Air India Express Boarding Pass Download 2026: Web & App Guide

Air India Express is a low-cost carrier, so doing your own check-in online keeps things quick and cheap. You generate the boarding pass yourself, save it to your phone, and walk past the counter queues. No fee, no fuss.

Below is the exact process on both the website and the app, what to type to find your trip, and the fixes for when check-in won’t go through.

How do I download my Air India Express boarding pass online?

Use the web check-in page on airindiaexpress.com. Check-in opens 48 hours before departure, so the night before your flight is the easiest time to do it. You confirm your trip once, then the boarding pass downloads as a PDF you can keep on your phone or print.

Step 1: Open the Air India Express web check-in page

Go to airindiaexpress.com and click “Web Check-in.” It’s on the home screen and in the manage-booking area. Either link takes you to the same check-in form.

Step 2: Enter your booking reference and last name

Type your booking reference and the last name on the ticket. Your booking reference is in the confirmation email and SMS from Air India Express. Match the name exactly as booked, or the page won’t pull up your trip.

Step 3: Confirm your seat and check in

Keep or pick your seat, add anyone on the same booking, and confirm check-in. Standard seats are free during check-in. Air India Express only charges for selected seats or extra baggage, so you can decline every paid extra and still get your pass.

Step 4: Download the PDF

After check-in confirms, tap “Download Boarding Pass.” Save the PDF to your phone, or add it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet so it opens instantly at the gate. You can also print it at home if you prefer paper.

Can I get my Air India Express boarding pass on the app?

Yes. The Air India Express app uses the same 48-hour window and issues the same boarding pass. The app stores your trip and can remind you when check-in opens, which is handy on travel-heavy weeks. Once checked in, your pass sits in the app and opens even without signal.

App steps in short

Open the Air India Express app, find your trip or tap “Web Check-in,” confirm your seat, and check in. The boarding pass appears in the app. Save it as a PDF or add it to your phone wallet as a backup copy.

We’ve found the app smoother for repeat flyers because your details stay saved between trips. If you want the full screen-by-screen version, read our Air India Express web check-in guide.

What do I enter to find my booking?

Air India Express check-in needs two details: your booking reference and the last name on the ticket. There’s no login or password for standard web check-in. The booking reference is the short code printed on your e-ticket, confirmation email, and booking SMS.

Where to find your booking reference

Look at the top of your confirmation message. If you booked through HappyFares, your booking reference sits on the itinerary and confirmation email we sent. Keep that handy before you start, so the page finds your trip on the first try.

If the name doesn’t match

Type the surname exactly as printed on the ticket. A tiny spelling gap is the usual reason check-in can’t locate a booking. If your actual name differs from the ticket, correct it before check-in. Our general web check-in guide for Indian airlines explains the common pitfalls.

Do I need to print my Air India Express boarding pass?

No. A digital boarding pass is accepted at security and the gate for domestic Indian flights. Show the PDF, the pass inside the Air India Express app, or the wallet version on your phone. A printout is optional. The only thing to plan for is keeping your phone charged through the airport.

Carry a valid government photo ID with the pass, since security matches the name to your ID. Save a screenshot or the PDF offline as backup in case the terminal network drops. For the list of accepted IDs, see our guide to documents for domestic flights in India.

For international Air India Express routes, a few destinations still prefer a paper pass for their own checks, so confirm the arrival country’s rules. Within India, your phone is all you need.

Is Air India Express web check-in free?

Yes. Both web check-in and airport counter check-in are free on Air India Express. No Indian airline charges to check in or to issue a boarding pass. Optional seat selection and excess baggage are the only paid extras, and they’re your choice. So your boarding pass always costs nothing, online or at the counter.

Plenty of travellers worry about hidden “check-in charges” they’ve read about online. We clear that up in our explainer on whether web check-in is free in India. The pass itself is never a paid item.

If you’d rather use the airport counter

You can skip online check-in and get your boarding pass free at the Air India Express counter or a kiosk. Reach the airport earlier than usual, because counter and bag-drop lines grow near departure. Bring your ID and booking reference.

What if Air India Express web check-in fails?

Check-in can pause for routine reasons: the 48-hour window isn’t open yet, a name mismatch, an infant on the booking, or a fare type that needs counter handling. Most are easy to fix. If online check-in blocks you, the airport counter is the free fallback and prints the same boarding pass.

If you didn’t get the boarding pass email

Check spam and promotions folders, then re-open web check-in on airindiaexpress.com or the app. Once you’re checked in, the download button regenerates the PDF whenever you want, so a missing email doesn’t matter. Re-download as many copies as you need.

If web check-in throws an error

Make sure you’re within the 48-hour window and that your name matches the ticket exactly. Try the app if the site fails, or switch browsers. Bookings with infants or special assistance sometimes have to finish at the counter. Our web check-in failure quick-fix guide covers each scenario.

Common Questions

When does Air India Express web check-in open?

Web check-in opens 48 hours before departure. For domestic flights it closes shortly before take-off, so the day before travel is the safest time. See our overview of when web check-in opens across Indian airlines for the timing details.

Can I download boarding passes for everyone on my booking?

Yes. If your travellers share one booking reference, you check them in together and the system creates a boarding pass for each person. Download them all as PDFs or save them to your phone wallet. Every passenger still needs their own valid photo ID at the airport.

Is a mobile boarding pass accepted on Air India Express domestic flights?

Yes. For domestic flights, the PDF, the app pass, or a wallet pass is accepted at security and boarding. No printout is required. Carry a government photo ID and keep an offline backup of the pass in case your phone loses signal inside the terminal.

How is Air India Express check-in different from Air India?

The flow is nearly identical: both open 48 hours before departure, both are free, and both issue a digital pass. Air India Express is the low-cost arm, so baggage and seats are unbundled. Compare the carriers in our Air India Express review.

Where can I check my baggage allowance before flying?

Allowances depend on your fare bundle, so confirm yours before the airport. Our Air India Express baggage policy guide breaks down cabin and check-in limits, and prepaying excess online is cheaper than paying at the counter.

Related guides

• Air India Express web check-in guide 2026
• Air India Express baggage policy guide 2026
• Air India Express extra baggage guide 2026
• Flight boarding pass guide for India

Sources: Air India Express Web Check-in · Air India Express 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.