Air India Express Baggage Allowance — Checked & Cabin Bag Policy

Know your baggage limits before you fly — avoid surprise fees at the airport

Quick answer: Air India Express domestic flights: By Economy tier: Lite 0 kg checked (cabin only) • Value 15 kg • Classic 15 kg • Flexo 20 kg • Business 25 kg. Cabin bag: 7 kg (1 piece) on every product class — Lite through Xpress Biz. International flights: Xpress Value / Family / Return / Flex: India ↔ Gulf (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait) & Singapore 30 kg (2 pieces); India ↔ Thailand / Nepal 20 kg (2 pieces) • Xpress Lite: cabin-only (NIL checked) • Xpress Biz: 40 kg (2 pieces). Excess baggage fees range from ₹500–₹800 per kg if booked at the airport; pre-paid excess baggage on the Air India Express website or via HappyFares Manage Booking is 30–50% cheaper.
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Baggage allowances on this page were last verified on 13 June 2026 against the official Air India Express website. Policies can change without notice — always confirm at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage before your flight. Figures below use cautious ranges where exact values vary by fare type, route or class of service.
💡 Pro tip: Pre-purchase extra baggage online Pre-purchasing extra baggage when booking on HappyFares or through Air India Express's "Manage Booking" portal is typically 20–30% cheaper than paying at the airport check-in counter. If you are close to your limit, add extra allowance at least 24 hours before departure.

Air India Express Baggage Allowance Summary

Last verified: 13 June 2026 · Official policy: https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage

