Air India vs IndiGo Extra Baggage Fees: Which Is Cheaper?

Updated: May 31, 2026

Air India vs IndiGo Extra Baggage Fees: Which Is Cheaper?

Need 1 kg, 5 kg or 10 kg of extra baggage on an Indian flight? Air India and IndiGo both let passengers buy additional checked baggage, but the cheapest airline depends on whether you prepay, your route, your included allowance and whether the excess is charged by weight or by piece.

For domestic travel, Air India's current published airport excess-baggage rate is ₹700 per kg plus applicable taxes. Air India also says passengers can save up to 20% by purchasing excess baggage in advance. IndiGo's current domestic Fees & Charges page lists prepaid baggage at ₹1,950 for 3 kg, ₹3,250 for 5 kg and ₹6,500 for 10 kg, with an airport excess rate currently listed as ₹800 per kg.

That means Air India is currently cheaper for ordinary domestic excess baggage paid per kilogram at the airport. For prepaid baggage, compare the actual quote shown in each airline's Manage Booking system because Air India's discount varies and IndiGo states that prepaid prices can change.

Quick answer: On a standard domestic weight-based comparison, Air India currently publishes ₹700 per extra kg at the airport, while IndiGo currently lists ₹800 per kg. IndiGo's 5 kg prepaid slab is ₹3,250 and its 10 kg slab is ₹6,500. Air India says prepaying can save up to 20% compared with its airport rate, so do not assume IndiGo is automatically cheaper for extra luggage.

Table of Contents

Air India vs IndiGo extra baggage fees comparison

Air India vs IndiGo Extra Baggage Fees

Domestic Extra Baggage Air India IndiGo
Airport excess rate ₹700/kg + applicable taxes ₹800/kg currently published
3 kg prepaid Variable; up to 20% saving vs airport rate ₹1,950
5 kg prepaid Variable; check Manage Booking ₹3,250
10 kg prepaid Variable; check Manage Booking ₹6,500
15 kg prepaid Variable; check Manage Booking ₹9,750
20 kg prepaid Variable; check Manage Booking ₹13,000
25 kg prepaid Route/booking dependent ₹16,250
30 kg prepaid Route/booking dependent ₹19,500
40 kg prepaid Route/booking dependent ₹26,000
Pre-book deadline Generally up to 2 hours before departure; special overweight-piece rules apply Domestic prepaid baggage generally up to 1 hour before departure
Maximum weight per checked piece 32 kg Subject to IndiGo's applicable baggage/piece rules

Prices change. IndiGo has updated its excess-baggage rates multiple times, and different official pages can reflect changes at different times. Treat the price displayed during purchase as the final price and recheck immediately before travel.

Which Is Cheaper for Extra Baggage: Air India or IndiGo?

For ordinary domestic excess baggage paid at the airport, Air India is currently cheaper on the airlines' published rates.

Air India:

₹700 per additional kg, plus applicable taxes

IndiGo:

₹800 per additional kg on its current Fees & Charges page

That makes the simple airport comparison:

Extra Weight Air India Airport Rate IndiGo Airport Rate
1 kg ₹700 + tax ₹800
2 kg ₹1,400 + tax ₹1,600
5 kg ₹3,500 + tax ₹4,000
10 kg ₹7,000 + tax ₹8,000

However, this does not automatically make Air India cheaper for the entire trip.

You also need to compare:

  • Ticket price
  • Included checked baggage
  • Fare family
  • Prepaid excess baggage
  • Cabin allowance
  • International baggage entitlement

The cheapest airline is the one with the lowest total cost after adding the baggage you actually need—not necessarily the cheapest ticket or lowest per-kg fee.

How Much Does Air India Charge for 1 kg Extra Baggage?

For travel within India under the weight concept, Air India's current airport excess-baggage rate is:

₹700 per kg, excluding applicable taxes.

Therefore, 1 kg over your included checked-baggage allowance can cost ₹700 plus tax if paid at the airport.

Air India also says prepaid excess baggage can save up to 20% compared with airport rates.

If you already know the bag will be overweight, buying the extra allowance before travel is usually better than deliberately arriving 1 or 2 kg over.

How Much Is 5 kg Extra Baggage?

IndiGo

IndiGo's current published domestic prepaid price for an additional 5 kg is ₹3,250.

If instead you arrive at the airport and are charged ₹800 per kg:

5 × ₹800 = ₹4,000

So prepaying the current 5 kg slab can save roughly ₹750 compared with that airport rate.

Air India

At Air India's published domestic airport rate:

5 × ₹700 = ₹3,500 plus applicable taxes.

