Can I Buy Extra Baggage On Air India? | Save On Fees

Buying Extra Baggage On Air India: How It Works

Air India lets you add paid baggage after you book. The easiest path is the Manage Booking page on the website or app. Enter your PNR and last name, pick the flight segment, and choose extra pieces or extra kilograms based on your route. Your receipt lands in your email, and your allowance updates on the booking.

Two timers matter. For most routes you can prepay up to 2 hours before departure. For overweight items, the pre-purchase window can close earlier, often 6 hours before the flight. Miss the window and you can still pay at the counter, but you’ll lose the online discount.

Routes use two models. Many international routes use the piece system. Domestic and some regional itineraries use the weight system. Your ticket displays the free allowance and the model in play. The purchase screen mirrors that same model, so you only see choices that match your route.

Air India Extra Baggage Options At A Glance

Piece Vs. Weight: Know Your Route

On piece-based routes you buy by the piece. On weight-based routes you buy by kilogram. The manage page shows the right menu automatically, but it helps to know the pattern. USA and Canada routes follow strict piece limits. Many other long-hauls also use the piece model. Inside India, the weight model is common.

If your route is under the piece model, you’ll see offers like “one extra bag up to 23 kg.” Under the weight model, you’ll see blocks such as “5 kg,” “10 kg,” or “20 kg.” Either way, a single bag can’t exceed 32 kg. That network-wide cap applies even when you pay for extra capacity.

You still need to respect dimensions. Standard checked baggage must sit within the size box your fare allows. If a bag is too large, it may attract an oversize charge or require special handling. When you’re close to the edge, shifting items to a second bag is safer than pushing one piece over limits.

Step-By-Step: Prepay Extra Baggage Online

Find Your Booking

Open Manage Booking on the Air India site or app. Enter your PNR and last name. Select the flight you’re packing for and choose “Baggage.”

Choose The Product

Pick extra piece or extra kilograms based on what the page offers. Select the quantity, review the total, and check the cutoff time shown on screen.

Pay And Save

Complete payment with your preferred method. Prepaid amounts usually cost less than paying at the airport. Keep the email receipt handy in case an agent needs to verify the add-on.

Where The Savings Come From

Airport counters apply published excess rates. Online purchases are discounted against those rates. That’s why adding a block of kilograms ahead of time often beats rolling the dice at the desk. It also shortens the check-in line, since the system already knows your new allowance.

If you’re buying an extra piece for a piece-model route, compare two paths: paying for one heavier bag versus splitting weight into two bags. The cap per bag is 32 kg, and oversize or overweight penalties can stack. Two normal pieces can be cheaper and easier to handle.

Carry-On, Checked, And What To Shift

Carry-on has its own limits and screening rules. If your liquids or battery packs push the cabin bag over the line, keep them with you and move dense but safe items to checked bags. If you need a refresher on size limits on checked baggage, see this quick explainer on size limits on checked baggage.

Flying to or from the U.S.? Liquids in the cabin follow the “3-1-1” rule. That stays the same even when you prepay more checked capacity. Heavy bottles belong in checked bags; travel-size containers stay in the quart bag at security. If you need the official wording, read the TSA page on the liquids rule.

Rules, Caps, And Cutoffs You Should Know

Network-Wide 32 Kg Per Bag

No single bag can weigh more than 32 kg. That’s a hard cap across the Air India network. If a packed suitcase crosses the line, move items into a second bag or ship them.

Prepay Windows

Most prepaid baggage closes 2 hours before departure. For overweight items, the window can close earlier, often 6 hours. If the option disappears online, pay at the counter.

Refunds And Changes

Prices shown at purchase are final. If your plan changes, the path to a refund depends on fare rules and whether you still fly. Treat prepaid baggage like a time-sensitive add-on and confirm details before paying.

Domestic Vs. International: What Changes

Within India, you’ll usually buy weight blocks. Internationally, many itineraries use the piece model. USA and Canada itineraries are strict on number of pieces and standard bag weight. Connections on partner airlines can bring a different rule set into play. When a codeshare segment sits in your plan, the purchase page may limit what you can pre-buy, and the operating carrier’s desk has the final say at the airport.

Table: Cutoffs, Limits, And Where To Buy

Who Should Prepay Extra Baggage

If your bag is already near the allowance, prepaying buys peace of mind and a lower rate. Families with strollers, car seats, and souvenirs benefit from a pre-planned second bag. Students moving for a semester abroad can pick a weight block that fits books and winter gear.

Business travelers hopping to the U.S. with samples or brochures usually save by pre-buying a second piece. Photographers with sturdy cases should check dimensions and consider a spare bag to keep each case within common size bands.

Can You Buy Extra Baggage At The Airport?

Yes, the counters can sell you the same capacity. The tradeoff is price and time. Counter rates are usually higher, and queues can be long near departure. You may also face oversize checks that slow things down. If you know you’ll exceed the allowance, locking it in online is simpler.

Practical Packing Moves That Cut Fees

Split Weight Across Pieces

Instead of one heavy bag that risks penalties, divide weight into two regular bags. That keeps each piece under the 23 kg sweet spot on many routes and avoids the 32 kg ceiling.

Use A Luggage Scale

Weigh at home and again after you add souvenirs. A compact digital scale saves a lot of counter drama.

Move Dense Items To Checked Bags

Books, shoes, and chargers add up. Shift them to checked bags and keep only fragile and high-value gear in the cabin.

Know Your Liquids

Full-size toiletries belong in checked bags. The “3-1-1” rule still applies to carry-on. Leave room in checked bags for anything over 100 ml so security stays smooth.

Edge Cases: Codeshares, Multi-City, And Partners

On tickets with partner airlines, the operating carrier’s rules can govern a segment. Some partners don’t accept prepaid amounts bought through Air India for their leg. In those cases, the system may block prepay, and you’ll settle extras at the partner’s counter. For multi-city trips, apply the strictest rule across the chain and spread weight so every segment works.

Official Sources You Can Use Mid-Trip

If you lose the confirmation email, you can still verify your allowance on Manage Booking. For allowance basics, check Air India’s page on checked baggage. For prepay specifics and discounts, the page for prepay excess baggage walks through eligibility and the window.

Before You Click Pay

Confirm the model on your route, check the cutoff on the purchase screen, and review the per-bag 32 kg cap. If you also want to read about locks and inspection access, here’s a short piece on padlock your luggage. Pay online when you can, and arrive with packed bags that match what you bought.