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No grey hair and religious thread, compulsory deo: What it takes to be a flight attendant at Air India

The Tata group-owned Air India has issued new guidelines for its cabin crew staff. Among the many rules, male crew members with a ‘deep receding hairline or balding patches’ have been asked to maintain a clean, shaved head while women have been told to adhere to a shade card for makeup

There is something about Air India’s air hostesses and glamour. In the ’70s and ’80s when the Tatas owned the airline, they were often referred to as ‘hawai sundaris’ and were considered the epitome of glamour, glitz and jet set lifestyle, enjoying holidays that few others could afford.

However, as time passed by and other airlines entered the market, these attendants lost their novelty. Now, as the Tatas have taken back control of the airline, it seems they want to recapture the glitz and glamour of the days gone by and have issued a new set of guidelines on grooming for its male and female cabin crew.

In issuing the new guidelines, a source from the company was quoted as saying to ANI , “Air India is the only airline in the country which has been serving the world for many decades. Representations and images of the crew are not as per international standards. The new management wants to change the perception of flyers.”

New rules for female cabin crew

Female cabin crew members have a long list of dos and don’ts to follow as per the new guidelines, which were released a month ago.

The guidelines published under the name ‘Cabin Crew Handbook’ have mandated that female crew members will only be permitted to wear gold or diamond round-shaped earrings without design or ornamentation; pearl earrings won’t be allowed.

It has also mandated that rings can’t be more than 1 cm in width and only one will be allowed. Also, only one bangle without any design or stones will be allowed.

Nose rings are also not permitted and if the mark appears on the nose it should be covered with make-up.

Furthermore, women who choose to wear a bindi can only have one that is of 0.5 cm.

Also read: Air India’s new pre-flight BMI weight check rule irks crew members: What the row is all about

When it comes to hair, women crew members have to style their tresses only in high top knots, no low buns are allowed. Also, only four black bobby pins can be used.

Air India has also asked its female crew members to always wear sheer calf length stockings matching their skin tone.

When it comes to make-up, women crew are expected to adhere to the eyeshadow, lipstick, nail paint, and hair shade cards, with no room for personal shades.

Dos and don’ts for men

Air India has also come out with more rules for their male crew members. The airline has asked their crew who have “deep receding hairline and male balding patches must keep a clean shaved head/ bald look”.

However, the respective persons need to shave their heads daily. “Crew cut is not permitted,” it added.

The guidelines go on to add that only a ‘zero setting’ should be used on the trimmer to clean the hair outside the hairline.

Men have also been asked to wear socks that match the colour of their trousers and be no longer or shorter than the calf.

Other common rules

Both male and female crew members with grey hair are also required to regularly colour them in a natural shade. “Fashion colors and henna are not permitted,” it says.

The attendants have also been told not to wear the black or religious thread on their wrist, neck, ankles.

The cabin crew have also been asked to use antiperspirant or deodorant along with their perfume and asked that it be a part of their daily hygiene routine. The guidelines also state heavily scented perfumes should be avoided and that it shouldn’t be sprayed directly on uniforms and only on pulse points on the skin.

The guidelines also state that crew should not wear the uniform and its accessories when off-duty.

Air India has also asked cabin crew not to carry plastic bags or shopping bags when they are within the airport vicinity. They have also been asked to refrain from ‘unbecoming lounging’ while in groups.

Tatas’ transformation

Since taking over the airline last October, the Tatas have been trying to transform Air India. They have announced that they will progressively induct 30 new aircraft, including five wide-body Boeing planes, from December this year as the airline looks to boost its domestic and international services.

They also had advised cabin crew earlier to wear minimum jewellery to avoid flight delays. “The cabin crew must adhere to the uniform regulations with emphasis on minimum jewellery being worn in order to avoid any delays at customs and security checks,” it had said in a February circular.

JRD Tata , who began the airline, was unapologetic about his obsession to perfection, which even extended to cabin crew. The airline introduced Anglo-Indian air hostesses with the then western look comprising tailored European dresses and jaunty angled caps in 1946.

In the beginning of the 1960s, Air India, as part of their rebranding, adopted saris as the official uniform their female cabin crew members.

