FAQs: Booking Information | Air India

Booking

Have a question regarding your upcoming trip with Air India or its services and products? Find answers to all your queries and make your flying experience with us enjoyable. 

Booking

Booking a flight with Air India is a breeze, and we offer various convenient options to suit your preferences. Choose the method that works best for you:

Website booking: Head to our official website to book your flights online. Enter your travel details, select the flight that suits your plans, provide passenger information, and make a secure online payment.

App booking: Download our app, available for Android and iOS devices. With the app, you can search for flights, compare fares, and make bookings on the go.

Air India ticket counters: For those who like the old-school approach,  visit the  Air India ticketing counter at your nearest airport or head over to a city office near you. Our staff will be happy to assist you in booking flights.

Travel agents: If you prefer face-to-face interaction, visit a local travel agency that partners with Air India. Experienced travel agents can guide you through the booking process and provide expert advice.

No matter the method, booking flights with us is a seamless experience.

Booking an Air India flight is quite easy, whether you prefer using our website or app:

Initiate your booking: Visit our official website or download our app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Enter trip details: Provide the names of departure and arrival cities, travel dates, and passenger count. Click or tap ‘Search’ to compare available flights.

Select your flight: Review and select a flight based on your preferences, including fare, duration, and layovers.

Provide passenger information: Enter the full and correct names of passengers as appearing on their official travel documents, along with contact details.

Enhance your journey (optional): Personalise your journey by adding extras such as excess baggage, preferred seating, or travel insurance.

Complete payment: Pay for your booking using secure payment options – credit cards, internet banking, RuPay cards, e-wallets, EMI, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Receive confirmation: Upon successful payment, an email will be sent to you containing your booking details and e-ticket.

If you require personalised assistance with booking tickets or have special requests, you can use our Dial-a-Ticket facility by calling +91 1860 233 1407. We’re excited to have you on board!

Absolutely, you can book a trip with multiple destinations using our website or app. This feature is designed to accommodate travellers who wish to visit more than one location during their journey.

To book a trip with multiple destinations, visit our official Book Flights page and choose the ‘Multi City’ option instead of ‘One Way’ or ‘Round Trip’. Next, input the cities you wish to visit and specify the travel dates for each leg of your journey.

Review the itinerary to ensure accuracy, then confirm your booking by completing the payment.

You can take advantage of online booking for our domestic flights up to two hours before departure. For international flights, online booking is available until four hours before the scheduled departure time. Additionally, you can book your flight up to 361 days before any scheduled flight.

We are committed to making your booking experience straightforward and accessible, ensuring you have the information to plan your travels effectively.

Book a Flight

When booking a flight with us, you can add up to 9 passengers in a single reservation, whether you are booking through our official website or app. This includes adults, children, and infants. Ensure you enter the correct details for each passenger during the booking process.

Book a Flight

If you do not have a surname or last name, enter your single name in the ‘Last Name’ and ‘First Name’ fields.

Example: If your name is John, type John in both fields, so it appears on your ticket as John/John.

Country-specific rules for single names

The US and Canada: If you have a single name (for example, John), please enter your ‘Last Name’ as John and ‘First Name’ as FNU to read as John/FNU.

Australia: If you have a single name (for example, Gayatri), please enter your ‘Last Name’ as Gayatri and ‘First Name’ as Unknown so it appears on your ticket as Gayatri/Unknown.

The UAE: If you have a single name (for example, Sunil), please enter your ‘First Name’ and ‘Last Name’ as Sunil so it appears on your ticket as Sunil/Sunil.

Please write your full name exactly as it appears on the valid identification proof that you will present at the airport. Here are the guidelines for names with different formats:

Format 1: You have a first and last name

Type your first and last name separately in the designated fields.

Example: If your name is John Doe, please write John in the ‘First Name’ field and Doe in the ‘Last Name’ field.  

Format 2: You have a first, middle, and last name

Type your first and middle name in the ‘First Name’ field, separated by a blank space, and your last name in the ‘Last Name’ field.

Example: If your name is John Allen Doe, type John Allen in the ‘First Name’ field and Doe in the ‘Last Name’ field. 

Important

  • Please do not use any abbreviations and spell out your full name. John D or J Doe will not be accepted.

  • Please avoid using numeric or special characters such as dashes (-) or single quotes (').

