Air India · Bags & fees

Air India bags, fees & check-in

The cheapest Economy fare from the US or Canada to India includes just one checked bag, and plenty of guides still say two. This page covers what each Air India fare includes, what extra and heavy bags cost, the 7 kg cabin bag rule, seat and change fees, and check-in times, all taken from airindia.com.

Verified September 2026

Unless noted, figures are for Economy on Air India-operated flights between the US or Canada and India, where Air India counts checked bags by the piece. Fees are in USD on US routes and CAD on Canada routes, as Air India publishes them: its USD fees exclude tax and its CAD fees include it. Fare family, cabin, Maharaja Club tier and codeshare flights change these numbers, and each is flagged below.

Checked bag fees

On flights from the US or Canada to India, Air India counts checked bags by the piece, and your fare family decides how many you get. Economy Value includes one bag of up to 23 kg. Economy Classic, Economy Flex and both Premium Economy fares include two. Business and First include two bags of up to 32 kg each.

Fare (US/Canada to India)	Checked bags	Max weight per bag
Economy Value	1 bag	23 kg (50 lb)
Economy Classic	2 bags	23 kg (50 lb)
Economy Flex	2 bags	23 kg (50 lb)
Premium Economy Value / Flex	2 bags	23 kg (50 lb)
Business Value / Flex	2 bags	32 kg (70 lb)
First	2 bags	32 kg (70 lb)

In Economy and Premium Economy, your two bags together can't exceed 273 cm (107 in) in length + width + height. In Business and First, each bag can be up to 158 cm (62 in). Air India won't accept any single bag over 32 kg (70 lb). Infants get 10 kg in Economy, 12 kg in Premium Economy and 15 kg in Business or First.

Air India's USA and Canada baggage page still carries an older table showing two pieces for every Economy ticket between India and Canada. If you're on a Value fare, go by your e-ticket: Air India says the allowance printed on the ticket is final.

Carry-on & personal item

Every cabin gets one cabin bag plus one small personal item. The cabin bag limit is 7 kg in Economy and Premium Economy and 10 kg in Business and First, and the size limit is the same for everyone.

Cabin bag · Economy & Premium Economy

55 × 40 × 20 cm

One bag up to 7 kg (15 lb), no more than 115 cm (45 in) in total length, width and height.

Included · Economy & Premium

Cabin bag · Business & First

10 kg

Same 55 × 40 × 20 cm size limit, with a higher weight limit of 10 kg (22 lb).

Included · Business & First

Personal item

40 × 30 × 20 cm

One small item up to 3 kg (6 lb) that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a handbag, laptop bag or camera bag.

Included · All cabins

One cabin bag, whatever your status

Indian security rules allow one piece of hand baggage per passenger, in every cabin and regardless of Maharaja Club or Star Alliance status. Anything beyond the cabin bag and personal item, or a cabin bag over the size or weight limit, has to be checked, and on international flights Air India charges USD 75 when that puts you over your checked allowance. Power banks travel in your cabin bag only, never in checked luggage.

Overweight & oversize fees

On US and Canada routes Air India charges by the bag, with no per-kilo rate. You pay a flat fee for each extra bag, a flat fee for any bag between 23 and 32 kg, and a separate fee for a bag over 158 cm.

Charge (at the airport)	USA route	Canada route
Extra bag, to India (up to 23 kg)	$250	CAD 375
Extra bag, from India (up to 23 kg)	$240	CAD 360
Heavy bag, 23-32 kg (each way)	$130	CAD 190
Oversize bag, over 158 cm	$125	CAD 180
Over 32 kg or over 200 cm	Not accepted	Not accepted

USD fees exclude tax; CAD fees include it. Prepaying in Manage Booking saves up to 20%: extra bags until 2 hours before departure, extra weight on a single bag until 6 hours before. Prepaid rates apply to tickets starting with 098 and not to codeshare or interline flights. Bags over 32 kg or 200 cm have to travel as cargo.

Basic Economy rules

On US and Canada routes, Air India's cheapest Economy fare is called Value. You keep the 7 kg cabin bag and the personal item, but you get one checked bag, the highest change fee, and only your taxes back if you cancel.

What you get	Economy Value	Economy Classic	Economy Flex
Checked bags (US/Canada to India)	1 × 23 kg	2 × 23 kg	2 × 23 kg
Cabin bag + personal item	7 kg + 3 kg	7 kg + 3 kg	7 kg + 3 kg
Change fee	$165 / CAD 240	$110 / CAD 160	Free
Cancellation	Taxes refunded only	$275 / CAD 400 fee	$11 / CAD 16 fee

Every change also costs any fare difference. If you're checking two bags, compare Classic against Value plus a $250 (CAD 375) extra bag.

Changes, cancellations & seats

Flex fares change for free on US and Canada routes, and you pay only any fare difference. Value fares cost the most to change, and cancelling one gets you back only the taxes. If you don't change or cancel at least 4 hours before an international departure, Air India counts you as a no-show and the higher fee in the last column applies.