They were considered to be pretty and the gold standard of beauty in India. Even the marketing of the airline was centred on them.

With the new guidelines, it seems that the Tatas want to recapture their glory days with Air India.

With inputs from agencies

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To retain employees amidst debt, Air India unveils free travel policy for its employees

The new rules came into effect this year, allowing even extended family members up to four tickets every year..

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The carrier has similar benefits for free travel for as many as 12,000 retired employees and their families too. This latest largesse will cost the airline a few hundred crore rupees more every year now, something it can hardly afford. Free travel Documents accessed by Mail Today show that even Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Air India Rohit Nandan has been getting free tickets for family members, in violation of official norms. Nandan is an IAS officer on deputation to Air India and, according to official norms, can fly free on official trips but is not permitted to extend the same facility to his family members.

He is not entitled to fly free of cost when vacationing or on leave either. Nandan has also been using his clout to get cheap economy class tickets for his family members upgraded to business class without paying any money. In the process Air India loses out on business class bookings which cost five times as much as ordinary class. Mail Today is in possession of documents relating to air tickets and other papers where Nandan availed benefits not only for his mother, Leela Srivastava, to Varanasi and Dharamsala, but also upgraded five of his relatives to executive class.

According to an AI official, the travel from New Delhi to Chandigarh for the five Continued from page 1 tickets were booked on lowest economy class for Rs 3,789 while the cost per ticket for executive class on the day of travel was Rs 11,996. Asked about this, Nandan said: "I hardly travel except on official duty." Similarly, Director (Security & Vigilance) B.K. Maurya, an IPS officer on deputation with the national carrier, has also been availing free ticket benefits for himself and his family. Maurya's predecessor, Hemant Rao, an IAS officer, had also violated norms to avail of free travel ( see accompanying box).

"Such a system of freebies is unheard of in any airline in the world, where such a huge number of free tickets are given for domestic and international travel to serving and retired employees and their family members," said a senior pilot on condition of anonymity. The AI definition of family is wider than widest-bodied aircraft it operates: it includes children, wife and parents as well as brothers, sisters, son-in-law and daughter-in-law as beneficiaries.

Notified on October 1, 2013, the new rules came into effect this year, now allowing even extended family members up to four tickets every year out of an employee's annual entitlement for travel anywhere in India and abroad (see box). Earlier the carrier had a uniform system of up to seven free tickets every year (including two free and five with 95 per cent discounts on fares).

Now lower and middle-rung employees can get up to 12 free tickets in a year, officers in the rank of assistant manager to senior assistant general manager will get 16 free tickets, while deputy general managers get 20, and functional directors and joint managing directors get 24 free tickets to travel anywhere in India and abroad. Another sweetheart sub-deal in all this joy is that Air India ensures employees get confirmed tickets three days in advance for domestic travel and seven days in case of international travel. "This leaves many genuine AI passengers without a seat and they switch to other private carriers," said a pilot. Until December 31, 2013, airline officials were also brazenly enjoying "interline/ reciprocal arrangement between erstwhile Air India and erstwhile Indian Airlines even though the two airlines had merged as far back as April 2007.

This facility provided top airline officials unlimited travel for themselves and their families to any domestic and international destinations where Air India flies. It was only when non official members of the Air India board raised objections that the facility was stopped. Top sources told Mail Today that when the merger of erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines took place, officials should have discontinued interline/ reciprocal facility as it was one carrier the day it was merged.

"But the top management continued with it as this gave them unlimited free travelling for self and their family members. This is a serious issue especially when airline is under massive losses and is supposed to implement its turnaround plan for a revival," said the official. Published By: AtMigration Published On: Jan 17, 2014 --- ENDS ---

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Air India Limited, AI (known as "Air India Limited")

Flight listing policy and procedures, flights excluded, check-in times.

