Check-in · Air India official site
Disclaimer: Fares, schedules, and airline frequencies mentioned here are indicative and change with demand, season, and airline planning. Always check live prices and availability on HappyFares before booking.