Fare (US/Canada routes)	Change fee	Cancellation fee	No-show + change
Economy Value	$165 / CAD 240	Taxes refunded only	$300
Economy Classic	$110 / CAD 160	$275 / CAD 400	$300
Economy Flex	Free	$11 / CAD 16	$75
Premium Economy Value	$110 / CAD 160	$275 / CAD 400	$300
Premium Economy Flex	Free	$11 / CAD 16	$150
Business Value	$110 / CAD 160	$330 / CAD 480	$320
Business Flex	Free	$11 / CAD 16	$210
First	Free	Free 3+ days out, $70 after	$210

Fees are Air India's for its USA and Canada region, plus any fare difference. Seats: a standard Economy seat on a US route costs $35-$40 per flight, a preferential seat $45-$52, and a front-row or extra-legroom seat $70-$89. On Canada routes those are CAD 45, CAD 55 and CAD 94-99. Premium Economy seats run $40-$68 (CAD 56-95). Some rear-cabin seats are free to pick on airindia.com, and seat charges are refunded if you cancel more than 48 hours before departure.

Check-in & bag-drop deadlines

Online check-in opens 48 hours before departure and closes 2 hours before an international flight. It isn't available on codeshare flights. On international trips you get a confirmation slip online, then drop your bags at the airport.

Step	Timing before departure
Online check-in opens	48 hours
Online check-in closes (international)	2 hours
Recommended arrival at New York JFK	At least 3 hours
Last chance to buy a paid seat	4 hours
Change or cancel without the no-show fee	4 hours
Prepay an extra bag	Until 2 hours
Prepay extra weight on one bag	Until 6 hours

At JFK, Air India checks in at Terminal 4 and warns that construction at the airport can slow road traffic. At San Francisco, its counters are in aisle 5 of the International Terminal departures level.

How to skip the fees

Pick the fare for the bags you're bringingValue includes one bag, and a second costs $250 from the US or CAD 375 from Canada at the airport. If you're checking two bags, price Classic before you book Value.

Prepay extra bags onlineBuying extra baggage in Manage Booking saves up to 20% on the airport rate. Extra bags can be bought until 2 hours before departure, extra weight on one bag until 6 hours before.

Book the student fare if you're 12 to 30Full-time students get 10% off the base fare on Air India-operated flights, two 23 kg bags in Economy on piece routes (even on the cheapest fare) and one free date change, with any fare difference payable. Bring your student visa, student ID or acceptance letter to the airport.

Book the senior fare if you're 60 or overAir India's senior offer takes 10% off the base fare on US and Canada routes for bookings made by October 31, 2026, for travel through March 31, 2027. It includes two 23 kg bags in Economy and one free date change, but tickets are non-refundable and year-end holiday blackout dates apply.

Use Maharaja Club Gold or PlatinumGold and Platinum members get one extra bag of up to 23 kg on piece routes. Silver and Red members get no extra bag on these routes, and the bonus doesn't apply on partner or codeshare flights.

Keep every bag under 23 kgA bag between 23 and 32 kg costs $130 from the US or CAD 190 from Canada, each way. If your fare includes two bags, moving a few kilos into the second one costs nothing.

Air India baggage FAQ

What does 2pc baggage mean on Air India?

2pc means two pieces, so you can check two bags. On US and Canada routes, each Economy or Premium Economy bag can weigh up to 23 kg (50 lb), and each Business or First bag up to 32 kg (70 lb). Economy Value fares from the US and Canada to India include one piece, not two, so check your e-ticket.

How much baggage can I take on Air India from the USA to India?

It depends on your fare. Economy Value includes one 23 kg bag. Economy Classic, Economy Flex and Premium Economy include two bags of 23 kg each, and Business and First include two bags of 32 kg each. You also get a 7 kg cabin bag (10 kg in Business and First) and a 3 kg personal item.

Can I split my Air India baggage allowance across more bags?

On US and Canada routes the limit is per bag, so the weight can't be pooled. Two pieces of 23 kg means two bags of up to 23 kg each, and a single 46 kg bag isn't allowed. On a one-bag Value fare, a second bag counts as an extra piece even if both together weigh under 23 kg.

What happens if my Air India bag is over 23 kg?

A bag between 23 and 32 kg is charged as a heavy bag: $130 on US routes or CAD 190 on Canada routes, each way. Anything over 32 kg isn't accepted as checked baggage and has to go as cargo. So two 30 kg bags in Economy would each pay the heavy-bag fee, while Business and First allow up to 32 kg per bag.

How much does extra baggage cost on Air India?

On US and Canada routes there's no per-kilo price. An extra bag costs $250 from the US to India ($240 the other way) or CAD 375 from Canada (CAD 360 the other way), and a bag between 23 and 32 kg costs $130 or CAD 190. To add around 10 kg, you either pay the heavy-bag fee on one bag or buy an extra piece. Prepaying in Manage Booking saves up to 20%.

Can I carry more than 7 kg in cabin baggage on Air India?

Not in Economy or Premium Economy, where the cabin bag limit is 7 kg. Business and First allow 10 kg. You can add one personal item of up to 3 kg, such as a laptop bag or handbag. Indian security rules allow only one piece of hand baggage, so anything extra is checked, and on international flights that costs USD 75 if it puts you over your allowance.

How much does it cost to change an Air India flight from the US or Canada?

Economy Flex, Premium Economy Flex, Business Flex and First change for free, plus any fare difference. Economy Classic, Premium Economy Value and Business Value cost $110 (CAD 160) to change, and Economy Value costs $165 (CAD 240). Change or cancel at least 4 hours before an international departure, or the higher no-show fee applies.

Book Air India on Dyme

Earn Miles on every dollar and help fund clean energy.

Dyme members book Air India and 600+ other airlines.

Book Now