How many check in luggage allowed on indigo

Find IndiGo checked baggage rules: allowed number of pieces, per-piece and per-passenger weight limits, excess baggage fees, and policies for infants and special items.
How many check in luggage allowed on indigo

Recommendation: Purchase at least one hold piece when booking if you plan to travel with any item exceeding cabin allowance. For short domestic sectors the lowest fare typically carries no complimentary hold piece; common paid bundles start at 15 kg. On many international sectors the carrier applies either a piece-based system (one or two items at 23 kg each) or a weight-based option (30 kg), so select the correct add-on for your route before arriving at the airport.

Practical limits: single-item maximum weight is 32 kg and the sum of length+width+height must not exceed 158 cm per piece. Cabin allowance is generally 7 kg plus one personal item (measurements often around 40×20×25 cm). Overweight or extra items processed at the airport incur higher per-kg or per-piece charges than pre-purchased add-ons; buy extra allowance online via the airline website or app to save costs.

Pack to fare type: choose a fare that includes the required hold allowance or add specific kilograms/pieces to your booking. Tag each item with your contact details, keep weight close to declared limits, and arrive at the bag drop early to avoid counter surcharges. For route-specific rules (piece vs weight system) consult the carrier’s baggage policy page or your booking confirmation before travel.

Purchase hold-baggage in advance: choose a weight slab that matches trip length (15 kg for short domestic, 25–30 kg for short international, 40 kg+ for extended travel)

Carry-on allowance: one cabin bag up to 7 kg plus one small personal item. Typical hold-weight slabs sold online: 15 kg, 20 kg, 25 kg, 30 kg, 35 kg, 40 kg. Buy weight during booking to secure the lowest rate for the selected slab.

Timing and cost guidance

Pre-purchase via the website or app is cheapest; adding weight at the airport costs substantially more and at the gate may be refused or charged at higher per-kilogram rates. If unsure, purchase one increment higher than minimum anticipated need to avoid overweight fees.

Purchase moment Typical price vs airport Recommendation
At booking (online/app) Baseline (lowest) Buy exact slab you expect to use
Before departure (online, after booking) ~10–30% higher than booking price Top up if plans change; still cheaper than airport
Airport counter ≈2x baseline or charged per kg Avoid unless unavoidable
At boarding gate Highest (may be refused or charged premium) Resolve before gate to prevent delays

Packing and overweight tips

Distribute weight across pieces to stay within per-piece limits shown at booking; weigh bags at home using a scale. For items of high value or necessity, keep them in the cabin allowance. If expected total exceeds available slabs, compare buying an extra slab versus paying per-kilogram surcharge at the airport–pre-purchase usually saves money.

Prepay a hold-piece option (15 kg or 25 kg) at booking to save on airport fees

Purchase the weight-based add-on when booking – common choices are 15 kg and 25 kg – since online prepayment is cheaper than the counter fee. Carry a single cabin bag up to 7 kg with maximum dimensions 55 × 35 × 25 cm.

Size, weight and timing rules

Each hold piece must not exceed a linear sum of 158 cm (length + width + height). Counters for bag drop typically close 45 minutes prior to domestic sector departure; arrive at the airport at least 90–120 minutes earlier if you plan to deposit items in the hold.

Fees, special items and transfers

Excess weight or extra pieces incur surcharges; charges are higher at the airport than online. Oversize items (sports equipment, skis, musical instruments) require advance purchase of a special service and may need booking with the airline’s helpdesk. Lithium-ion batteries and spare cells must travel in the cabin only; do not place spare batteries in hold pieces. For separate-ticket connections, expect to collect and recheck hold pieces unless a through-check has been confirmed by both carriers.

Practical tips: weigh and measure at home; use soft-sided bags to meet dimensions; label each piece with contact information; pack valuables and fragile items in the cabin bag; check the booking summary for the exact entitlement attached to your fare class.

Hold baggage allowance on international sectors

Pre-purchase additional hold weight via the airline portal – buying extra allowance during booking or at least 24 hours before departure is almost always cheaper than paying at the airport.

Included allowance varies by fare and destination; common inclusions range from 15 kg to 30 kg per passenger – the exact figure is shown on your e‑ticket. Additional weight is sold in blocks (typically 5‑kg increments) and can usually be purchased up to a total of about 40 kg per passenger.

Per-piece limits: maximum weight per individual item is 32 kg; maximum linear dimensions (length + width + height) must not exceed 158 cm. Items exceeding these limits may incur oversized/overweight charges or require carriage as cargo.

