airplane

Everything You Need To Know About Airline Baggage Rules In India!

Air travel In India has grown exponentially, and in recent years airlines have started cashing in on this.

Airlines have started charging a fee to bring extra luggage on flights.

With baggage fee rules becoming more complex and the fees getting expensive, It can be quite a task to keep a track of hand baggage sizes and weights for each airline.

To help you understand this, here is everything you need to know about baggage policies that most airlines follow.

Check-In Baggage

A)Baggage Allowance Rules

In line with international regulations, your baggage allowances will either be set by how many pieces or the total weight of luggage you can travel with.

The rules depend on where you’re travelling to.

1.Weight Concept

Passengers travelling from India to Far East(Except Japan)/Southeast Asia and Gulf/Middle East countries are allowed free baggage allowances based on the weight of the baggage and the class they are travelling in.

Usually, a passenger is allowed to carry up to –

  • 40 Kgs of check-in baggage in First Class
  • 30 Kgs of check-in baggage in Business Class
  • 20 Kgs of check-in baggage in Economy Class
2.Piece Concept

Under this concept, the airline allows free baggage allowance based on how many pieces of luggage you can travel with, its maximum weight and dimension.

Here are the rules-

  • A person can get 2 pieces of luggage checked-in for free.
  • Each bag has a weight limit of 32kgs
  • The total of all dimensions (Length, Breadth &Height) of each bag cannot be more than 158cm (62 inches)

Airlines that fly from India to Europe, North America, South America , Australia & Africa follow these rules for free baggage allowance.

B) Excess Baggage

Airlines charge you Excess-Baggage fees if your check-in luggage weight exceeds the limit. There is no standard price for excess luggage and it’s up to the airline to set the prices.

  • You will have to pay anywhere between Rs 300 to Rs 500 per kg for domestic flights.
  • You will have to pay anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 800 per kg for International flights
  • There is no cap on the number of bags you can check-in, but their combined weight should be below the limit.

You do have an option to pay less for excess baggage. If you join different membership programs offered by airlines, you can carry more luggage with you without paying any fee.

For example, If you are a ‘GOLD’ or ‘MAHARJAH’ member of Air India’s “Flying Returns” program you can carry 20 kg of extra luggage with you.

Carry-on Baggage

A)Baggage Allowance Rules

With the growing emphasis on airline safety worldwide and to avoid overcrowding of overhead bins in the cabin, airlines are becoming stringent with rules regarding carry-on baggage.

Here are the rules for Carry-on baggage in India

  • Most airlines allow only 1 piece of hand baggage per person.
  • You can carry anywhere between 7-8 kgs of hand baggage, depending on the airline.
  • The length, breadth & height of the bag have to be less than 55x35x25 centimeters respectively and the overall total of the dimensions should not be more than 115 cm.
B) Excess Baggage

As mentioned above, most airlines only allow one piece of hand baggage per person, however, some airlines allow you to carry more than one bag depending on the weight dimensions and airline rules.

In addition to your carry-on bag, you can bring along the following items-

  • Handbag
  • Laptop bag
  • Rug/Blanket
  • Camera Bag
  • Collapsible wheelchair
  • Walking Sticks
  • Umbrella
  • Infant’s Carry Basket
  • Duty-Free Items (carry the invoice)

Airlines such as SpiceJet And IndiGo charge you a fee of Rs 350 – Rs 400  if the combined weight of the items mentioned above and your carry-on luggage is more than 8 kgs.

Special Baggage

If your luggage is not of the standard size & weight and if it requires special handling then you might have to pay more depending on the airline. These type of items are called Out Of Gauge (OOG) baggage.

OOG baggage is the luggage that is very heavy, too large, very light, fragile, does not have at least 1 flat surface or can damage or slow down the baggage handling management system.

Baggage that is outside the standard dimensions for airport luggage and cannot be sorted out by normal conveyor belts come under this category.

Here are a few examples –

  • Sports Equipment
  • Flat Screen Television
  • Extra Large Carpets or Blankets
  • Musical Instruments

So, if you want to know more about your airline’s baggage policy, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App to get information regarding different airline policies/regulations to plan your trip on the move and Fly Stress-Free!