Baggage type Allowance Details
Domestic checked baggage By Economy tier: Lite 0 kg checked (cabin only) • Value 15 kg • Classic 15 kg • Flexo 20 kg • Business 25 kg Air India Express Economy 4-tier structure (verified at airindiaexpress.com/flight-availability): Xpress Lite (cabin-only — 7 kg cabin, NO checked baggage; "Taxes Refundable Only" on cancellation; date change ₹3,000) → Xpress Value (7 kg cabin + 15 kg checked, cancellation ₹4,300, date change ₹3,000) → Xpress Classic (7 kg cabin + 15 kg checked + complimentary standard seat + Lite Bite meal, cancellation ₹2,000 for >3 days / ₹3,000 for 2hrs-3 days, date change ₹300 for >3 days / ₹1,000 for 2hrs-3 days) → Xpress Flexo (7 kg cabin + 20 kg checked + complimentary Prime + Standard seats + Lite Bite + ZERO Convenience Fee, cancellation ₹1,500, date change FREE for >3 days / ₹250 for 2hrs-3 days). Business Class (separate cabin): 7 kg cabin + 25 kg checked + Hot Meals or Lite Bite + Business Class Seat, cancellation ₹4,300, date change ₹3,000.
International checked baggage Xpress Value / Family / Return / Flex: India ↔ Gulf (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait) & Singapore 30 kg (2 pieces); India ↔ Thailand / Nepal 20 kg (2 pieces) • Xpress Lite: cabin-only (NIL checked) • Xpress Biz: 40 kg (2 pieces) Per Air India Express's official Fare Rule sheet: international free check-in baggage is 30 kg (2 pieces) for India ↔ UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Singapore, and 20 kg (2 pieces) for India ↔ Thailand and Nepal (Thailand/Nepal sectors not touching India are 30 kg). This applies to Xpress Value, Family, Return and Flex fares. Xpress Lite is a cabin-only product — NIL checked baggage even on international routes. Xpress Biz includes 40 kg (2 pieces). Cabin baggage 7 kg; infant 10 kg. The revamp was effective 15 Jan 2025 (bookings made earlier keep the previous allowance). Always confirm at airindiaexpress.com. Each checked piece is capped at 32 kg and 158 cm (length + width + height). For a lost, damaged or delayed bag, file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving the airport (claim within 7 days for damage, 21 days for loss/delay); international liability follows the Montreal Convention (about 1,519 SDR, ~₹1.72 lakh, revised 28 Dec 2024).
Cabin bag (hand luggage) 7 kg (1 piece) on every product class — Lite through Xpress Biz Dimensions: One hand bag up to 7 kg per the official Fare Rule sheet, on all product classes including Xpress Biz. Standard dimensions apply (around 55 × 35 × 25 cm) — confirm at airindiaexpress.com.
Excess baggage rate Chargeable Pre-paid top-up slabs (official Fees & Charges): +3 kg ₹2,100 · +5 kg ₹3,000 · +10 kg ₹6,000 · +15 kg ₹9,000 · +25 kg ₹15,000; Xpress Lite bundle top-ups from +10 kg ₹1,000 to +40 kg ₹16,500 on international. A Gate Bag (bag first declared at the gate) costs ₹3,000. Airport per-kg rates are charged per the fee sheet at check-in — pre-purchasing online is materially cheaper. Airport check-in and bag-drop counters close 60 minutes before departure (75 minutes for international flights from Delhi; revised 1 June 2026); bag-drop opens about 3 hours before international and 2 hours before domestic departures.
Infant baggage (under 2 years) See details Infants get a 10 kg checked allowance attached to the accompanying adult's booking (per the official Fare Rule sheet) — except on Xpress Lite international, where infants carry NIL checked. Cabin: infant feed and a small bag travel with the adult. One stroller/pram and one infant car seat are carried free (gate-checked). Wheelchairs, CPAP machines, crutches and walking aids travel free and do not count toward your baggage allowance; insulin and breast milk are exempt from the 100 ml cabin-liquid limit.
Sports / special equipment Chargeable Air India Express does not publish a separate sports-equipment fee table — special/oversized items are handled under the standard excess and additional-bag rules (single bag max 32 kg). The Marine fare uniquely includes 40 kg of excess checked baggage at ₹400. Declare special baggage in advance via airindiaexpress.com.
⚠️ Product classes per the official Fare Rule sheet: Xpress Lite (cabin-only, NIL checked) → Xpress Value / Family / Return / Defence (15 kg domestic) → Xpress Flex (15 kg + low change fees + Lite Bite) → Xpress Biz (25 kg domestic / 40 kg international, business cabin). Corporate Value/Flex and TATA Fixed fares are B2B-only. International checked: 30 kg Gulf + Singapore / 20 kg Thailand-Nepal (2 pieces) on standard fares. Baggage allowances are subject to change without notice. Codeshare flights may use the operating carrier's policy — not the marketing carrier's. Always check your booking confirmation and the official Air India Express policy at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage for the exact allowance applicable to your fare and route.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Air India Express's checked baggage allowance for domestic flights?

By Economy tier: Lite 0 kg checked (cabin only) • Value 15 kg • Classic 15 kg • Flexo 20 kg • Business 25 kg. Air India Express Economy 4-tier structure (verified at airindiaexpress.com/flight-availability): Xpress Lite (cabin-only — 7 kg cabin, NO checked baggage; "Taxes Refundable Only" on cancellation; date change ₹3,000) → Xpress Value (7 kg cabin + 15 kg checked, cancellation ₹4,300, date change ₹3,000) → Xpress Classic (7 kg cabin + 15 kg checked + complimentary standard seat + Lite Bite meal, cancellation ₹2,000 for >3 days / ₹3,000 for 2hrs-3 days, date change ₹300 for >3 days / ₹1,000 for 2hrs-3 days) → Xpress Flexo (7 kg cabin + 20 kg checked + complimentary Prime + Standard seats + Lite Bite + ZERO Convenience Fee, cancellation ₹1,500, date change FREE for >3 days / ₹250 for 2hrs-3 days). Business Class (separate cabin): 7 kg cabin + 25 kg checked + Hot Meals or Lite Bite + Business Class Seat, cancellation ₹4,300, date change ₹3,000. Always confirm at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage before flying.

What is Air India Express's checked baggage allowance for international flights?