• Listing for ZED travel on Air India has now been made mandatory.
• All Standby travellers will be required to call the AI Call Centre to list themselves atleast 24 hours prior to departure.
• The Call Centre contact information is updated here - http://airindia.in/customer-support.htm.
• Kindly note  embargo for staff travel has been withdrawn on all AI flights effective 16th July 2021. 
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• USA-INDIA:                                      01st June 20XX          to    16th July 20XX
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• INDIA-AUS :                                     15th July              to   15th August 2018
•                                                         15th December    to   31st January 2019
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• AUS-INDIA  :                                     15th December     to      15th January 
•                                                         15th December     to      15th January 
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• UK & EUROPE - INDIA :                    10th July              to      15th August 
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• All code share flights between the numbers 3000 and 9999.
• Flights numbers from AI 001 THROUGH AI 099
• as per ZED policy

Checked baggage

• 20 KG for weight concept
• 01 PC for piece concept

Cabin baggage

Boarding policy.

• Three hours prior departure

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Air India Flight Check In

When it comes to checking in for your Air India flight, you have several options to choose from. Whether you prefer the convenience of online check-in or the traditional counter check-in, Air India has you covered.

If you want to save time and avoid long queues at the airport, online check-in is the way to go. You can check in for your flight from the comfort of your own home or office. Simply visit the official Air India website and click on the "Online Check-In" option. Follow the instructions, enter your details, and you'll receive your boarding pass electronically. It's a hassle-free way to start your journey.

If you prefer a more personal touch or have any special requirements, you can opt for counter check-in. Air India has dedicated check-in counters at all major airports. Simply present your travel documents to the Air India staff, and they will assist you with the check-in process. This option is ideal if you have any specific requests or need assistance with baggage.

Tips, Help & Resources

For a seamless travel experience, it is recommended to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight departure time. This will allow you ample time for check-in, security procedures, and any other pre-flight preparations.

Head over to our Air India page for more detailed information about this airline.

Is your flight on time? Get Air India flight status info here .

Get more info about flights at the Air India Flight Guide.

The information on this page can change at any time, so it is best to check with the official airline website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Find more help here for your journey through the airport

Air India Safety Chief Suspended as Regulator Finds Lapses

• DGCA checks found ‘deficiencies’ in accident prevention work
• Says carrier lacks ‘technical manpower’ in safety operations

An Air India Ltd. aircraft in Mumbai.

India’s aviation regulator suspended the chief of flight safety at Air India Ltd. for a month after uncovering lapses at the flag carrier.

Routine checks by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on July 25-26 found “deficiencies” in Air India’s accident prevention work, as well as unavailability of qualified personnel, the regulator said in a statement Thursday.

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Cabin Temperature: Air India Sets New Requirement For Flight Attendants Following Multi-Hour Delay Incidents

• Air India has updated its cabin temperature procedures after incidents of passenger discomfort on delayed flights to San Francisco.
• The new SOP requires cabin crew to check and set temperature levels before passengers board to prevent discomfort.
• Recent delays on ultra-long-haul flights to SFO led to the revision, ensuring passengers are not left waiting in high temperatures.

Air India has revised its standard operating procedure (SOP) for cabin temperatures after recent incidents of passenger discomfort on its delayed flights to San Francisco came to light. One of the aircraft arranged for the flight had issues with the air conditioning, leading to some passengers even fainting.

New guidelines

After massive delays to its flights to San Francisco recently, during which one of the aircraft also had issues with its air conditioning, Air India has now developed a new set of instructions for its cabin crew members to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

The carrier was issued a show-cause notice from the aviation ministry as the significant delay caused massive discomfort to many passengers due to a malfunctioning air conditioner, with reports of some passengers even fainting.

Now, Air India crew members must ensure the cabin temperature is brought down to 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit) before letting the passengers in.

List of instructions

The development comes amid a severe heatwave in India, with some parts reporting temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) and above. To ensure that passengers don’t suffer waiting inside the aircraft, Air India has come up with the following procedures, as reported by CNBC TV18 :

• The cabin crew must check the temperature immediately after boarding the aircraft.
• It must be ensured that the cabin temperature is set at 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Boarding clearance can only be given when the cabin temperature in all zones is 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.
• If the temperature cannot be brought down to the prescribed levels, the pilot in command and the assigned engineer must be notified. The commander can also give boarding clearance in such cases.
• In case a delay is caused under such circumstances, they should be filed under Miscellaneous.
• The crew must also be mindful not to have service doors left open if the catering-related activities are not in progress.
• Before passenger boarding begins, the cabin crew members must also open all air vents.