Air India advertises savings of up to 20% for prepaid excess baggage, but the exact prepaid quote should be checked through Manage Booking.

For 5 kg extra, do not rely on a generic comparison table months before your flight. Check both airlines' live prepaid prices when you are ready to purchase.

How Much Does 10 kg Extra Baggage Cost?

IndiGo

The current published domestic prepaid slab for 10 kg is ₹6,500.

At the airport rate of ₹800 per kg:

10 kg = ₹8,000

Air India

At Air India's domestic airport rate:

10 kg = ₹7,000 plus applicable taxes.

If an eligible prepaid Air India purchase receives the airline's maximum advertised 20% saving, the prepaid amount could be substantially lower than the airport total, but the actual price shown during purchase controls.

Air India Extra Baggage Fees

Air India's excess-baggage system depends heavily on whether your ticket uses:

  • Weight concept
  • Piece concept
  • Domestic or international pricing
  • A route-specific allowance

For travel entirely within India under the weight concept, Air India currently publishes:

₹700 per excess kilogram, exclusive of applicable taxes.

Air India also charges separately for oversized baggage.

For domestic travel, a bag exceeding the normal 158 cm total dimensions can attract a published oversized-baggage handling charge of ₹2,000 per piece plus applicable taxes.

How Does Air India Prepaid Extra Baggage Work?

Air India says passengers can save up to 20% compared with airport excess-baggage charges by purchasing extra baggage in advance.

You can generally prepay:

  • Additional total baggage weight
  • Additional baggage pieces where applicable
  • Weight for a single overweight bag subject to the airline's limits

Air India currently says ordinary prepaid excess baggage can be purchased up to 2 hours before departure.

For a single bag that will exceed the normal piece weight, Air India says extra allowance up to the maximum 32 kg piece weight can be purchased up to 6 hours before the flight.

Eligibility: Air India's published prepaid offer applies to qualifying Air India tickets beginning with 098 and excludes applicable interline and codeshare situations.

How Much Does IndiGo Charge for Extra Baggage?

IndiGo sells extra domestic baggage through prepaid weight slabs.

Its current published domestic rates include:

Additional Weight Current Published Prepaid Price
3 kg ₹1,950
5 kg ₹3,250
10 kg ₹6,500
15 kg ₹9,750
20 kg ₹13,000
25 kg ₹16,250
30 kg ₹19,500
40 kg ₹26,000

IndiGo's current Fees & Charges page lists the domestic airport excess rate at ₹800 per kg.

Do not use the old ₹550–₹600 per kg figure. IndiGo's published rates have increased.

When Can You Buy IndiGo Prepaid Baggage?

IndiGo says domestic passengers can generally purchase prepaid excess baggage through its website or call centre up to 1 hour before scheduled departure.

For international travel, the deadline is generally 2 hours before departure.

IndiGo also warns that prepaid excess-baggage pricing can vary based on availability.

If you know you need extra luggage, buy it early rather than waiting until check-in.

Is It Cheaper to Buy Extra Baggage Online or at the Airport?

Usually online in advance.

For IndiGo domestic travel:

Weight Prepaid At Airport at ₹800/kg
3 kg ₹1,950 ₹2,400
5 kg ₹3,250 ₹4,000
10 kg ₹6,500 ₹8,000
15 kg ₹9,750 ₹12,000

Air India does not need the same slab table because it advertises prepaid baggage as a discount of up to 20% relative to applicable airport charges.

The airport is usually the worst place to discover your suitcase is overweight. Weigh it before leaving home.

What Happens If Your Luggage Is 2 kg Overweight?

If your allowance is 15 kg and your suitcase weighs 17 kg, you have 2 kg of excess baggage.

Air India Domestic Example

At ₹700 per kg:

2 kg extra = ₹1,400 plus applicable taxes.

IndiGo Domestic Example

At a currently published ₹800 airport rate:

2 kg extra = ₹1,600.

Because IndiGo's smallest commonly published prepaid slab is 3 kg, buying the 3 kg prepaid option may sometimes make sense if you already know you will be several kilograms overweight.

What If Your Bag Is Only 1 kg Overweight?

There is no guaranteed free 1 kg tolerance.

If your allowance is 15 kg and the bag weighs 16 kg, the airline can charge for that extra kilogram.

You may instead be able to remove:

  • A jacket
  • Permitted cabin items
  • A small electronic item
  • Other belongings that legally fit within your remaining cabin allowance

Do not move power banks, lithium batteries or prohibited cabin items blindly between bags. Some items must remain in carry-on while others cannot travel in the cabin.