Fees and payment: online add‑ons are significantly cheaper; airport surcharges can be two to three times higher. Excess may be charged per kilogram or per extra piece depending on the route and fare; the booking summary shows the exact fee before purchase.

Special items (sports equipment, musical instruments, bicycles) require prior purchase of special handling and may attract fixed fees. Declare and pre-pay these items via the airline site to avoid refusal at the airport.

Practical recommendations: weigh bags at home using a digital scale; distribute weight so no single piece exceeds 32 kg; carry valuables, medication and travel documents in your cabin item; keep proof of pre-paid allowance and check the airline’s baggage page for route-specific rules and rates before departure.

Weight and dimension limits per hold piece

Keep each hold piece at or below 23 kg for easy handling; the carrier accepts up to 32 kg per piece and enforces a maximum linear dimension of 158 cm (length + width + height).

Weight specifics

  • Recommended per piece: ≤23 kg – easier to lift and less likely to trigger extra charges.
  • Maximum accepted per piece: 32 kg – items above 32 kg will not be processed as regular hold baggage and must travel as cargo/freight.
  • Overweight charges apply when a piece exceeds the purchased allowance; buy additional kilograms online prior to arrival to reduce airport fees.

Measurement and practical rules

  • Linear dimension limit: 158 cm (sum of length + width + height).
  • Measurement method: measure the three outermost sides in centimetres, add them together and round up to the nearest whole cm.
  • Examples:
    • 55 × 40 × 23 cm = 118 cm → within limit.
    • 80 × 60 × 45 cm = 185 cm → oversized; subject to higher charges and special handling.
  • Soft-sided bags compress more easily than rigid suitcases and can help stay within dimension limits.
  • Use a reliable digital luggage scale at home; purchase extra allowance online if the scale shows you exceed your booked weight.

Fees for extra, overweight and oversized hold bags on this carrier

Pre-pay additional hold allowance through Manage Booking or the airline app – online rates are typically 30–60% lower than airport charges and reduce risk of refused boarding for excess weight or dimension.

Fee categories applied at booking and at the airport: extra piece surcharge (when number of pieces exceeds the fare’s included entitlement), overweight charge (per kilogram or slab when an individual bag exceeds the permitted weight limit), and oversized surcharge (when linear dimensions exceed the allowed total). The carrier’s operational limits: maximum weight per single bag 32 kg and maximum linear dimension (length + width + height) 158 cm; items beyond these limits usually require specialist cargo handling or are not permitted on passenger flights.

Typical price behavior (approximate ranges): domestic markets – online extra piece packages often cost roughly INR 700–1,800; airport extra-piece rates commonly rise to INR 1,500–3,600. Overweight fees can run about INR 300–600 per kg if purchased online and INR 600–1,200 per kg at the airport. International markets – pre-paid extra piece fees generally fall between USD 30–150 per piece depending on sector and zone; airport extra-piece charges commonly increase to USD 75–250. Overweight international fees usually range USD 15–50 per kg; oversized surcharges are frequently USD 30–200 per piece depending on oversize amount and route. (Use these figures as planning estimates; exact amounts vary by route and fare class.)

Practical recommendations: purchase additional kilograms or pieces as part of the booking rather than at the gate; redistribute items so no single bag exceeds 23–32 kg thresholds used on many fare types; measure bags (L+W+H) and collapse soft-sided bags to stay under 158 cm; if transporting fragile or bulky items, book them as cargo in advance rather than relying on hold acceptance.

Payment and documentation: add allowance via Manage Booking, mobile app or call centre before airport arrival; retain confirmation receipts and boarding pass entries showing purchased allowance to avoid disputes at bag drop. If weight or size is borderline, present the pre-paid allowance at the bag-drop counter to prevent on-the-spot surcharges.

Pre-purchase, modify or cancel registered hold baggage for your booking

Recommendation: Purchase extra hold baggage online via Manage Booking or the mobile app – online add‑ons are usually cheaper than airport rates; complete the transaction using your booking reference and passenger surname, then retain the confirmation email as proof.

To purchase before travel: open Manage Booking on the carrier website or the mobile app → enter booking reference and surname → select the passenger → choose the hold baggage option (weight/quantity) → complete payment (card, UPI, netbanking or wallet) → download or screenshot the updated itinerary and receipt. Adding baggage at booking time typically gives the best fare.

