Cabin or Carry-on Baggage | Prepare to Travel | Air India

Cabin Baggage

Cabin Baggage or Carry-on Allowances

Planning to fly with us soon? Then, here’s what you need to know about what is permitted onboard and what is not. You can bring one  carry-on bag and one  additional small personal item, such as a satchel for your devices, that must fit under the seat in front of you.

To avoid any hassle, please check the dimensions, weight, and items allowed onboard before packing.

As per Indian government security regulations, passengers are entitled to bring one piece of carry-on bag within the limitations below:

Class of travelPremium Economy and EconomyFirst and Business Class
Maximum weight7 kg / 15 lb10 kg / 22 lb 
Size limitations

Height: 55 cm (21.6 in)

Length: 40 cm (15.7 in)

Width: 20 cm (7.8 in)

 

The total dimensions of the bag

must not exceed 115 cm (45.27 in)

Note: 

  • Passengers may carry only one piece of hand baggage in compliance with Indian security regulations (ref. BCAS “One Hand Baggage Rule”, Circular 6/2000, dated 24 Feb 2000).
  • This applies to all classes of travel, regardless of Flying Returns or STAR Alliance frequent flyer status, for both international and domestic flights.
  • You may have to pay additional baggage charges if the combined weight or pieces of baggage exceeds your free baggage allowance and/or your cabin baggage exceeds the maximum size limits.
  • For tickets issued prior to 2 May 2024, the maximum weight will be as per the prior cabin baggage policy (Economy: 8 kg/ 17.6 lb, Premium Economy: 10 kg/ 22 lb, First/Business: 12 kg/ 26.4 lb). However, for any such tickets subsequently reissued/rescheduled, the revised maximum weights will apply.

One small personal item as an additional allowance 

In addition to one piece of cabin baggage, you may also carry one of the following personal items, subject to security regulations, provided these are able to fit under the seat in front of you and do not weigh more than 3 kg (6.6 lb):

  • Ladies’ handbag or purse or small waist pouch* or
  • Binoculars or camera or camera bag* or
  • Laptop/notebook in a bag* or
  • Overcoat/wrap or
  • Rug/blanket or
  • Umbrella (folding kind only) or
  • Medicines required onboard, such as inhalers or
  • Reasonable amount of reading material
  • A small amount of duty-free goods (where permitted**)

For passengers flying with infants:

  • Food for the flight
  • Feeding bottles
  • Carry-on tote for food and bottles

For passengers requiring assistance:

  • Collapsible wheelchair
  • Crutches or braces
  • Walking stick

*The maximum dimensions for these bags are 40x30x10 cm each . If your item exceeds the total dimension of 80 cm (the length, width and height combined), it will be counted as part of your standard cabin baggage allowance. You will then be required to check in either your cabin bag or the additional item.

**Alcoholic beverages are permitted in carry-on baggage only when purchased from the Airport Security Hold Area. They should be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre. The indicative size of the 1-litre bag is 20.5 cm x 20.5 cm or 25 cm x 15 cm or equivalent. The containers must fit comfortably within the bag and must be fully closed. In cases where passengers are transferring from international to domestic flights, this may not be allowed as cabin baggage.

Charges for excess/oversized cabin baggage

You may have to pay additional baggage charges if:

  • the combined weight of your baggage exceeds your free baggage allowance
  • your cabin baggage exceeds the maximum size limits

In addition, if it exceeds the one-piece allowance or exceeds the maximum size limits, it will be collected and stored in the aircraft cargo compartment. An exception applies to baby strollers. Air India reserves the right to determine if any baggage or item(s) in your baggage is not permitted in the cabin or on board our flight.

Charges for extra baggage

For excess/overweight cabin baggage, the excess baggage rate for checked baggage applies:

Restricted/prohibited items

Liquids, aerosols, and gases (LAGs)

Avoid carrying liquids, aerosols or gels over 100 ml in your cabin baggage. Examples of such items include:

  • Beverages
  • Toiletries such as shampoos, toothpaste, sunscreen, and moisturisers
  • Hair gels and spray
  • Liquid cosmetics or any other items of similar consistency
  • Medicines and inhalers with prescriptions and baby food are an exception. These items should, however, be carried in a clear, transparent, re-sealable one-litre plastic bag. You will also need to comply with the prescribed screening and security checks to ensure safety.

Batteries

  • You can carry battery cells for any electrical or electronic items as hand baggage.
  • Spare or loose batteries, including lithium-ion ones for portable electronic devices, must be carried in hand baggage only.
  • For lithium-metal batteries, the lithium metal content must not exceed 2 g.
  • For lithium-ion batteries, the Watt-hour rating must not exceed 100 Wh.
  • Power banks are considered spare batteries. They must be packed individually to prevent short circuits. You can only carry a maximum of 2 spare batteries with you.

Kirpan (domestic flights only)

As a Sikh passenger, you can bring your kirpan onboard flights within India if the total length of the blade and handle does not exceed 22 cm/9 in. The blade alone must be at most 15 cm/ 6 in, and the handle should be at most 7 cm/ 3 in.

However, you cannot wear a kirpan or bring it as carry-on baggage on any international or domestic flight operating from an international terminal's Security Hold Area (SHA). 

Unsafe/Prohibited items in cabin baggage

As a passenger, it is your responsibility to ensure that hazardous, unsafe, or prohibited items are not carried in your cabin baggage. This includes:

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7
  • Lithium battery-powered self-balancing devices
  • Drones (Nano, micro, and small drones weighing up to 2 kg/ 4.4 lb can be carried as cabin baggage)
  • Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)
  • Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

For more details, please refer:

https://www.airindia.com/in/en/travel-information/baggage-guidelines/restricted-baggage.html

Powder-like substances on US-bound flights

Powder-like substances are fine dry particles produced by grinding, crushing, or disintegrating solid substances (for example, flour, sugar, ground coffee, spices, powdered milk such as baby formula, and cosmetics), including powders in clumpy, grainy, or compressed forms.

The Transport Security Administration (TSA), US Department of Homeland Security, allows the carriage of powder-like substances in hand baggage when you are travelling to destinations across the US. It is subject to the following conditions:

  • The cabin baggage can carry medical powder-like substances, baby formula, and human remains (up to 350 ml or larger).
  • Duty-free powder containers inside a properly sealed Secure Tamper Evident Bag (STEB) may be allowed through the checkpoint.
  • Powder-like substances of any quantity may be placed in the checked baggage and transported in the baggage hold area of the aircraft.

Other local regulations

  • It is also advisable to check the local regulations of the country you are travelling to and from before you pack your hand baggage.

Guidelines for codeshare flights and on multiple airlines

When booking a trip on codeshare flights or involving several airlines, the most stringent/restrictive carry-on baggage rules apply. Please check the carry-on baggage regulations on the websites of the relevant airlines before your trip and follow the regulations.