*Please note that all weights, prices and specifications mentioned here are only indicative. They are meant to give you a general idea of baggage policies. For the actual price and baggage allowance details please refer to your ticket or the rules of the airline you are flying with.

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10 Types Of People You Meet On An Airplane!

We’ve all taken flights with crying babies in the background, noisy passengers, inquisitive but well-meaning old ladies and even that someone cute who comes and sits on the seat next to you.

Whether it’s the first time you’re flying or the hundredth, you’ve probably had seatmates who either make your flight feel like a breeze or just ruin it.

From honeymooners to serious business travellers, here’s a look at the kind of flyers who might sit with you on your next flight.

1.THE CHATTERBOX

If you are welcomed by warm smiles from your seatmate who is very eager to help you place your bag in the overhead bin, Congratulations!

You just found a person who loves to make friends when they fly.

Be ready to be bombarded with questions about your life and hear stories about their fun and exciting times. They mean no harm and are just being friendly.

The only problem is, if you were planning on getting some sleep on the flight or work on that presentation of yours, you can forget about it!

2.THE NERVOUS FLYER

This person will let out an uncomfortable sigh every time they feel a bump while flying.

They fumble with their seatbelts and have a nervous look on their face throughout the flight. Just pray that your flight does not hit turbulence.

These types of flyers may be nervous because they might be afraid of heights or may be flying for the first time.

But remember to cut them some slack! Be a good person and help them or at the least don’t be annoyed at their behaviour no matter how irrational it may seem. Think about your own fears and phobias and show them some understanding.

3.THE LOVEBIRDS

Whether it’s a newly married couple or just two teenagers in love! You’ve probably seen them on your flight at least once.

They spend their entire journey whispering into each other’s ears, cuddling up as if both their airplanes seats have merged and take selfies whenever they get a chance.

But this just might work in your favour. They will be so busy cosying up to each other that they will not care who is sitting beside them and you might get some alone time with some extra space in the row.

And after all there’s nothing wrong with two people expressing their love as long as they don’t do anything inappropriate. Give them their space and don’t be a cynic!

4.THE COMPLAINER

You saw this person giving the poor attendant an earful at the check-in counter about how the flight was delayed by 15 mins.

You hope that this person does not sit with you but alas! There they are, sitting all grumpy in the adjacent seat!

They will complain about how bland the food is, the lack of leg room and how other airlines are better than the one you and “they” are flying in.

The only thing you can do here is smile, plug in your earphones and put your music on max volume.

5.THE BUSINESS TRAVELLER

You will be amazed by how much a tray table on the flight can hold when you sit beside this person.

A laptop, two cell phones, cups of coffee and a huge pile of papers usually accompany this traveller.

Forget about talking, they are so caught up in that excel sheet that they don’t even have the time to look at who’s sitting beside them.

They basically want to be left alone to do their work, so you can go ahead and catch up on some sleep or do whatever else you like.

6.THE BACKPACKER

You can just look at this person and tell they’re off on an adventure.

They usually travel alone and are accompanied by their backpack and a lot of energy and excitement.

You will feel like talking to them, asking them where they have been with that rugged backpack and where they’re going. They may have a lot of interesting stories but that doesn’t mean they want to share them with a stranger on an airplane.

But, if they do answer those questions, get ready to hear about some amazing adventures.

7.THE FOODIE

A lot of people like to bring their own food on the flight because let’s face it, airplane food does taste bland!

The only problem with that is, some flyers tend to be inconsiderate and bring food that can make the whole cabin smell strongly.

You can just hope that they finish and pack up their food as soon as possible and wait for that lingering smell to go away.

8.THE TODDLER

Kids on a flight are a bit difficult, they may cry or run in the aisles or need frequent visits to the restrooms.

At some point, we all have been on an airplane with young children or babies on board.

They are usually accompanied by their tired looking parents who can’t take a wink during the whole journey and are constantly trying to get their kid to calm down.