The incident that led to these changes

Recently, Air India was in hot water when two of its ultra-long-haul flights to San Francisco got massively delayed within days of one another, resulting in terrible inconvenience for passengers. The first incident occurred on flight 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco, which involved everything from unloading bags of passengers who did not want to travel to even a passenger getting sick.

But perhaps it was the second delay of flight 183 from New Delhi to San Francisco that led to the carrier revising its rules for cabin temperature. The delay lasted over 30 hours, and one passenger said that the replacement aircraft did not have working air conditioning.

Air India Scrutinized After Delaying Two Separate Long-Haul Flights To San Francisco For Multiple Hours

There were more than 200 passengers, including the elderly and children, who were extremely uncomfortable, with some reportedly fainting during the time they were onboard the aircraft. After disembarking, they had to further wait on the jetway for nearly an hour before the gates were opened to enter the airport.

What are your views on this? Please leave a comment below.

IATA/ICAO Code: AI/AIC

Airline Type: Full Service Carrier

Hub(s): Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport

Year Founded: 1946

Alliance: Star Alliance

CEO: Campbell Wilson

Country: India

Region: Asia

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Govt employee and want to travel by air? Here are some LTC rules you should know

The guidelines have been issued by the department of post under the ministry of communications..

The Union government has announced Leave Travel Concession (LTC) rules for central government employees for air ticket booking. The guidelines, issued by the Department of Post under the Ministry of Communications, explain rules in regard to air ticket booking agents, ticket fare etc.

Therefore, if you are a central government employee, you should be aware of the following LTC rules for air travel:

(1.) Tickets can be purchased only from the three authorised travel agents: M/s Balmer & Lawrie Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), and M/s Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Limited.

(2.) Within their entitled travel class, employees should choose a flight, preferably non-stop, with cheapest possible fare, in a given slot. A screenshot/print-out of this booking should be retained for LTC settlement claims.

(3.) To avail the most competitive fare and minimise burden on the exchequer, tickets should be booked at least 21 days before the intended journey date.

(4.) In unavoidable circumstances, where the booking is done through an external travel agent, relaxation can be given only by financial advisors of the ministry/department, and heads of department not below the rank of Joint Secretary in subordinate/attached office.

(5.) For LTC advance, staffers should apply at least 30 days prior to the intended date of journey, with the print-out of booking.

(6.) After receiving advance, if you see a different fare, then this is because there was a time gap between applying for and grant of advance; the said difference will be adjusted while settling LTC claim.

(7.) Employees not entitled for air travel but wish to travel by air, and are not under the Special Dispensation Scheme, should also get their tickets from the three agents irrespective of booking time limit.

(8.) Cancellations made before less than 24 hours before the journey will require submission of a self-declared justification by the staffer. No cancellation charges will be provided by the three ATAs.

(9.) Preferable, one ticket should be booked for each leg of travel, and holding multiple tickets is prohibited.

(10.) Employees are encouraged to generate tickets digitally through the portal of the three ATAs only. For this, they should submit their official email IDs with these agencies.

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Air India CEO on Impact of Bilateral Rights on Indian Carriers’ Ability to Fill Seats

Bulbul Dhawan , Skift

June 6th, 2024 at 11:31 AM EDT

Air India has been upgrading its fleet and investing heavily in new planes. An increase in grants under bilateral agreements to Middle East carriers threatens Indian carriers' share in carrying passengers to long-haul destinations, leading to a lower return on investment.

Bulbul Dhawan

Indian full-service carrier Air India has said its plans to invest in new aircraft will depend on the government’s policy on bilateral agreements and the seat capacity being granted, CEO Campbell Wilson said this week at an aviation event in India. 

Last year, the airline placed an order for 470 new aircraft with Boeing and Airbus. It is also upgrading its fleet, set to retrofit more than 100 planes, of which 40 are wide-body aircraft. It has also ordered around 25,000 seats as part of its fleet revamp, investing $400 million in this upgrade.

Wilson was quoted as saying, “Indian carriers recently ordered more than 1,000 aircraft. We are committing to that on the basis that there would be an economic return to that investment, which, if you add it all, is well over $100 billion.” 