To increase or change an existing allowance: revisit Manage Booking or the app and update the baggage selection for the passenger; pay only the difference. If online modification is unavailable, contact the airline call centre with your booking reference – agents can update the reservation but tariffs may be higher than the web rate.

At the airport: add-ons are accepted at the ticket counter or bag drop but expect premium charges and possible weight/dimension checks. Bring the booking reference, a payment method, and the original receipt for any prior purchases.

Cancellation and refunds: request cancellation through Manage Booking or the call centre using booking reference and passenger name. Refunds for purchased hold baggage depend on the carrier’s fare rules and may require a formal refund request; keep the purchase receipt and allow several business days for processing. If the flight has been completed or the bag has been presented for travel, refunds are generally restricted.

Group bookings and multiple passengers: modify baggage per passenger; Manage Booking lets you handle each traveller separately. For blocks of seats booked under a single PNR, confirm which passenger record must be updated before paying.

Special items and heavy/oversized pieces: sports equipment, musical instruments and other non-standard items usually require advance notification and a separate purchase process; add these via the special items option in Manage Booking or by calling the airline well before departure to secure space and obtain exact handling charges.

Checklist before leaving home: confirm updated itinerary and baggage receipt, verify allowed piece/weight for each passenger on the updated booking, save electronic proof for check-in, and add any required special-item approvals well ahead of the flight.

Sports gear, musical instruments and special-item rules for the aircraft hold

Declare oversized, fragile or battery-powered items at booking or at the ticket counter and pre-pay any special-handling fees to guarantee acceptance and dedicated handling.

Packaging, labelling and paperwork

  • Use a hard flight case or dedicated crate for bicycles, surfboards, skis/snowboards, cellos and drum kits; reinforce corners and internal mounting points with foam or plywood.
  • Remove or secure protruding parts (pedals, fins, chin rests); deflate pneumatic tyres to ≤20 psi and protect rims with padding.
  • Place contact details and itinerary inside the case and attach a durable external tag with name, phone and destination address.
  • Photograph contents before handing over and keep serial numbers for high-value instruments; present serials to the agent if loss or damage is claimed.
  • Carry written proof of any prior damage (repair receipts, photos) to avoid liability disputes at drop-off.

Item-specific guidance and battery rules

  • Bicycles: use a bike box or hard case, remove or rotate handlebars, remove pedals, protect derailleur. Bring original receipt or proof of ownership for high-value bikes.
  • Golf and hockey gear: place clubs/sticks in a padded tube or hard bag; secure loose balls/equipment inside the case to prevent shifting.
  • Skis/snowboards: secure bindings and mount padding between boards; use a dedicated ski bag or hard case with foam end caps.
  • Surfboards and paddleboards: use a padded board bag with nose and tail protection; consider professional freight if length exceeds standard drop-off handling limits.
  • Musical instruments: strong recommendation to transport valuable instruments in a concert-grade hard case; if instrument value exceeds carrier liability, purchase a seat or arrange freight/shipping service instead of consigning to the hold.
  • Drums and percussion: disassemble where possible, pad shells and cymbals separately in cases or wrapped covers.
  • Electric bikes/scooters and power tools: do not place lithium-ion batteries in the hold unless removed and carried according to battery rules; spare lithium-ion batteries must travel in the cabin with terminals taped or in original packaging. Typical thresholds: up to 100 Wh generally acceptable in the cabin without airline approval; 100–160 Wh require prior approval; >160 Wh are usually prohibited.
  • Fishing rods and spearfishing gear: transport in rigid tubes; drain fluids from reels and secure tip protection.
  • Fragile or high-value items: insure independently and request a signed special-handling label at drop-off; if insurer requires, ship via specialist freight rather than placing in the hold.

At the ticket counter request a special-handling label and retain the receipt for tracking; if the item will not fit standard hold handling, arrange advance booking with the airline’s special baggage team or use a door-to-door specialist. For case recommendations and packing accessories consult best luggage sets for couples. For advice on securing outdoor pet equipment or barriers during travel, see how to dog proof bottom of fence.

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Michael Turner
Michael Turner

Michael Turner is a U.S.-based travel enthusiast, gear reviewer, and lifestyle blogger with a passion for exploring the world one trip at a time. Over the past 10 years, he has tested countless backpacks, briefcases, duffels, and travel accessories to find the perfect balance between style, comfort, and durability. On Gen Buy, Michael shares detailed reviews, buying guides, and practical tips to help readers choose the right gear for work, gym, or travel. His mission is simple: make every journey easier, smarter, and more enjoyable with the right bag by your side.

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