Travel Guides for India

A smooth trip starts at home. Do a web check-in, confirm your baggage limits, and keep your documents ready so nothing slows you down at the airport.

Do web check-in early

Most airlines open web check-in 24–48 hours before departure. Doing it online lets you pick your seat, skip the check-in counter queue (if you have no bags to drop), and download your boarding pass to your phone.

Know your baggage allowance

• Cabin bag: usually 7 kg for domestic economy, one piece plus a small personal item. Size limits apply (typically 55×35×25 cm).
• Check-in bag: commonly 15 kg on domestic fares — but this varies by airline and fare type, so verify on your ticket.
• Excess baggage is charged per kg and is far cheaper if pre-booked online than at the airport.

Give yourself enough buffer for traffic, parking, queues and security. Reaching late is the single most common reason people miss flights.

• Domestic flights: reach at least 2 hours before departure.
• International flights: reach 3 to 4 hours before departure.
• Large airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru) have multiple terminals — confirm your terminal (T1/T2/T3) on your ticket before leaving.
• Keep a screenshot of your ticket/PNR and a valid photo ID handy for the terminal entry gate.

At the terminal entry gate, security (CISF) verifies your identity and travel. You can enter the traditional way with a physical ID and ticket, or breeze through using Digi Yatra—India’s paperless, face-recognition entry.

The traditional way

• Show your government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, voter ID) and your boarding pass or e-ticket/PNR.
• The officer stamps or scans your boarding pass and lets you in.

Using Digi Yatra (faster, contactless)

Digi Yatra lets you walk through dedicated e-gates using just your face — no repeated ID checks. It is optional, free, and your data stays on your own phone.

• Download the Digi Yatra app and register once using your Aadhaar-based verification and a selfie.
• Before travel, add your boarding pass in the app (it reads the barcode).
• At the airport, look for the Digi Yatra e-gates — the camera recognises your face and the gate opens. No paper, no queue.
• Available at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada and more, with new airports added regularly.

If you did web check-in and travel cabin-only, you can head straight to security. If you have bags to check in, drop them at the counter or a self-service bag-drop kiosk.

• Check-in counters typically close 45–60 minutes before domestic departure. Do not cut it fine.
• Collect your baggage tag receipt — you need it if a bag goes missing.
• Attach a name-and-phone tag to each checked bag.
• Put power banks, spare lithium batteries and e-cigarettes in your cabin bag — they are banned from check-in luggage.

Everyone passes through the security hold area. Prepare your tray to move quickly and avoid a secondary check.

• Place laptops, tablets and large electronics in a separate tray.
• Remove belts, metallic items, jackets and put phone/keys/coins in your bag.
• Liquids on international flights: containers of 100 ml or less, in a clear resealable pouch. Domestic rules are more relaxed but still limited.
• Your cabin bag and body are screened separately; collect everything and re-check you have your phone, wallet and boarding pass.

Find your gate on the display screens (gates can change — keep checking). Reach the gate well before boarding closes.

• Boarding usually closes 20–25 minutes before departure. Once closed, you will not be allowed on, even if the plane is still there.
• Boarding is by zones/rows — listen for announcements.
• Keep your ID and boarding pass ready for the final scan.
• If your gate is far or you are running late, tell staff — they can sometimes prioritise you.

Stow your cabin bag in the overhead bin or under the seat in front, fasten your seatbelt, and switch your phone to flight mode. After landing, follow the signs to baggage claim.

On arrival

• Head to the baggage carousel shown on the arrival screens for your flight and collect checked bags using your tag number.
• For international arrivals, clear immigration and customs before exiting; keep your passport and any declaration forms ready.
• Bag missing or damaged? Report it immediately at the airline’s baggage desk in the arrival hall and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving — you cannot claim later without it.

Delays happen. What matters is what the airline must provide, based on how long the delay is and whether it is within their control (a technical or crew issue) versus outside it (bad weather, air-traffic restrictions).

If your flight is delayed

• 2+ hour delay: the airline should offer refreshments/meals based on the wait.
• Overnight or 6+ hour delay: if rescheduled to the next day, they should offer hotel accommodation and transfers (for delays within their control).
• You can choose a full refund instead of waiting if the delay is long and the flight no longer suits you.

If your flight is cancelled

• The airline must offer either a full refund or an alternate flight at no extra cost.
• If they informed you less than two weeks before travel and could not rebook you within a reasonable window, you may also be entitled to compensation.

India’s DGCA passenger charter sets out what you are owed for denied boarding, cancellations and long delays. Here is the practical summary.

Missing a flight is stressful but recoverable. Do not leave the airport — go straight to your airline’s counter and ask about the next available flight.

Step by step

• Go to the airline desk immediately. The sooner you ask, the better your options.
• Ask to be moved to the next available flight on the same route (this is often called “flight change” or “rebooking”).
• Many airlines offer a “missed flight” / no-show rebooking policy — you pay a change fee plus any fare difference, which is usually far cheaper than a brand-new ticket.
• If you missed it because of the airline (a late connecting flight, their delay), they should rebook you free of charge.

How to reduce the cost

• Call the airline’s helpline while you walk to the counter — you may get rebooked before the queue.
• Check the airline app; sometimes self-service rebooking is cheaper than at the desk.
• If the next flight is full, ask to be waitlisted or offered a partner-airline seat.

Always carry (in cabin bag)

• Government photo ID (and passport for international)
• Boarding pass / e-ticket on phone
• Phone, charger and a power bank
• Essential medicines with prescription
• Wallet, some cash and a debit/credit card
• Empty water bottle (fill after security)
• Any valuables, laptop, jewellery, documents
• Change of clothes in case bags are delayed

Do NOT pack in check-in baggage

• Power banks & spare lithium batteries
• E-cigarettes / vapes
• Cash, jewellery and important documents
• Laptops and fragile electronics
• Matches and lighters

Prohibited on the aircraft entirely

• Flammable liquids & gases
• Fireworks and explosives
• Sharp weapons in cabin (check-in only if permitted)
• Large liquids in cabin on international flights (over 100 ml)