India Flights FAQ
Twelve questions we are asked most often about flying within India: how this site works, where the fares come from, what to expect at the airport, and the two things that catch visitors out — cities with more than one airport, and the destinations that need a permit.
Table of Contents
Booking and Managing Flights
What does this site do?
Flights in India lists the timetable of every domestic route in India, one page per route: which airlines fly it, on which days, at what times, and what the fare has been. When you have chosen a flight, we hand you to our booking partner to check the live price for your dates.
Do you sell tickets?
No. When you choose a flight you are transferred to our booking partner, kiwi.com, to complete the purchase. We hold no bookings and take no payment. Fares are shown in Indian rupees.
Where do the fares on this site come from?
We collect them from our booking partner and keep the cheapest we saw for each flight. They tell you what a route usually costs; they are not a live quote for your dates. Every page says when its timetable was collected.
How far ahead should I book?
Domestic fares in India tend to be lowest well in advance and to climb in the last fortnight. The weeks around Diwali and the other big festivals, and the school holidays, are the busiest, so book those earliest.
Can I change or cancel a flight I booked?
That is between you and whoever issued the ticket: kiwi.com if you booked through a link here, or the airline if you booked direct. We cannot see your booking or alter it. Keep the confirmation email; it has the reference either of them will ask for.
At the Airport
How early should I arrive for a domestic flight?
Indian airlines generally close check-in 45 to 60 minutes before a domestic departure. Leave more time than that at the big airports: you show your ticket and photo identification to enter the terminal building itself, before check-in and security.
How much luggage can I take?
In the fares we recorded, hand baggage ran from 5 kg to 8 kg depending on the airline, and checked baggage was 15 kg on every airline. Each route page shows what the cheapest fares on it included. Airlines sell more, and the limits change, so check your airline's own rules before you pack.
Do I need identification for a domestic flight?
Yes, a photo identity document, which is checked at the terminal entrance and again at boarding. Indian citizens usually carry an Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence or voter ID; foreign nationals carry their passport.
Travelling in India
Which airports serve Delhi, Mumbai and Goa?
Each has more than one. Delhi's main airport is Indira Gandhi International (DEL); Hindon (HDO) in Ghaziabad and Noida International (DXN) at Jewar also had flights in the timetable we last collected. Mumbai has Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM) and Navi Mumbai International (NMI). Goa has Dabolim (GOI) in the south and Manohar International (GOX) at Mopa in the north. Check which one is on your ticket before you arrange anything at the other end.
Are the flight times local time?
Yes. India keeps one time zone, Indian Standard Time, five and a half hours ahead of UTC, and does not change the clocks in summer. Every time on this site is in it.
How do I reach the smaller towns?
IndiGo reaches more of them than any other airline, and Star Air flies regional routes between smaller cities. Some of those routes run only a few days a week, so check the days on the route page before you plan around one.
Do I need a permit for any destination?
For a few, yes. Every visitor to Lakshadweep, including the island of Agatti, needs an entry permit arranged before travel. Parts of the northeast require an Inner Line Permit from Indian citizens who live outside those states, and foreign nationals have separate rules. Check the state's own rules before you book.