Air India offers several flight check-in options:
- Web check-in (i.e., online check-in)
- Mobile check-in
- City office check-in
- Tele-check-in
- Kiosk check-in
- Airport counter check-in
Air India Check-in Times and Deadlines
When should I check in when travelling on Air India?
The recommended reporting time is 2 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights. The check-in counters for domestic and international flights close 1 hour before departure—which means you should have checked in at least 1 hour prior to your flight.
Note. To enter the airport, you must carry a valid photo ID and a copy of your E-ticket or Boarding Pass.
Web Check-in Time
You can web check in:
- For Domestic Flights (within India). From 48 hours to 1 hour* before departure. (*2 hours from Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh).
- For International Flights. From 48 hours to 2 hours before departure.
Mobile App Check-in Time
You can check in with your mobile app from 48 hours to 90 minutes before departure.
City Check-in Time
You can check in at a designated city office from 12 hours to 2 hours before departure.
Tele-Check-in Time
If you’re an Executive Class passenger or a Frequent Flyer member travelling without any checked baggage, you can check in by phone for a domestic flight up to 2 hours before departure. Tele-check-in is only possible from the following 6 metro airports: Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Self-Service Kiosk Check-in Time
Passengers flying on domestic routes within India can check in from a self-service kiosk at least 2 hours before departure. The self-service kiosks are available at select airports.
Airport Counter Check-in Time
You can check in at Air India’s airport counter:
- For Domestic Flights (within India). From 2 hours to 1 hour before departure.
For Domestic Flights (within India). From 48 hours to 1 hour* before departure.
(*2 hours from Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh). - For International Flights. From 3 hours to 1 hour before departure.
The check-in counters for domestic and international flights close 1 hour before departure, which means you should have checked in with your luggage at least 1 hour before your flight’s scheduled departure time.
Air India Check-in Cut-off Times
The table below provides a snapshot of Air India’s check-in and cut-off times—online via the website or mobile app, city office, at the airport self-service kiosk, and airport counter.
| Check-in Mode | Cut-off Times |
| Online | Domestic Flights (within India). From 48 hours to 1 hour before departure. International Flights. From 48 hours to 2 hours before departure. Restrictions Online check-in is not available for: Codeshare flights. Alliance Air flights. Flights from Dhaka. Passengers with special requests, such as a disability. Unaccompanied minors. |
| Mobile App | From 48 hours to 90 minutes before departure.RestrictionsMobile check-in is not available for: Codeshare flights.Alliance Air flights.Flights from Dhaka.Passengers with special requests, such as a disability.Unaccompanied minors |
| City Office | From 12 hours to 2 hours before departure. Restrictions Available in select metro cities. |
| Airport Self-Service Kiosk | Not available for international flights.Not available for Alliance Air flights (AI9000 series).Available at select airports for domestic flights only. |
| Airport Counter | Domestic Flights (within India). From 2 hours to 1 hour before departure. International Flights. From 3 hours to 1 hour before departure. |
Note. The check-in counters for domestic and international flights close 1 hour before departure, so you should have checked in at least 60 minutes before your flight’s departure.
Air India Check-in Process Explained
Air India Web Check-in
How do I check in online for my Air India flight?
You can web check in via Air India’s website from 48 hours – 2 hours before departure for international flights, and from 48 hours – 1 hour* before departure for domestic flights (For Domestic Flights (within India). From 48 hours to 1 hour* before departure (*2 hours from Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh).
To web check in from Air India’s website:
- Go to AirIndia.in
- Click on Manage Your Trip and select Web Check-in
| To check in with your E-ticket number or booking reference | To check in via your Frequent Flyer Card Number |
| Enter your 13-digit E-ticket number, or 5-8 digit booking reference number. Select your departure airport from the dropdown | Select your frequent flyer Airline/Program, such as Air India (AI) Flying Returns. Enter your Frequent Flyer Number Select your departure airport from the dropdown |
When you check-in online, you can also:
- Choose your seat
- Download and print your electronic boarding pass
Boarding Pass
Once you’ve web checked in, you will receive your Boarding Pass or Confirmation Slip at your registered email address as a PDF document.
- If you’re travelling within India, you will receive your Boarding Pass by email. You must make a printout of it and bring it to the airport.
- If you’re travelling out of India or on a domestic cum international flight, you will be issued a Confirmation Slip, a copy of which you must present at the check-in counter to receive your printed Boarding Pass.
- If you’re travelling only across foreign (non-India) destinations, you will be issued a Boarding Pass a copy of which you must bring to the airport.
Note
- If you want to cancel your check-in (i.e., de-check-in for your flight), you can only do it on phone by calling an Air India Call Center or by visiting Air India’s airport check-in counter.
- You can check in up to 9 passengers on the same booking.
- If you don’t receive your e-Boarding Pass by email, check your junk mail folder. If you can’t locate it there, call Air India Customer assistance.
Restrictions
Web check-in is not available for:
- Codeshare flights
- Alliance Air flights (AI 9000 series)
- Flights from Dhaka
- Passengers with special requests, such as a disability
- Unaccompanied minors
Air India Mobile Check-in
How can I check in with the Air India mobile app?
You can check in with your mobile app from 48 hours to 90 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time. You don’t necessarily have to register to check in for your flight—you can do it simply by logging in to the Air India mobile app.
Use the Air India mobile app to:
- Check in for your flight
- Select a seat of your choice
- View Air India’s timetable
- Access Air India’s Contact Center
How to Check in with the Mobile App?
- Select the check-in option.
- Enter the required information.
- Follow the on-screen steps to check in.
Your Mobile Boarding Pass will show up on your screen.
