You have booked the tickets. You have the bags half-packed. And then it hits you: what exactly are the rules for flying with a baby on Indian airlines?

Can you take the stroller to the gate or does it have to be checked at the counter? How much extra baggage does your infant actually get? Is a bassinet available on your route? Can you carry breast milk through security?

These are not small questions when you are managing a baby, a diaper bag, a stroller, and your own luggage, all at the same time, in a busy Indian airport. Getting the answers wrong can mean an unexpected fee, a last-minute scramble, or standing at the boarding gate without the equipment you needed.

This guide gives you the answers for every major Indian airline, verified from official airline policies, so you can walk into the airport knowing exactly what to expect.

First: What Every Indian Airline Has in Common

Before the airline-by-airline breakdown, here are the rules that apply across all major Indian carriers, because these are consistent regardless of which airline you fly.

Infant definition: An infant is a child under 2 years of age. From the second birthday, a child moves to a child fare and is entitled to their own seat. On the day of travel, your child’s age at the time of departure determines which category applies.

Lap infant policy: Infants under 2 travel on an adult’s lap. They do not get their own seat unless you purchase one. A maximum of one infant per adult passenger is permitted on all Indian airlines.

Infant fare: On domestic routes, the infant fare is typically 10% of the adult base fare plus applicable taxes and fees. The exact amount varies by route and fare class. On international routes, it varies by airline and destination. Always check at the time of booking.

Minimum age to fly: Most Indian airlines require an infant to be at least 7 days old to travel. Some require a doctor’s certificate for infants under a specific age, typically under 6 weeks. Check with your airline at the time of booking if your baby is very young.

Stroller rule that applies everywhere: Every major Indian airline allows one collapsible stroller per infant free of charge, in addition to the standard baggage allowance. The stroller weight and cost do not count against your checked baggage limit.

Breast milk and formula: Breast milk, formula, and baby food are exempt from the standard 100 ml liquid restriction at Indian airport security. Declare them at the security checkpoint. They will be tested but are permitted in quantities appropriate for the journey.

Pre-boarding: All major Indian airlines offer priority boarding for passengers travelling with infants and young children. Always ask at the gate. It is not always announced proactively, but it is available on request at almost every airport.

IndiGo: India’s Most Flown Airline for a Reason

IndiGo operates more domestic routes than any other Indian airline, which means for most Indian families, a first flight with a baby is likely to be an IndiGo flight. Here is exactly what the policy covers.

Infant Fare and Seat

Infants under 2 travel on a parent’s lap at approximately 10% of the adult base fare plus taxes on domestic routes. No separate seat is provided unless you purchase one. One infant per adult.

Baggage Allowance for Infants on IndiGo

Cabin baggage: Infants are entitled to a 7 kg cabin baggage allowance. This is in addition to the accompanying adult’s cabin allowance. Use it for your diaper bag, feeding supplies, and anything else you need access to during the flight.

Checked baggage: Infants do not receive a separate checked baggage allowance on IndiGo domestic flights. Your infant’s belongings need to fit within the adult passenger’s checked allowance (15 kg on most domestic fares) or the cabin allowance.

Stroller: One stroller or baby pram per infant is allowed free of charge, in addition to the standard baggage allowance. It does not count against your checked baggage weight.

Stroller: Gate Check or Counter Check?

On IndiGo, you can use your stroller all the way from the terminal entrance through security, through the airport, and to the aircraft door. At the boarding gate, IndiGo staff will tag it for gate check. You leave it at the aircraft door as you board and collect it at the aircraft door or aerobridge on arrival, before reaching baggage claim.

Alternatively, you can check the stroller at the IndiGo counter at the time of check-in. In this case, it travels in the hold and is collected at the baggage belt with your other checked luggage on arrival.

Recommendation for most parents: Gate check. It means you have the stroller available throughout the airport, right up until boarding. This makes navigating the terminal with a baby significantly easier, and you get it back the moment you step off the plane rather than waiting at baggage claim.

Can the Stroller Go in the Cabin on IndiGo?

If your stroller folds to within 55 x 35 x 25 cm and weighs under 7 kg, it may fit within IndiGo’s cabin baggage dimensions. In practice, most full-size strollers exceed these dimensions folded. If your stroller is genuinely compact and lightweight, it is worth asking at the gate, but be prepared for it to be gate-checked if the crew decides it does not fit the overhead bin.

The Loopie Hop weighs 8.4 kg and folds compactly with one hand. It is designed for gate check and fits easily within IndiGo’s stroller policy as a free gate-check item per infant.

Bassinet on IndiGo

IndiGo does not offer in-flight bassinets on its domestic network. This is a domestic airline operating short-haul routes where bassinets are not standard. For long-haul international routes operated by full-service carriers, bassinets are available (see Air India below).