However, if more bilateral rights are granted to hubs in other countries, it would impact Indian airlines’ ability to fill seats on those aircraft, Wilson said.

“If the rug is pulled from under us, if we can’t fill the aircraft, we will not take them,” he said, referring to taking wide-body aircraft.

He further stated that granting more bilateral rights would feed the economies of those countries instead of India’s as they would take traffic from India and transfer about 80-90% of it to other parts of the world.

Call for Increased Bilateral Rights

Carriers in the Middle East such as Emirates and Qatar Airways have been seeking grants of more rights so that they can operate an increased number of flights to and from India. Apart from this, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey are also seeking more flying rights to and from India. 

Earlier this week, Emirates President Tim Clark said that India is restricting its access in order to give time to Air India and the Tata group amid its merger with Vistara. 

“India is clearly protecting the merger of Air India and Vistara. I know from years of experience that protecting your national carriers to the detriment of the economy of the particular country is not such a smart move,” he said.

This is leading to the country compromising the strength of its economy by allowing fewer choices to air passengers on international routes. 

In March this year, Clark urged India to sign an open skies accord with the United Arab Emirates to allow airlines in the two countries greater access to each other’s market, according to a report by Bloomberg .

What Other Carriers Say

Budget airline SpiceJet too agrees that the focus needs to be on development of hubs within India so that all domestic carriers can benefit. 

In an earlier interview with Skift , IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the open skies agreement between the U.S. and Europe took years to be established. “Both these markets had grown to a certain stage and airlines on both sides were ready to take the next step in development. So, when open skies was announced, it was helpful to start creating stronger alliances and joint ventures,” he said. 

This would evolve over time for India depending on the time and markets, he said. “In general, one would try to create a regulatory framework serving the needs of the customers and the airlines.”

He also said that if an open skies agreement offers opportunities for both sides, it would make sense to take it. “But when that’s not so, you’d probably need a more tailor made and fine-tuned approach.”

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Tags: air india , airline , airline news , airline operations , airlines , asia monthly , aviation , aviation industry , aviation news , campbell wilson , india , india travel , indian airlines , international air traffic , open skies , Open Skies agreements

Photo credit: Last year, the airline placed an order for 470 new aircraft with Boeing and Airbus. (Image: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson at Skift India Summit 2024) Skift

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Air India, Delhi Metro offer baggage drop services for international travellers

Air India has introduced check-in and baggage drop services at two stations of the Delhi Metro for international passengers. The facility has been launched for passengers at the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium metro stations in collaboration with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Delhi International Airport (DIAL). With this, foreign travellers will be able to easily tour Delhi without being burdened by their heavy bags. Their bags will reach the aircraft through a modern system jointly developed by DMRC and DIAL. The service is currently available to passengers on domestic journeys. Air India has now also made it available to foreign passengers. This service is available at the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium metro stations from 7 am to 9 pm. Domestic passengers can check in from two hours to 12 hours before departure and international travellers from two hours to four hours before departure. Delhi Metro, which has a metro train service every ten minutes, takes only 19 minutes to reach Terminal 3 of the Delhi Airport. 

Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India said, "Our collaboration with DMRC and DIAL will help provide a better travel experience to the passengers. Such facilities can cut the expenses for passengers and reduce congestion at the airport. The new service will be helpful to passengers just like DG Yatra and self baggage drop machines at airport terminals”.  Air India was founded by JRD Tata. Air India has been part of the journey of Indians to different parts of the world since its maiden flight that took off on October 15, 1932. Air India has flights to many parts of the world such as America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, West Asia, South East Asia and Australia. Air India and Air India Express were handed back to the Tata Group in January 2022 after 69 years of the government takeover.  The Tata Group is taking over Air India in five phases. The Tata Group has announced that it aims to transform Air India into a world-class airline with an Indian heart. The first phase focuses on the basics. These include restarting services that have been stopped for a long time, making changes in technology and offering more services to passengers.

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Checked Baggage

Have you checked your baggage.

If you’re someone who values bringing all your essentials on board, discover all you need to know about checked baggage allowances for a seamless air travel experience on our domestic and international flights.

