Definition
Checked luggage over your free allowance, charged per extra kilo or per extra bag. Buying it online before you fly is usually much cheaper than paying at the airport counter on the day.
What it costs
On Indian domestic flights, airlines charge per kilo at the airport. At the time of review, IndiGo's airport rate was reported at about ₹800 per kg after a revision in September 2026, while prepaid slabs bought online (5, 10 or 15 kg) work out cheaper per kilo. Other Indian airlines price in a similar range.
International airlines usually charge per extra bag on piece-concept routes such as India–US and India–Canada, often USD 100–200 (₹8,800–17,600) per bag each way, and per kilo or per block of kilos on weight-concept routes. Rates vary widely by airline and route.
An example
A Bhopal family of four flies Dubai–Delhi on one ticket and Delhi–Bhopal on a separate domestic booking. They have 30 kg each from Dubai but only 15 kg each on the domestic flight. Carrying 100 kg in total, they are 40 kg over the domestic allowance, which at ₹800 per kg comes to ₹32,000 at the counter. Prepaid weight would have cost noticeably less, and one through-ticket would have cost nothing extra.
How to keep it down
- Buy extra weight online in advance. The option usually closes a few hours before departure.
- Weigh bags at home and spread the weight so no single bag goes over the per-bag limit.
- Book domestic connections on the same ticket as your international flight. See baggage allowance.
- For a big shopping haul or a relocation, compare the excess charge with cargo or a courier.
- Remember customs: goods above your duty-free allowance attract duty separately, whatever you paid the airline.