This article has been reviewed by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Updated October 2024
Key takeaways
IATA recommends checked bags under 23 kg/50 lbs and carry-on bags not exceeding 22x18x10 inches.
Airlines like Air India, IndiGo, Emirates, and Qatar Airways offer student baggage allowance discounts and benefits.
Airlines provide extra weight allowances, discounts, flexible baggage options, and additional perks for students.
Understanding baggage allowance terms
- Checked Baggage: Your checked baggage would be travel bags containing your clothes and other personal utilities. Once checked in, you do not have to carry them along. The airline will carry it for you to your final destination.
- Carry-on: Your carry-on baggage would be the travel bag containing your laptop and documents that you intend to carry it along with you as you venture through the airport to get on your flight.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), each bag should weigh less than 23 kg/50 lbs. Carry-on baggage should have a maximum length of 22 (56 cm), width of 18 (45 cm), and depth of 10 (25 cm) —dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, and more. Every airline usually has its own set of acceptable baggage weights, beyond which one has to pay extra money for their baggage to be carried on the airplane as an add-on.
For Indian students traveling abroad or domestically, Wego has compiled below a list of domestic and international airlines and their baggage allowances—generous or otherwise, special policies and the like.
Domestic airlines
The following are some of the domestic airlines that offer some special policies or offers on baggage allowance for Indian students traveling abroad or domestically:
Air India
Eligibility
When traveling with Air India, within domestic airports, students can avail themselves of a free baggage allowance of 25 kg/ 55 lb—if the following criteria are met:
- Admitted in a full-time course.
- Can show proof of being a student.
- All of the flights within that journey are Air India flights. Codesharing is not allowed in this instance.
Benefits
The following is the baggage allowance for students on Air India flights:
- Economy:
- International: The accepted dimensions of the luggage are 273 cm/107 in, and the accepted weight is 32 kg/71 lbs.
- Domestic: The accepted dimensions of the luggage are 273 cm/107 in, and the accepted weight is 15 kg/33 lbs.
- Business:
- International: The accepted dimensions of the luggage are 158 cm/62 in, and the accepted weight is 23 kg/50 lbs.
- Domestic: The accepted dimensions of the luggage are 158 cm/62 in, and the accepted weight is 25 kg/55 lbs.
Alternatively, for more information on baggage allowance, please refer to our dedicated Air India baggage allowance article.
IndiGo
Eligibility
When traveling within domestic airports via IndiGo, students can avail themselves of a free baggage allowance of 10 kg/22 lb—if the following criteria are met:
- Air tickets are booked 7 days in advance.
- The tickets are booked via the IndiGo website or mobile application.
- Show proof of being a full-time student.
Benefits
The following is the baggage allowance for students traveling abroad:
- EU codeshare: The accepted dimensions of the luggage are 158 cm/62 in, and the accepted weight is 30 kg/65 lbs.
- US codeshare: The accepted dimensions of the luggage are 158 cm/62 in, and the accepted weight is 46 kg/100 lbs.
The total baggage allowance when traveling domestically is 25 kg/55 lbs, including the added baggage allowance of 10 kg/22 lbs.
Air India Express
Eligibility & benefits
When traveling within domestic airports via Air India Express, students can avail themselves of a free baggage allowance benefit of 25 kg/55 lb—if the following criteria are met:
- Admitted in a full-time course.
- Can show proof of being a student.
- All the flights on that journey are specifically Air India Express flights. Codesharing is not allowed.
SpiceJet
Eligibility & benefits
When traveling within domestic airports via SpiceJet, students can avail themselves of a free baggage allowance benefit of 15 kg/33 lb along with an additional 10 kg/22 lbs—if the following criteria are met:
- The tickets are for direct flights.
- The tickets are booked via the SpiceJet website or the SpiceJet reservation center.
- Admitted in a full-time course.
- Can show proof of being a student—hard copy of original valid student ID card.
Vistara
Eligibility
Students traveling internationally and within India via Vistara can avail of the discounts mentioned below if they meet the following criteria—
- Admitted in a full-time course.
- Can show proof of being a student.
- For students traveling
- Domestically: Air tickets are booked via the official Vistara website or their official mobile application.
- Internationally: Air tickets are booked via the official Vistara website, the official Vistara mobile application, online travel agencies and travel agents.