Mobile Boarding Pass
If you’re checking in with the mobile app for an international flight from India, you will receive a confirmation email which you must show at the check-in counter to receive a printed copy of your Boarding Pass. The check-in details will also be saved to your mobile app under My Trips, which you can retrieve and show at the airport, along with a valid photo ID. You will then be issued a printed copy of your Boarding Pass. You can then proceed for security checks and other formalities.
At select airports, you can scan your 2D Mobile Boarding Pass to clear Security checks, which means you will not need to carry a printout of your Boarding Pass.
Restrictions
Mobile check-in is not available for:
- Codeshare flights
- Alliance Air flights (AI 9000 series)
- Flights from Dhaka
- Passengers with special requests, such as a disability
- Unaccompanied minors
Note
- If your airport does not accept mobile check-ins, you will need to check in physically at the airport desk.
- Be sure to reach the airport on time. The reporting time appears in your check-in confirmation mail as well as your boarding pass (PDF).
Air India City Office Check-in
You can check in at a designated city office from select metro cities in India from 12 hours to 2 hours before departure for both domestic and international flights.
When checking in from a city office, you can also:
- Check in with or without baggage
- Collect your boarding pass
- Pay excess baggage fees
- Upgrade your seat
- Select a preferred seat
- Drop off your checked bags
Air India Tele-Check-in
Executive Class passengers and Frequent Flyer members can check in by phone up to 2 hours before departure if they are travelling without any checked baggage. Tele-check-in is currently possible only from the following 6 metro airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
You can tele-check-in for a domestic flight via Air India’s Call Centre toll number 1860-233-1407 from MTNL/BSNL phone lines as well as through your mobile number (India only). After checking in, you can collect your Boarding Pass from the Air India check-in counter at the airport.
Self-Service Kiosk Check-in
If you’re travelling within India, you can check in from a self-service kiosk, available at select airports. After checking in, you can print out your boarding pass directly from the machine and proceed to the Baggage Drop counter to check in your luggage (if carrying).
Restrictions
Kiosk check-in is not available for:
- Alliance Air flights (AI9000 series)
- International flights
Passengers Not Eligible for Self-Service Kiosk Check-in
The following passengers are not eligible for self-service kiosk check-in—and will need to physically check in at the airport desk:
- Alliance Air flight passengers (AI 9000 series)
- Passengers traveling out of India
- Unaccompanied minors
- Passengers traveling with pets
- Passengers requiring special assistance
Airport Counter Check-in
You can check in at the airport desk from 2 hours to 1 hour before departure for domestic flights (but 2 hours from Jammu, Srinagar, and Leh), and from 3 hours to 1 hour before departure for international flights.
To avoid missing your flight, you must check in before the 60-minute cut-off deadline.
After you show your valid travel documents at the airport counter:
- You’ll be able to check in your bags
- You’ll be able to pay for excess baggage (if required)
- You’ll be assigned a seat
- You’ll be given your boarding pass
Note
You will need to check in at the airport’s service desk in the following cases:
- If your airport doesn’t have online or self-service kiosk check-in.
- If you have a disability or have requested special assistance.
- If you’re traveling with a pet.
- If you’re traveling as an unaccompanied minor.
Frequently Asked Questions on Air India Check-in
You should reach the airport at least 3 hours before departure for an international flight and at least 2 hours before departure for a domestic flight. If you wish, you can check in early by reaching the airport 4 hours before departure.
Air India’s domestic and international check-in counters close 60 minutes before departure. This means you should have checked in with your luggage at least 60 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time.
Yes, it is. If you don’t check in by the check-in deadline (60 minutes before your flight’s departure), you will likely miss your flight.
You can check in as early as 48 hours before your flight, all the way up to 90 minutes before departure. However, you must reach the airport at least 3 hours before departure for an international flight and at least 2 hours before departure for a domestic flight. This will ensure you can complete your check-in formalities before the counters close (1 hour before departure).
Yes, you can web check in if you’re carrying luggage. On the day of travel, you must drop off your luggage at the airport’s Bag Drop counter.
Yes, you can change or select your seat from the seat map when you check in online for your flight. However, you may not be able to select Preferred Seats such as Emergency Exit Row seats and few other seats on the mobile app as they can only be reserved at the time of booking.
Remember, Emergency Exit Row seats cannot be occupied by pregnant women, children below 15 years, passengers with a disability, elderly passengers, and passengers who may be unable to follow instructions in case of an emergency.
Yes, if you’re travelling out of India, you are required to exchange your Confirmation Slip with a Boarding Pass after completing your check-in formalities.
After you’ve successfully checked in for your flight, you will receive your Boarding Pass at your registered email ID. If you checked in with your mobile app, your check-in details will also have been saved under My Trips. You can either make a printout of your Boarding Pass and bring it to the airport, or show the Mobile Boarding Pass saved on your smartphone at the check-in counter with your photo ID to receive a hard copy of your Boarding Card.
If you check in with the mobile app for an international flight out of India, you will only receive a confirmation mail which you must show at the airport to receive a hard copy of your Boarding Pass.
If you’re travelling from an airport that accepts 2D Mobile Boarding Passes, you will just need to show the 2D Mobile Boarding Pass you received on your smartphone at the airport gate and scan it to clear Security.
After completing your web check-in, you must drop your luggage at the Baggage Drop counters for your flight. Be sure to drop off your bags and complete all your check-in formalities before the counters close.
Yes, an infant can be checked in along with the accompanying adult passenger on the same booking.
You must check in physically at the airport if you’ve requested any special service such as wheelchair assistance or booked the Unaccompanied Minor service. You can only check in online or with the mobile app if you’re travelling without having booked any special service.
Rajesh Kumar says:
AI 173 – AIR INDIA booked for 7th April morning 3.55AM flight – Travel DELHI to SAN FRANCISCO. What time should i report Delhi Airport?