We are here to help you fix your misspelt name on a flight booking. You can do any of the following:

  • Call our customer care number

  • Raise a request on our customer support portal

Please note that charges may apply for requesting a name change.

We recognise the importance of seamless corporate travel and offer a dedicated service for corporate bookings. Our Corporate Travel Programme is tailor-made to cater to the travel needs of businesses and organisations. Key features of the service include:

Customised solutions: Air India recognises that corporate travel often comes with unique requirements. We collaborate closely to tailor solutions that align with your organisation’s preferences and policies.

Specialised fares: Corporate bookings often involve multiple passengers as we extend specialised fare offers to ensure cost-effective travel arrangements for your organisation.

Streamlined booking process: Our dedicated team will assist with bookings for your employees,  managing priority confirmation and any exclusive fares.

For more details about our corporate booking service, including the benefits, procedures, and how your organisation can leverage it, please visit our official Corporate Travel Programme page. 

Booking a flight for a large group with ten or more passengers is easy. Here’s how you can get started:

Raise a request: Write an email to our dedicated team at groupbooking@airindia.com with details about your group’s travel requirements. This includes your name, contact number, dates of travel, desired flight number with origin and destination, number of passengers, and the desired class of travel.

Receive options: After reviewing your group’s needs, a dedicated representative will get back to you within one business day or 24 hours with the available flights, competitive fares, and other details.

Complete the booking:If you are satisfied with the options, you can confirm the group booking with the representative's assistance. They will guide you through the payment process and steps to finalise the reservation.

We are excited to welcome you and your group on board for a memorable journey!

We offer discounted fares for our special guests flying across India. Here’s who can enjoy these concessionary fares:

Members of the Indian Armed Forces and Para-Military Forces

Members, veterans, war widows and widows of CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) & AR (Assam Rifles) and CPOs (Central Police Organizations), General Reserve Engineering Force personnel, war-disabled officers, and members who are recipient of the highest bravery awards receive discounts on domestic flights.

Senior citizens in India

Indian residents over the age of 60 get a discount for economy class on Air India domestic flights. Eligible guests must be Indian nationals, permanent residents of India, and at least 60 years of age on the travel date. Standard fees apply for flight changes, cancellations, or refunds. Guests must carry any valid photo ID issued by the Government of India to avail of the offer.

Students in India

Students in India receive a discount on the base fare for domestic flights when travelling between home and school. Eligible students must be studying in India, at least 12 years old on the day of travel, enrolled in a full-time course for at least one academic year, and attending an educational establishment recognised, aided by, or affiliated with a central or state government, educational board, university, etc.

Humanitarian concessionary fares

The eligibility and documentation required for Indian citizens who can receive fare discounts on humanitarian grounds are as follows:

Blind persons: Certificate from an eye hospital or MBBS practitioner.

Mobility challenge (at least 80% locomotor impairment): Certificate from chief district medical officer or government hospital board.

Cancer patients (travelling for medical purposes only): Application and certificate from a cancer hospital or institute.

Concessions for Bharat Ratna Award recipients

Recipients of India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, can get a discount on the base airfare by showing a copy of the Bharat Ratna award certificate signed by the President of India.

For specific details about applicable discounts, please visit our official concessionary fares page.

You can certainly check flights and fares without buying a ticket with Air India. Here’s how:

Visit our official Flight Schedule Page and input your departure and arrival cities and travel dates. Then select ‘One Way’ or ‘Round Trip’ based on your travel plans and click ‘Submit’. You will be able to view available flights and their fares.

Checking flight availability allows you to plan your journey without any obligation to buy a ticket. You can compare options and make informed decisions for your travel arrangements.

Yes, the fares displayed while you book flight tickets on our website or app include taxes. This transparency ensures that you clearly understand the total cost of your ticket upfront, without any hidden charges.

It is important to note that if an additional tax is introduced between your booking and travel date, you will be notified of the charge, which will be collected at the check-in counter.

Additionally, if you book your ticket using credit cards, a transaction fee will be collected by your bank. Your bank’s policies determine this fee and are not included in the fares displayed during the booking process.

We are committed to providing a transparent and hassle-free booking experience, ensuring you have the information to plan your travels.

