An Insight into the Hand Baggage Policies of Air India

Air India remains the most popular choice for netting flights bound for India from London. Thousands book air tickets with the airline every year and it becomes vital to get acquainted of the hand baggage policies of the carrier to ensure convenient journey!

Paying excess baggage charges perhaps remains the biggest fears for most flyers booking tickets for international flights. It goes without saying that passengers must heed baggage essentials and restrictions before booking tickets with a particular airline, especially when the travel involves long-haul international flights. This article discusses the hand baggage policy specified by Air India that, being the national carrier of India, is one of the most popular choices for netting tickets on board long-haul flights to the country. For more and updated details on luggage essentials of the carrier, one may log on to Air India’s official website.

Hand baggage

Those booking tickets on Air India flights are permitted to carry only one piece of cabin baggage. In addition, the bag must not exceed a total weight of 8kgs. The maximum dimensions of the bags must remain within the dimensions of 55cms (22 inches) x 40cms (16 inches) x 20cms (8 inches). The dimensions specified by the airline are inclusive of handles, pockets and wheels of the bags.

Children & Infants

Kids travelling with the carrier are entitled to the same allowance as adults. However, adults booking tickets to travel with an infant may carry a fully collapsible push chair/stroller or a carrycot in the cabin on flights, provided there is space available; if no space is available, these must be checked-in.

Odd Sized bags

Odd sized bags not meeting the dimension as set by the airline are not allowed in the cabin; such items are usually removed and carried as hold luggage.

Additional personal item permitted in cabin

Passengers booking tickets on India’s state-run carrier’s flights may carry one additional personal item from the below list over and above permissible allowance, subject to Security Regulations.

• A Lady’s hand bag/ A Laptop
• An overcoat or wrap/ A rug or a blanket
• A camera or binoculars
• Reasonable amount of reading material for the flight
• Infant’s feed for consumption during the flight and infant’s carrying basket, Feeding bottle
• A Collapsible wheelchair or pair of crutches or braces for differently abled passenger’s use
• A Walking stick / A folding umbrella
• Essential Medication
  

Items not allowed in the cabin

Liquids, gels or aerosols including creams, beverages, tooth paste, shampoos, hair gels, suntan lotions, liquid cosmetics, hair sprays and/or any other similar articles, more than 100 ml are not allowed in the cabin as determined by the government authorities. Some exceptions include medicines, baby food and inhalers accompanied by prescriptions. These items will be carried in a transparent re-sealable, one litre size plastic bag and are subject to the prescribed screening and security checks. For full details on restricted items, one may check the official website of the airline before booking flights tickets with it.

Essential Baggage Tips

• Heed the hand luggage allowance and the latest restrictions on carriage of certain items for the airline you are booking travel tickets with. For example, Air India is strict on the one piece, maximum weight of 8kg hand-luggage aboard its flights.

• Once you are aware of the size and weight limit, ensure your bag fits within this. It makes sense to choose soft bags as they can be easily crammed into overhead bins and are lighter.

• Carrying heavier items such as phone charger, camera, books, and toiletries in the pockets of your clothes is another trick of the trade. Carry medication, vital travel documents, valuables and cash in hand-luggage aboard flights.

• Do not carry loose battery cells/dry cells in the hand-luggage on flights. Air India stipulates that such items should be checked-in.

• Before approaching the check-in counters, one should pass all stuff including the hand luggage through the X-ray machines for security checks.