Traveller reference · AI
Air India
Star Alliance · IATA AI · the main non-stop link between the US and India
Travelaidnow is an independent travel agency and is not Air India, nor affiliated with or endorsed by it.
This page is a general reference written by our team. Baggage allowances, fees and policies are set by the airline and change without notice, so confirm anything that affects your trip with Air India directly before you travel.
Official site: airindia.comAir India operates most of the non-stop flying between the United States and India, from several US gateways into Delhi and Mumbai. On a route where the alternative is a one-stop through a Gulf or European hub adding several hours, that non-stop is often the reason to choose it.
The airline has been through a substantial ownership change and is in the middle of a large fleet renewal, with older and newly refitted aircraft operating alongside each other. The cabin you get can therefore vary noticeably between two flights on the same route, which is worth checking if the seat matters to you.
Air India at a glance
- IATA code
- AI
- ICAO code
- AIC
- Based in
- India
- Alliance
- Star Alliance
- Type
- Full-service
- Frequent flyer
- Maharaja Club
Cabins
- Economy
- Premium Economy
- Business
- First (limited)
Main bases
- DEL · Delhi
- BOM
How Air India baggage works
Air India generally applies a piece system on US routes and weight-based allowances on parts of its domestic and regional network, varying by cabin and fare.
Allowances on India routes are often more generous than on comparable transatlantic flying, which reflects how people actually travel on them.
Because the systems differ across the network and the airline is mid-transition on several fronts, confirm the allowance against your booking on airindia.com.
Check-in
Online check-in typically opens 48 hours before departure on international routes.
At Delhi, Terminal 3 handles international departures and is large. Security and immigration queues at peak times are substantial, so the published cutoff is not the time to arrive by.
Boarding
Boarding is by group according to cabin and status, with Star Alliance recognition applying.
On the long US routes, boarding a full widebody takes time and cabin baggage volumes are high. Overhead space goes early.
Before you fly Air India
Check the aircraft, not just the route
Fleet renewal means refitted and older cabins operate the same routes. If the seat product matters, look at what is scheduled for your specific flight.
A domestic connection at Delhi is not airside
Terminal 3 does not connect airside to the domestic terminals. An onward flight within India on a separate ticket means clearing immigration, collecting bags and transferring. Allow hours, not minutes.
Star Alliance status applies
Status with United, Lufthansa or another Star Alliance member brings priority and baggage benefits. Add the number when booking.
Planning a trip rather than researching a carrier?
Our route and airport guides cover the journey itself — when demand peaks, which airports work, and how long the connection really takes.
FAQ
Air India — common questions
General guidance only. Air India sets these policies and can change them, so confirm anything that affects your trip at airindia.com.
Does Air India fly non-stop from the US to India?
Yes. It operates the majority of the non-stop services between US cities and Delhi or Mumbai, which is its main advantage on the route — the alternatives generally involve a connection through a Gulf or European hub that adds several hours to the journey.
What is Air India's baggage allowance?
It varies by route, cabin and fare, with a piece system typically applying on US routes and weight-based allowances on parts of the domestic network. India routes are often more generous than comparable transatlantic flying. Check the allowance against your booking on airindia.com rather than relying on a general figure.
Has Air India improved since privatisation?
The airline has undergone a significant ownership change and is partway through a large fleet renewal and cabin refit programme. That means the experience is genuinely inconsistent at present, because refitted and un-refitted aircraft fly the same routes. Checking the aircraft scheduled for your flight is more informative than a general judgement about the airline.