Air India accepts a variety of payment modes for online bookings to provide you with convenient options. Here is what you can use to pay when booking a flight with us online:

  • Credit card - American Express, Visa, Master, Diners and JCB
  • Internet banking
  • RuPay cards
  • Wallets
  • EMI
  • UPI

We prioritise the security of your personal information and credit card details when making online bookings. Air India’s booking platform (website or app) is designed with robust security measures to ensure the safety of sharing this information online:

Encryption technology: Secure payment gateways use encryption to protect your data.

Compliance with standards: Air India follows industry security standards to prevent unauthorised access.

Secure connection:Transactions are conducted over encrypted connections (https://).

Verified payment methods: We only accept recognised and secure payment modes.

Privacy policy: Air India’s comprehensive privacy policy safeguards your information and aligns with data protection regulations.

We are committed to providing a safe and seamless online booking experience so you can fly with confidence!

Unfortunately, we do not offer the option to split the payment for a booking across multiple credit cards. When booking online with Air India, you must use a single credit card for a transaction.

Book a Flight

Certainly, you can purchase a ticket for someone else using your credit card, even if you’re not travelling with them. However, there are specific requirements to ensure safety and authorisation.

Photocopy of credit card: The passenger for whom you’re purchasing the ticket must carry a photocopy of both sides of the credit card used for booking. The photocopy must be signed by the cardholder, authorising the use of the card for the ticket purchase.

Visible information:For security reasons, only the card's first and last four digits should remain visible on the photocopy. The middle six digits and the security CVV should be struck out.

Check-in requirement: It’s important that the passenger presents the photocopy at the time of check-in at the airport counter. Failure to submit it may result in Air India denying boarding.

Our priority is to ensure the security and validity of transactions while providing flexibility in booking tickets. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in following these security measures to ensure a smooth and secure travel experience.

By paying a convenience fee, you gain access to the ease of booking flights from anywhere. Convenience fee is a non-refundable fee applied to all bookings made via our website, app, or call centres. The fee applies to all modes of payment and is charged per customer per ticket.

The fee varies based on the type of travel and destination:

Domestic (travel within India): INR 399

From India to short-haul international destination: INR 649

From India to long-haul international destination: INR 999

From short haul* international into India: USD 8

From long haul* international into India except from Australia, Canada, and USA: USD 12

*Short haul: Africa, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, SAARC, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and UAE

*Long haul: Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, USA and UK.

We appreciate your understanding of this fee, which contributes to the flexibility of booking flights.

If you have not received a booking confirmation from Air India after making a reservation, please follow these steps:

Check spam/junk folder: Sometimes, the booking confirmation ends up in your email spam or junk folder. Please make sure you check those as well.

Retrieve online: You can go to the 'Manage Booking' section on our app or website to retrieve your booking details and resend the itinerary receipt to your email.

Contact support: Alternatively, you can raise a request on our Customer Support Portal, and our team will help you resolve the issue.

We are committed to providing support and assistance to ensure a smooth booking experience for all our guests.

Rest assured, there’s no need to reconfirm your booking before your journey with Air India. Our booking process is designed to be straightforward, and your reservation is secure once confirmed. 

Yes, you can make changes to your booking online, depending on the fare type you’ve selected. We offer different fare types, some of which allow changes to be made to your booking online. These changes may include modifying travel dates, etc.

To make changes to your booking online:

Retrieve the booking: Visit the Manage Booking section on our app or website and enter your booking reference and last name.

Select the changes: Once you’ve accessed your booking, select the changes you want to make. Follow the prompts to modify the details.

Review and confirm: After making the necessary changes, you can review the updated itinerary and confirm the modifications.

Reviewing the fare rules and conditions associated with your booking is essential, as changes are typically allowed with certain fare types and may incur fees.

Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds for fare differences if the ticket price drops after your booking. Prices for Air India flights are dynamic and change frequently. Once a ticket is purchased, the fare is typically non-refundable and non-changeable unless you have purchased a fare type that allows changes or cancellations with associated fees.

Similarly, if the fare goes up after you book your ticket, we will not charge you the additional amount unless there is a directive to levy charges from airports, governments, authorities, or another agency.

Air India aims to provide passengers with a range of fare choices to accommodate various preferences and needs. It is advisable to carefully review the fare rules and conditions during the booking process to select the fare option that best suits your needs.

To cancel your booking, please visit Manage Booking.

You can request a refund for bookings you need to cancel. Refunds vary based on timeframe before schedule departure, cabin class, and other variables.

Visit our contact customer service to initiate a refund request.