Domestic flights

Points to remember:

• The above allowances apply only to Air India-operated flights and not to Air India Express or codeshare flights. 
• Passengers flying on Air India domestic or international sectors on the same ticket will have the baggage allowance of the international sector applied.
• The connection flight is within 24 hours.
• Both flights are operated by Air India.
• Star Alliance Gold members can carry an additional 20 kg/44 lb of baggage in economy class.
• Members of premium clubs and our Flying Returns programme will get additional baggage.
• Infants are entitled to one collapsible stroller/carrycot/infant car seat.
• Students can enjoy a free baggage allowance of 25 kg/ 55 lb, regardless of the fare band.
• The maximum weight permissible for a single piece of baggage is 32 kg/71 lb. This rule applies to the entire Air India network.
• Passengers can carry assistive devices free of charge as additional baggage subject to the limitation of the aircraft as per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines.

Rules for baggage dimensions

International flights.

• Travel to and from Africa
• Travel to and from Australia and Far East-Southeast Asia
• Travel to and from Canada/USA
• Travel to and from Europe/UK/Israel
• Travel to and from Gulf and Middle East
• Travel to and from SAARC Countries
• Travel to and from Saudi Arabia

Piece and weight concept

Additional allowance for flying returns members.

Flying Returns members can bring additional baggage on flights operated by Air India and Star Alliance member airlines. The additional allowance is based on the tier status of Flying Returns members for weight concept and piece concept sectors.

Terms and conditions apply. Extra baggage allowance and lounge access is subject to change as per government directive.

Baggage rules for an interline journey

As per the International Air Transport Association (IATA), baggage rules for an interline journey are as follows:

Step 1: If the published provisions for baggage allowance among all participating carriers are the same, then those provisions will apply.

Step 2:  When one or more published baggage provisions differ between participating carriers, apply any common provisions. When all provisions differ, apply the published baggage provisions of the Most Significant Carrier (MSC). In the case of codeshare flights, this will be the operating carrier unless that carrier publishes a rule stipulating that it will be the marketing carrier.

Step 3:  If the MSC does not publish baggage provisions for the journey concerned, apply the published baggage provisions of the carrier accepting the baggage at check-in.

Step 4:  Determine the MSC:

• For travel between two or more IATA areas, the carrier on the first sector crosses from one area to another. 
• Exception: IATA Area 1/2/3 only, the carrier providing carriage on the first sector crosses between IATA Area 1 and IATA Area 2.
• For travel between IATA tariff sub-areas, the carrier in the first sector crosses from one sub-area to another.
• For travel within an IATA tariff sub-area, it is the carrier in the first international sector.

When a passenger chooses to take a stopover at a connecting point, a new baggage assessment and charges may apply from the point of departure following the stopover.

Here are some more things to keep in mind:

• Infants in all classes are eligible for baggage allowance of up to 10 kg/22 lb of one piece.
• For tickets issued effective 01 April 2019, free baggage allowance in economy class between India and Newark (EWR) is one piece of up to 23 kg/51 lb.

Baggage allowance on codeshare flights

Please refer to their websites for free baggage allowances, excess baggage charges, and optional/ancillary fees charged by our codeshare partners operating from and to the USA

• Additional baggage allowance is not given on Air India flights operated with ATR/CRJ aircraft, airline partners’ flights, and Air India codeshare flights.
• Silver members are eligible for additional baggage allowance on flights operated by Air India only, whereas Gold and Platinum members (corresponding to Star Gold) are eligible for additional baggage allowance on Star Alliance flights as well.
• There is a ban on the carriage of lithium battery-powered self-balancing devices in cabin baggage. Power banks cannot be carried in checked baggage but in cabin baggage only.
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is banned and cannot be carried on flights in either baggage.

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CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance  provides strategies you can use to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. These actions can help you lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission (spreading or catching COVID-19) and lower the risk of severe illness if you get sick.

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CDC recommends that all people use core prevention strategies to protect themselves and others from COVID-19:

• Although vaccinated people sometimes get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines significantly lowers the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19.
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• Learn when you can go back to your normal activities .
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