And while it may be annoying, imagine what they’re going through. If it bothers you, carry noise-cancelling headphones, speak to the parents or guardian politely and request them to keep it down and make the most of it.

9.THE OBLIVIOUS TRAVELLER

This can be the worst type to end up with.

They have no regard for personal space and sit as if they are relaxing on their personal sofa.

They spread their legs while sitting and take up most of the armrest. The worst part of sitting beside this person, they will also use your shoulder as their pillow. Honestly, they may not even realise that their behaviour is offensive.

And while you would probably be more comfortable sitting in the overhead bin than sitting beside this flyer, you should request them politely to make space and if needed ask the cabin crew for assistance.

10 THE PERFECT PASSENGER

They are interesting to talk to, polite and make you wish the flight never lands.

People say that such passengers don’t exist but that’s not true. However, the chances of you sitting beside this flyer are pretty rare!

It’s your lucky day if this passenger sits beside you because they make the flight pleasant and before you know it you’ve made a friend.

If you encounter such a person sitting next to you, thank your stars and enjoy your flight.

So always be prepared for any type of passenger might encounter and always try and be polite when dealing with them. Also, which one are you?

Note: If you enjoyed this article and want to Fly Stress-Free, download the AirWhizz app and get Live Flight Updates, Airport Info, Discounts & Offers For Your Trip & Much More!

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Wondering how to sit comfortably in the economy class? Let us help choose your seat!

Did you know? Inside the economy cabin of an aircraft, seats are not created equal.

There are exit row seats which have space to move around, front row seats which by design have no seat before them, bulkhead seats and seats in particular sections of the plane where toddlers and younger passengers can’t go.

A couple of years back Airline carriers started to monetize these favorable circumstances and now they’re all yours, for an expense of course!

We at AirWhizz have some insider secrets that can help you land a seat in the economy class which would suit your needs and helps you fly as comfortably as possible.

1. For those looking for additional space

If you are a fleet -of- foot flyer who likes to take advantage of vacant seats on the plane and likes to occupy it as soon as the doors close, then booking a seat at the back of the plane is ideal for you.

Generally, there are airplane lavatories at the back of the airplane which can cause a lot of clutter. Plus, the noise of the engines is loud.

But if you can live through that then you have a chance of getting an empty seat behind or beside you. You can also take advantage of empty overhead bins if your seat is booked at the back of the airplane

2. For the Noise-avoiding flyer

Aircraft’s have quieter cabins these days. But, if you want to avoid the noise of the engines, book a seat which is situated ahead of the wings of the airplane since the noise is deflected backward.

Frequent flyers say that aisle seats are much more quiet as compared to window seats which are situated ahead of the airplane wings.

3. For those looking to sit Comfortably

If you want to sit comfortably on the flight, then the seat behind the bulkhead (a dividing wall between cabins on long-haul flights) is the best option for you to book a seat since it gives you extra space in front of your seat.

Also, the biggest advantage for those who don’t like reclining seats is that you have no seats in front of you to recline. But booking this seat comes with a few disadvantages.

You cannot stretch your legs since aligning your legs to the bulkhead is considered untidy and annoys flight attendants and chances of getting this seat is very rare since people book it in advance.

4. For the passenger seeking leg room

If you are a tall person then booking a seat in the exit rows of the plane is ideal since the seat pitch and width is higher.

In case you are wondering what seat pitch is, it is a measure of how much space there is between a seat and the one immediately behind or in front of it.So the higher the number, the more legroom you will have.

You can get information about seat pitch and width for most airlines from sites such as SeatGuru.

5. For the Nervous flyer

Book a seat in the front part of the economy cabin if you are a nervous flyer.This is because front seats are quieter and smoother.

A window or an aisle seat is your personal choice because for some  the view from the window is soothing and for those who are afraid of heights, an aisle seat is reassuring.

If you are a nervous flyer you can also book a seat situated above the wing of an airplane since its less turbulent.

So next time you fly and are looking for information about your flight, look no further cause AirWhizz gives you detailed flight and airport information for your trip and helps you fly stress-free!

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