Read What If My Luggage Is 1 kg Overweight?.

Can You Carry 30 kg in One Bag on Air India?

Potentially yes on a route where your allowance permits it, because Air India's absolute maximum accepted weight for a single checked bag is 32 kg.

However, this does not mean every passenger automatically has a 30 kg baggage allowance.

Your ticket might allow:

  • 15 kg
  • 20 or 25 kg
  • A higher weight allowance
  • A specific number of 23 kg or 32 kg pieces

depending on the fare, cabin and route.

No Air India checked bag may exceed 32 kg. A heavier item must be repacked or transported as cargo.

Can You Carry 30 kg on IndiGo?

You can purchase additional baggage that brings your total entitlement to a higher weight, subject to your route and booking rules.

IndiGo currently even publishes domestic prepaid excess-baggage slabs of:

  • 20 kg
  • 25 kg
  • 30 kg
  • 40 kg

But purchasing 30 kg of additional allowance does not mean you should place all of your total baggage into one extremely heavy suitcase.

Piece limits and baggage handling rules still apply.

Can You Carry 2 Bags for a 15 kg IndiGo Allowance?

This question depends on the fare and baggage-piece rules applicable to your booking.

Do not assume that a 15 kg weight allowance automatically means unlimited checked pieces.

IndiGo's current fee schedule includes additional-piece charges on fare types where more than the permitted number of checked pieces are carried.

Weight and number of pieces are separate restrictions. Your bags can be under the total weight allowance and still attract an additional-piece charge.

Can You Carry 2 Bags for 30 kg on Air India?

If your Air India ticket uses the weight concept and shows a total allowance such as 30 kg, the weight can generally be distributed subject to your ticket's piece conditions and the airline's individual bag limits.

If the route uses the piece concept, you must instead comply with the number of bags and maximum weight allowed for each piece.

Check the ticket, not just the number “30 kg.” Air India uses different baggage systems depending on route.

Why Is 32 kg an Important Number?

Air India explicitly states that 32 kg / 70 lb is the maximum weight permitted for a single checked baggage piece across its network.

That is different from your free allowance.

For example:

  • Your entitlement could be 40 kg total.
  • You still cannot put all 40 kg into one suitcase.
  • The baggage must be divided so no individual piece exceeds 32 kg.

This distinction is especially important for:

  • Students
  • Families
  • NRIs
  • Gulf travelers
  • Passengers moving household items

Included Baggage Can Change Which Airline Is Cheaper

Per-kilogram excess charges tell only part of the story.

Air India can become much cheaper if your fare already includes substantially more checked baggage than the competing IndiGo ticket.

IndiGo can still make sense when:

  • The base airfare is much cheaper
  • You travel light
  • You need only a specific prepaid add-on
  • Your route has a favorable baggage package

The best calculation is:

Airfare + required baggage + seat/meal/add-ons = actual trip price

How Much Checked Baggage Does Air India Include Domestically?

Air India's domestic allowance depends on fare brand and cabin.

Its current published guidance includes examples such as:

Air India Domestic Cabin / Fare Typical Published Allowance
Economy Basic 15 kg
Economy Comfort / Comfort Plus 15 kg
Economy Flex Up to 25 kg
Premium Economy 15–25 kg depending on fare brand
Business 25–35 kg depending on fare brand
First 40 kg

Your ticket is the final authority. Air India specifically says the baggage allowance printed on the ticket is the final baggage allowance.

What Is IndiGo's Domestic Baggage Allowance?

IndiGo baggage allowance depends on the fare, route and any add-ons purchased.

Many standard domestic bookings are built around a checked-baggage allowance with optional additional baggage available for purchase.

Because IndiGo increasingly offers different fare bundles and services, check the exact allowance displayed during booking rather than assuming every ticket has identical baggage.

Air India vs IndiGo International Extra Baggage

Do not use the domestic ₹700 vs ₹800 comparison for an international flight.

International baggage charges vary dramatically based on:

  • Country
  • Route
  • Direction of travel
  • Weight concept
  • Piece concept
  • Fare type
  • Operating airline

For some routes, excess baggage is charged by kilogram.

On others, you may pay for:

  • An additional piece
  • An overweight piece
  • An oversized piece

International excess baggage can cost far more than Indian domestic baggage. Always price it before purchasing the ticket if you know you will travel heavily.

Air India vs IndiGo Baggage From the Gulf to India

Passengers traveling from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat or Bahrain should pay particular attention to baggage because Gulf-to-India flights can have more generous checked-baggage allowances than a subsequent Indian domestic flight.