Xpress Value / Family / Return / Flex: India ↔ Gulf (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait) & Singapore 30 kg (2 pieces); India ↔ Thailand / Nepal 20 kg (2 pieces) • Xpress Lite: cabin-only (NIL checked) • Xpress Biz: 40 kg (2 pieces). Per Air India Express's official Fare Rule sheet: international free check-in baggage is 30 kg (2 pieces) for India ↔ UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Singapore, and 20 kg (2 pieces) for India ↔ Thailand and Nepal (Thailand/Nepal sectors not touching India are 30 kg). This applies to Xpress Value, Family, Return and Flex fares. Xpress Lite is a cabin-only product — NIL checked baggage even on international routes. Xpress Biz includes 40 kg (2 pieces). Cabin baggage 7 kg; infant 10 kg. The revamp was effective 15 Jan 2025 (bookings made earlier keep the previous allowance). Always confirm at airindiaexpress.com. Each checked piece is capped at 32 kg and 158 cm (length + width + height). For a lost, damaged or delayed bag, file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving the airport (claim within 7 days for damage, 21 days for loss/delay); international liability follows the Montreal Convention (about 1,519 SDR, ~₹1.72 lakh, revised 28 Dec 2024). Always confirm at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage before flying.

What is the cabin bag (hand luggage) limit for Air India Express?

7 kg (1 piece) on every product class — Lite through Xpress Biz. Dimensions: One hand bag up to 7 kg per the official Fare Rule sheet, on all product classes including Xpress Biz. Standard dimensions apply (around 55 × 35 × 25 cm) — confirm at airindiaexpress.com. Always verify your specific allowance on https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage before flying — airlines can change these limits without prior notice.

What are Air India Express's excess baggage charges?

Pre-paid top-up slabs (official Fees & Charges): +3 kg ₹2,100 · +5 kg ₹3,000 · +10 kg ₹6,000 · +15 kg ₹9,000 · +25 kg ₹15,000; Xpress Lite bundle top-ups from +10 kg ₹1,000 to +40 kg ₹16,500 on international. A Gate Bag (bag first declared at the gate) costs ₹3,000. Airport per-kg rates are charged per the fee sheet at check-in — pre-purchasing online is materially cheaper. Airport check-in and bag-drop counters close 60 minutes before departure (75 minutes for international flights from Delhi; revised 1 June 2026); bag-drop opens about 3 hours before international and 2 hours before domestic departures. Excess baggage rates change frequently — confirm the current rate on https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage. To avoid excess charges, pre-purchase additional baggage online through "Manage Booking" — it is typically 20–30% cheaper than paying at the airport counter.

What is Air India Express's baggage allowance for infants?

Infants get a 10 kg checked allowance attached to the accompanying adult's booking (per the official Fare Rule sheet) — except on Xpress Lite international, where infants carry NIL checked. Cabin: infant feed and a small bag travel with the adult. One stroller/pram and one infant car seat are carried free (gate-checked). Wheelchairs, CPAP machines, crutches and walking aids travel free and do not count toward your baggage allowance; insulin and breast milk are exempt from the 100 ml cabin-liquid limit. Confirm current infant baggage policy at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage.

What about sports equipment and special items?

Air India Express does not publish a separate sports-equipment fee table — special/oversized items are handled under the standard excess and additional-bag rules (single bag max 32 kg). The Marine fare uniquely includes 40 kg of excess checked baggage at ₹400. Declare special baggage in advance via airindiaexpress.com.

How do I avoid excess baggage fees on Air India Express?

The best way to avoid excess baggage fees on Air India Express is to pre-purchase additional baggage allowance when booking on HappyFares or through the airline's "Manage Booking" portal before your flight — this is typically 20–30% cheaper than paying at the airport check-in counter. Also, weigh your bags at home before the airport. If you are travelling with a group, distribute weight across all passengers while staying within each individual limit. Codeshare flights may use the operating carrier's policy, not the marketing carrier's — confirm with both airlines.

What is the Air India Express international baggage allowance?

Air India Express international free checked baggage (effective 15 Jan 2025): 30 kg in 2 pieces between India and UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Singapore; 20 kg in 2 pieces between India and Thailand or Nepal. Xpress Lite is cabin-only (no checked bag even internationally) and Xpress Biz gets 40 kg in 2 pieces. Cabin baggage is 7 kg on every product class.