Benefit
Students traveling within India get to avail of a baggage allowance as follows:
- 20kg when booking under Economy Lite and Economy Standard
- 25kg when booking under Economy Flexi
For students traveling to London, Frankfurt, and Paris, the following is the regular allowance + add-ons and total allowance for various cabin classes:
- Economy Value, Economy Standard, Premium Economy, Premium Economy Standard:
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- 2 pieces (23 kgs/50 lbs each) + 1 piece (23 kg/50 lbs)
- Total allowance
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- Economy Flexi, Premium Economy Flexi:
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- 2 pieces (32 kg each) + 1 piece (23 kg)
- Total allowance
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- Business Value, Business Standard:
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- 2 pieces (32 kg each) + 1 piece (23 kg)
- Total allowance
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- Business Flexi
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
- 3 pieces (32 kg each) + 1 piece (23 kg each)
- Total allowance
- Regular allowance + add-ons for students
Please visit the official Vistara website to learn about the airline’s baggage allowance for students traveling to other international destinations.
Akasa Air
Eligibility & benefits
When traveling within domestic airports via Akasa Air, students can avail themselves of a free add-on baggage allowance of 10 kg/22 lb along with a 15kg/33lb check-in baggage limit—if the following criteria are met:
- The tickets are for direct flights.
- Admitted in a full-time course.
- Can show proof of being a student—hard copy of original valid student ID card.
- Students are between the ages of 12 and 24.
International airlines
The following are some of the international airlines that offer some special policies or offers on baggage allowance for Indian students traveling abroad:
Emirates
Eligibility
If you are a full-time registered student between 16 and 31 years old, you can carry 10 kg of add-on luggage for free when you book your Emirates flight tickets before 31 March 2025 using the promo code STUDENT via the official Emirates website.
Please note that you must present your valid student ID or acceptance letter during check-in to avail the offer.
Benefit
Extra baggage allowances and costs depend on specific routes and tickets. To learn about your exact total cost and allowance, follow the steps below:
- Visit the official Emirates website.
- Log in with your registered ID and password.
The following weight concept applies to most countries except the Americas and Africa:
- Total baggage allowance:
- Economy: 35 kg/77 lbs.
- Business: 40 kg/88 lbs
- First: 50 kg/110 lbs.
- The total accepted baggage dimension is 300 cm/118 inches.
- The total weight of each piece of luggage is 32 kg/70.54 lbs.
Please visit the official Emirates website to learn about baggage allowances to and from the countries of the Americas and Africa.
Alternatively, for more information on baggage allowance, please refer to our dedicated Emirates baggage allowance article.
Etihad Airways
Eligibility & benefits
Please note that the following Etihad Airways discount applies to everyone, including students between the ages of 16 and 32:
You can buy extra baggage space when booking via the official Etihad Airways website 30 days before your flight to save 30% on your ticket if you are traveling to and from the US or Canada and 65% for other countries.
To buy extra luggage, visit the “Manage your booking” section.
Qatar Airways
Eligibility & benefits
If you become a member of the Qatar Airways Student Club, you can earn extra benefits, such as an extra baggage allowance of 10kg and more (depending on the route).
To avail of the benefits of the Student Club, you must:
- Be an enrolled member of the Qatar Airways Student Club
- Be enrolled in an educational institution.
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30.
- Present the digital Student Club card at the time of check-in.
Alternatively, for more information on baggage allowance, please refer to our dedicated Qatar Airways baggage allowance article.
Lufthansa & SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines)
To avail of baggage allowance benefits when traveling via Lufthansa and SWISS, you must possess a valid Travel ID card.
Eligibility
A Travel ID gives you the added benefit of an extra baggage allowance, among many other benefits, when traveling via Lufthansa, SWISS or other Lufthansa Group airlines.
Benefits
Please register for Travel ID and verify your student status to receive an extra baggage allowance of 23 kg. The standard baggage allowance for Lufthansa, SWISS or other Lufthansa Group airlines is —
- Total weight: 23 kg
- Total dimension: 158 cm
- Total bag: 1
Air France
Eligibility & benefits
Air France’s special student rate allows for a free checked-in baggage allowance of 23kg/50.7 lb. The total number of baggage allowed for free is 2.
To avail of this offer, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 29.
- Book flight tickets in Economy class.
- Present student ID card during check-in.
- Book your flight ticket via the official Air France website
- Choose your destination
- Click on “passengers” and then select “student.”
- Choose your destination
Virgin Atlantic
Eligibility & benefits
If you are a student and book a Virgin Atlantic flight ticket from Bangalore, Delhi, or Mumbai for anywhere in the USA before 31 December 2024, then you can avail of the following baggage allowances:
- Total baggage allowance of 87kg/191.8 lbs in Upper Class (2 x 32kg bags + 1 x 23kg bag)
- Total baggage allowance of 69kg/152 lbs in Premium and Economy Classic and Delight (3 x 23kg bags).
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