Air India's international guidance says many Gulf and Middle East routes use a weight concept, with allowance depending on fare brand and cabin.

IndiGo international baggage and prepaid excess prices are destination-specific.

Gulf traveler tip: compare the international allowance and any onward domestic allowance before buying the ticket. The cheaper Gulf flight can become expensive if your onward India leg includes much less baggage.

The International-to-Domestic Baggage Trap

This is particularly important for NRIs.

Suppose your itinerary is:

Dubai → Mumbai → Kochi

If Dubai–Mumbai and Mumbai–Kochi are on separate tickets, your domestic sector may not automatically inherit the international baggage allowance.

A bag that was perfectly within your allowance from Dubai can suddenly become heavily overweight on the separately booked domestic flight.

Read 23 Kg International, 15 Kg Domestic: The Baggage Problem for NRIs.

Does Buying Extra Checked Baggage Increase Your Cabin Allowance?

No.

Buying 5 kg, 10 kg or 20 kg of extra checked baggage does not automatically increase the amount you may carry into the cabin.

Cabin baggage has separate:

  • Weight limits
  • Size limits
  • Piece limits

For Air India, see Air India Carry-On Baggage Allowance: 7 kg, Size & Handbag Rules.

How Do You Add Extra Baggage?

Air India

  • Open Air India Manage Booking.
  • Retrieve your reservation.
  • Look for additional or prepaid baggage.
  • Check the quote for your exact flight.
  • Purchase the required allowance before the cutoff.
  • Keep the confirmation with your booking.

IndiGo

  • Open your IndiGo booking.
  • Select the excess-baggage add-on.
  • Choose the required prepaid weight slab.
  • Review the final price.
  • Pay before the applicable pre-booking deadline.
  • Confirm that the baggage add-on appears in your booking.

How to Save Money on Air India or IndiGo Extra Baggage

Do This

  • Compare included baggage before choosing the flight.
  • Weigh every suitcase at home.
  • Buy excess baggage before arriving at the airport.
  • Check whether your route uses weight or piece concept.
  • Split luggage so no single bag exceeds permitted limits.
  • Leave a small weight buffer.
  • Check onward domestic baggage separately.
  • Use the airline's official Manage Booking or baggage calculator.

Avoid This

  • Assuming 1 kg overweight will be ignored.
  • Waiting until check-in to discover the fee.
  • Comparing only ticket prices.
  • Assuming domestic and international rates are the same.
  • Putting 35 or 40 kg into one suitcase.
  • Assuming purchased checked baggage increases cabin baggage.
  • Relying on an old screenshot of baggage fees.

Simple money rule: if your bag is already packed and you know it is overweight, compare the prepaid cost immediately. There is usually no advantage in waiting until the airport.

Official Airline Sources

Bottom Line

Air India currently has the lower published domestic airport excess-baggage rate: ₹700 per kg plus taxes versus IndiGo's currently listed ₹800 per kg.

For prepaid baggage, the comparison is more nuanced:

  • Air India advertises savings of up to 20% compared with airport excess rates.
  • IndiGo currently publishes fixed domestic slabs such as ₹3,250 for 5 kg and ₹6,500 for 10 kg, although pricing can change.
  • Air India may also include substantially more checked baggage on higher fare brands and premium cabins.
  • IndiGo can still produce the cheaper total trip when its ticket price plus required baggage add-on is lower.

So there is no permanent winner for every passenger. For a domestic traveler simply arriving overweight at the airport today, Air India's published per-kilogram rate is lower. For a planned trip, compare the final fare plus prepaid baggage before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Air India charge for 1 kg of extra baggage?

Air India's current published airport excess-baggage charge for travel within India under the weight concept is ₹700 per kg plus applicable taxes. Air India says prepaid excess baggage can save up to 20% compared with airport rates.

How much does 1 kg extra baggage cost on IndiGo?

IndiGo's current Fees & Charges page lists a domestic airport excess-baggage rate of ₹800 per kg. Prepaid baggage is sold in larger weight slabs rather than as a single 1 kg domestic add-on.

Which is cheaper for extra baggage, Air India or IndiGo?

For domestic excess baggage paid at the airport, Air India's currently published ₹700-per-kg rate is lower than IndiGo's currently published ₹800-per-kg rate. The prepaid comparison depends on the live price and your included baggage allowance.

How much is 5 kg extra baggage on IndiGo?

IndiGo currently publishes a domestic prepaid price of ₹3,250 for 5 kg. At a published airport rate of ₹800 per kg, 5 kg of excess would instead cost ₹4,000.