What is the Air India Express cabin (hand) baggage size limit in cm?

One hand bag up to 7 kg per the official Fare Rule sheet, on all product classes including Xpress Biz. Standard dimensions apply (around 55 × 35 × 25 cm) — confirm at airindiaexpress.com. The cabin baggage weight limit is 7 kg (1 piece) on every product class — Lite through Xpress Biz. Size limits are checked at the gate — an oversized bag is moved to the hold and can attract a fee, so measure your trolley bag (wheels and handles included) before you fly. Confirm at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage.

How do I add extra baggage on Air India Express after booking, and how much does it cost?

You can add prepaid extra baggage any time after booking through Air India Express's "Manage Booking" on https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage, or from HappyFares My Trips — buying it online is about 20–30% cheaper than paying at the airport counter. Pre-paid top-up slabs (official Fees & Charges): +3 kg ₹2,100 · +5 kg ₹3,000 · +10 kg ₹6,000 · +15 kg ₹9,000 · +25 kg ₹15,000; Xpress Lite bundle top-ups from +10 kg ₹1,000 to +40 kg ₹16,500 on international. A Gate Bag (bag first declared at the gate) costs ₹3,000. Airport per-kg rates are charged per the fee sheet at check-in — pre-purchasing online is materially cheaper. Airport check-in and bag-drop counters close 60 minutes before departure (75 minutes for international flights from Delhi; revised 1 June 2026); bag-drop opens about 3 hours before international and 2 hours before domestic departures. Add it before the online cut-off (usually a few hours before departure); after that you pay the higher per-kg rate at check-in.

What is the maximum weight for a single checked bag on Air India Express?

A single checked bag must not exceed 32 kg on Air India Express — a fixed baggage-handler safety limit that applies on virtually every airline. If your free allowance is higher, split it across two or more pieces, each 32 kg or under. A bag over your free limit but under 32 kg is accepted on payment of excess; a single piece over 32 kg is refused at check-in and must travel as cargo. Confirm piece rules at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage.

Can I carry a power bank in Air India Express cabin baggage?

Yes — power banks are allowed ONLY in cabin baggage (never checked-in). Per DGCA's 11-November-2025 advisory, you may carry up to 2 power banks per passenger. Each must be ≤100 Wh for unrestricted carriage; 100-160 Wh requires airline approval; >160 Wh is banned. Store them in your seat pocket or under-seat personal item — NOT in overhead bins. In-flight use is banned, including charging from aircraft USB ports. A 20,000 mAh / 3.7V power bank equals 74 Wh, so it's permitted.

How many liquids can I carry in Air India Express hand baggage?

Per BCAS rules, each liquid container must be 100ml or less, all containers combined fit in one transparent 1-litre resealable bag, and one bag per passenger. This applies to water, perfume, shampoo, gel, toothpaste, and cosmetics. Exceptions: baby food/milk in reasonable quantities; prescription medicine with prescription; duty-free liquids in a Sealed Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) with receipt. Water bottles bought after security are allowed onboard.

Are keys allowed in hand luggage on Air India Express?

Yes — house and car keys are allowed in both cabin (hand) baggage and checked baggage on Air India Express and all Indian flights; they are not a restricted item. The only exception is a keychain multi-tool or keyring with a blade or sharp point longer than 6 cm, which must go in checked baggage, not the cabin.

What items are not allowed in Air India Express hand (cabin) baggage?

Prohibited in cabin baggage on Indian flights (per BCAS): sharp objects with a blade or point over 6 cm (knives, scissors, box cutters), tools such as screwdrivers, hammers and wrenches, sporting bats and cue sticks, firearms and ammunition, flammable liquids and aerosols, and most lighters and matchboxes. Power banks are cabin-only (never checked-in); liquids must follow the 100 ml rule. When in doubt, pack the item in checked baggage — confirm the current list at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/en/baggage.

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