How to Check In Online for Air India
Via airindia.in (Manage My Booking) or the Air India mobile app
✓ Last verified: April 2026
- 1 Visit airindia.in and click "Manage My Booking" in the top menu.
- 2 Enter your 6-character booking reference (PNR) and last name, or log in with your Flying Returns account.
- 3 Select the passengers to check in.
- 4 Choose or confirm your seat assignment — free seat selection is available for economy on most routes.
- 5 Add any pre-paid meal preferences if you have not already done so.
- 6 Confirm check-in and download your boarding pass as a PDF, or add it to your device wallet.
Check-In Details at a Glance
Value, Classic and Flex: who pays for a seat
Air India replaced its older fare ladder with Smart Fares, and the fare you buy now decides your seat cost. Value is cheapest and charges for every seat, both standard and preferred forward-row or exit-row seats. Classic adds free standard seat selection at web check-in, charging only for preferred rows. Flex is the priciest economy tier and unlocks every seat free, including bulkhead and exit rows, plus free changes and cancellations.
Run the maths before you confirm. On busy metro routes, a Value fare plus two preferred-seat purchases for a couple can total more than a Classic fare with the same seats already free. If you skip web check-in entirely on Value, the system auto-allocates whatever seat is left at the airport, at no charge.
Vistara merger: why your selected seat can disappear on an aircraft swap
Air India's Vistara merger FAQ confirms that when an aircraft is reassigned to a different sub-fleet after booking, previously selected seats do not always migrate to the new seat map. The reason is mechanical: a former Vistara A320 in a two-class layout carries fewer seats than a legacy Air India A320neo, so your old seat number may simply not exist on the new aircraft and the booking falls back to auto-allocation.
To catch it early, open the Air India app well before departure and check the aircraft on the flight card against what you saw at booking. If the type or registration changed, do an immediate web check-in to lock a seat on the new layout. The current app build also fires a notification when the aircraft assignment changes and warns you if your seat moved.
DigiYatra and Air India: faster airport entry, not a replacement for check-in
DigiYatra is an opt-in facial-recognition system that lets enrolled passengers clear airport entry, security and boarding gates without repeatedly showing ID and boarding pass. On Air India you register in the DigiYatra app, link your ID and boarding pass, then walk through the e-gates. It speeds up the airport, but Air India still issues a boarding pass and DigiYatra never replaces web check-in.
It is optional and available at a growing list of Indian airports. For international document-heavy travel you still complete the counter passport and visa check, since DigiYatra only confirms identity at domestic checkpoints and does not validate visas or onward tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Air India web check-in open and close?
Air India web check-in opens 48 hours before departure. It closes 75 minutes before domestic flights and 90 minutes before international flights. After the window closes, you must check in at the airport counter.
What do I need to check in online for Air India?
You need your 6-character PNR/booking reference (found in your booking confirmation email) and the passenger's last name exactly as entered during booking. Some airlines also accept email address or frequent flyer number as an alternative identifier.
Can I choose my seat during Air India web check-in?
Free seat selection available for most Economy and Business class tickets at check-in.
What boarding pass options does Air India offer?
Mobile boarding pass or printout. Self-service kiosk check-in available at Delhi, Mumbai, and other major airports.
What happens if I miss Air India web check-in?
If you miss the web check-in window, you can still check in at the airport counter or self-service kiosk. However, available seat choices may be limited. Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before domestic departure and 3 hours before international departure to allow enough time for check-in and security.
Where do I find my Air India PNR for check-in?
Your Air India PNR (Passenger Name Record) is the 6-character booking reference in your booking confirmation email or e-ticket. If you booked through HappyFares, your PNR is visible in the HappyFares app under "My Bookings". The PNR is also printed on your itinerary receipt.
What is the difference between Value, Classic and Flex fares for seat selection?
Value charges for every seat. Classic includes free standard seat selection at web check-in but charges for preferred rows. Flex covers every seat at no cost, including preferred and exit rows, and adds free changes and cancellations. Pick the right tier at booking to avoid paying seat fees later.
What happens to my seat if Air India swaps the aircraft after the Vistara merger?
Selected seats do not always migrate to the new layout. Different aircraft, even within the same family, have different seat maps, so the booking can fall back to auto-allocation. Re-check your seat after any aircraft change. A former Vistara A320 has a different seat count from a legacy Air India A320neo.
Can I web check-in for an AI 2 (Vistara heritage) flight?
Yes. AI 2 flights use the unified Air India web check-in flow on the Air India site or app, even when the cabin keeps the Vistara look. Flights numbered AI 2001 to AI 2999 are usually Vistara heritage. Booking Premium Economy on an AI 2 gives free preferred seat selection even on a Value fare.
Do I still need the counter after web check-in on an Air India international flight?
Yes. International passengers must visit the counter for passport, visa and document validation before bag drop, even after web check-in. The agent checks passport validity (usually minimum 6 months), visa and any onward ticket. Web check-in still puts you in a shorter drop-bag queue.
Is DigiYatra mandatory on Air India?
No, DigiYatra is optional on most flights and supplements but never replaces web check-in. Air India still issues a paper or digital boarding pass. DigiYatra uses facial recognition to speed up airport entry and security at participating airports for passengers who opt in.
Can I select an exit-row seat at Air India web check-in?
Yes, on Classic and Flex fares, subject to BCAS fitness rules. The passenger must be 15 or older, fluent in English or Hindi, and able to assist in an emergency. Children and passengers with reduced mobility cannot sit in exit rows. Value fares charge a preferred fee for exit rows.
Does web check-in work for Air India code-share flights?
Air India web check-in only handles flights operated on Air India metal. For Star Alliance code-share segments operated by Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines or Thai Airways, you must check in on the operating carrier's website. Through-check-in handles your baggage to the final destination from the first segment.
What if web check-in shows Please contact airline?
This usually means the booking class needs manual clearance, or it is an unaccompanied minor, wheelchair request or pet booking. Call Air India customer care or the international toll-free numbers listed on the Air India website to release the lock, or check in at the airport counter.
Can I web check-in with an infant on lap on Air India?
Yes. Infants on lap are added to the parent's web check-in record. The flow asks for the infant's name, date of birth and travel document. Bassinet seats cannot be confirmed online and must still be requested at the airport counter due to availability constraints.
Does Maharaja Club Gold give priority check-in on Air India?
Yes. Maharaja Club Gold and Platinum members, plus Star Alliance Gold cardholders, get priority check-in counters, free preferred seat selection at web check-in even on Value fares, priority boarding from Group 1, and lounge access at major Indian airports. Enrolment in the Maharaja Club is free.