How much would 5 kg extra cost on Air India?

At Air India's current domestic airport rate of ₹700 per kg, 5 kg costs ₹3,500 plus applicable taxes. Air India also offers prepaid excess baggage with savings of up to 20%, so check the live Manage Booking quote before paying at the airport.

How much is 10 kg extra baggage on IndiGo?

IndiGo's current domestic prepaid rate for 10 kg is ₹6,500. At the currently published airport rate of ₹800 per kg, 10 kg would cost ₹8,000.

How can I add 10 kg extra baggage on Air India?

Retrieve your qualifying booking through Air India's Manage Booking section and purchase prepaid excess baggage before the applicable deadline. Air India generally allows prepaid excess baggage up to two hours before departure, subject to ticket and itinerary conditions.

What happens if my luggage is 2 kg overweight on Air India?

For a domestic weight-concept flight at Air India's current airport rate, 2 kg excess would cost ₹1,400 plus applicable taxes unless you have purchased sufficient prepaid baggage beforehand.

What happens if my luggage is 2 kg overweight on IndiGo?

At IndiGo's currently published domestic airport rate of ₹800 per kg, 2 kg excess would cost ₹1,600. If you know in advance that the bag will be overweight, compare that with the available prepaid baggage slabs.

Is there a free 1 kg grace allowance on Air India or IndiGo?

Neither airline publishes a guaranteed general rule allowing every passenger to exceed the baggage allowance by 1 kg for free. Staff may enforce the ticketed allowance, so do not plan around receiving a grace kilogram.

Can we carry 2 bags for 15 kg on IndiGo?

Do not assume that a 15 kg weight allowance automatically permits any number of checked pieces. IndiGo can also apply additional-piece rules depending on the fare and booking, so check the piece entitlement shown on your ticket.

Can we carry 2 bags for 30 kg on Air India?

If your Air India route uses the weight concept and your ticket genuinely provides 30 kg, it may be possible to distribute that weight among permitted checked pieces. Piece-concept routes instead specify how many bags you may check and the maximum weight of each.

Can I put 30 kg in one Air India suitcase?

Air India permits no checked baggage piece above 32 kg anywhere on its network, so 30 kg is below that absolute limit. However, your own ticket must provide or include enough baggage allowance, and overweight or oversized charges can still apply.

What is Air India's maximum weight for one checked bag?

Air India currently states that no individual checked baggage piece may weigh more than 32 kg or 70 lb. Anything heavier must be repacked or transported as cargo.

Is prepaid extra baggage cheaper on Air India?

Air India says prepaid excess baggage can save up to 20% compared with paying the applicable excess-baggage charge at the airport.

Is prepaid extra baggage cheaper on IndiGo?

Usually yes. For example, IndiGo currently lists 5 kg prepaid at ₹3,250 while 5 kg charged at the published ₹800-per-kg airport rate would cost ₹4,000.

How late can I buy Air India prepaid extra baggage?

Air India generally permits prepaid excess baggage purchases up to two hours before departure. For a single overweight bag where additional allowance is purchased up to the 32 kg maximum, Air India publishes a six-hour advance cutoff.

How late can I buy IndiGo prepaid baggage?

IndiGo currently says prepaid excess baggage for a domestic flight can generally be purchased up to one hour before scheduled departure. For international flights, the usual cutoff is two hours.

Does buying 10 kg extra baggage increase my cabin baggage?

No. Extra checked baggage and cabin baggage are separate allowances. Buying 10 kg of additional checked baggage does not automatically let you bring an extra 10 kg into the aircraft cabin.

Are Air India international excess baggage rates ₹700 per kg?

No. The ₹700-per-kg figure is Air India's currently published domestic airport rate for weight-concept travel within India. International excess baggage is route-specific and may be charged by weight, piece, overweight piece or additional piece.

Are IndiGo international baggage fees ₹800 per kg?

Not necessarily. IndiGo's international excess-baggage fees vary by destination and can be substantially higher than domestic charges. Use the international table for your exact route.

I am flying from Dubai to India and then taking a domestic flight. Will my international baggage allowance continue?

Not automatically, especially if the domestic flight is on a separate ticket. Check the baggage allowance for the India domestic sector separately before travel because this is a common source of expensive excess-baggage charges for NRIs.

Updated: August 29, 2026

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Can You Carry a Cricket Bat on Indian Flights? Cabin & Checked Baggage Rules

Can You Carry a Cricket Bat on Indian Flights? Cabin & Checked Baggage Rules Yes, you can take a cricket bat on an Indian flight, b...