Car Seat on IndiGo

One car seat per infant is allowed free of charge as checked baggage on IndiGo. Car seats are not permitted on the passenger seat unless you have purchased a separate seat for your child. If you have purchased a seat, a FAA or IS-certified car seat can be installed in it.

Breast Milk and Formula on IndiGo

Exempt from the 100 ml liquid rule. Declare at security. Carry in your cabin bag for in-flight access.

Pre-boarding on IndiGo

Available on request at the gate. Ask the IndiGo staff member at the boarding gate before the general boarding announcement. It is consistently offered but not always proactively announced.

Air India: Full-Service, Family-Friendly, and the Only Indian Airline Flying Long-Haul

Air India is India’s national carrier and the primary choice for international routes from India. It also operates domestic routes. If you are flying internationally with a baby from India, Air India is likely to be on your shortlist, and it has the most comprehensive infant policy of any Indian airline.

Note on Vistara: Vistara has now been fully merged into Air India. All Vistara flights and routes now operate under the Air India brand. If you previously flew Vistara with your baby, the policies below are the current applicable rules.

Infant Fare and Seat

Infants under 2 travel on a parent’s lap. On international routes, the infant fare is typically 10% of the adult fare plus applicable taxes. On domestic routes, it is similar to the IndiGo rate. One infant per adult.

Baggage Allowance for Infants on Air India

Checked baggage: This is where Air India stands out significantly from budget carriers. Infants are entitled to a checked baggage allowance of:

• 10 kg in Economy class
• 12 kg in Premium Economy
• 15 kg in Business and First Class

This is a meaningful allowance, covering a significant amount of baby gear, formula, clothing, and other essentials. For international travel especially, this extra allowance can make the difference between checking one bag and checking two.

Cabin baggage: Air India allows the following as carry-on baggage in addition to the standard adult allowance: baby food, feeding bottles, and a carry-on tote or bag specifically for the baby’s in-flight food and bottles. This is separate from and in addition to the adult’s cabin allowance.

Stroller: One collapsible stroller, carrycot, or infant car seat per infant is allowed free of charge as checked baggage, in addition to the standard allowance. Air India does not allow strollers in the aircraft cabin. The stroller must be checked at the counter or gate-checked.

Bassinet on Air India

Air India offers in-flight bassinets on international routes and select domestic routes operated by wide-body aircraft. Bassinets are free of charge, subject to availability. They are available for infants up to a weight limit (typically 10 kg or as specified by the aircraft type).

How to request: Request the bassinet at the time of booking through Air India’s website, via customer support, or at check-in. Do not leave it until the gate. Bassinet seats are bulkhead seats with extra legroom, and they go quickly on popular routes.

Important: Even with a bassinet booking confirmed, bassinet availability at the actual seat is subject to aircraft configuration and other passengers’ needs. Confirm your bassinet request at check-in and again at the gate.

Car Seat on Air India

Air India allows one infant car seat per infant free of charge as checked baggage. If you have purchased a separate seat for your child, a certified car seat can be installed in the passenger seat.

Priority Services on Air India

Air India provides priority check-in and priority boarding for passengers travelling with infants. Request this at the check-in counter. On most Air India flights, families with young children board before other economy passengers.

Air India also provides bassinet-compatible bulkhead seating for families with infants when requested in advance, along with crew assistance for parents who need help during the flight.

Akasa Air: India’s Newest Major Airline, Worth Knowing

Akasa Air launched in 2022 and has grown quickly into a significant domestic carrier with an expanding route network. For parents, it is worth knowing the specifics because the policy has a few differences from IndiGo.

Infant Fare and Seat

Infants under 2 travel on a parent’s lap. The infant fare applies at the time of booking. One infant per adult. A maximum of 10 infants are permitted on any Akasa Air flight, so booking early is particularly important if you are travelling on a popular route.

Baggage Allowance for Infants on Akasa Air

Cabin baggage: Infants are entitled to one additional cabin bag of up to 7 kg and 115 cm (length plus width plus height). This is in addition to the adult passenger’s cabin allowance.

Checked baggage: Infants are not entitled to a separate checked baggage allowance on Akasa Air domestic flights. Baby items need to be packed within the adult’s checked allowance.

Stroller: One stroller or baby pram per infant is allowed without charge. On domestic routes, the stroller can be gate-checked. On international routes, one stroller or pram is allowed free of charge as checked baggage.

Bassinet on Akasa Air

Akasa Air does not currently operate long-haul international routes where in-flight bassinets are standard. On its domestic network, bassinets are not available. As Akasa expands internationally, check their current policy directly for international route specifics.

Pre-boarding on Akasa Air

Akasa Air accommodates families with infants during boarding. Ask the gate staff before the general boarding call.

SpiceJet: Budget Carrier With Standard Infant Provisions

SpiceJet operates primarily on domestic routes and some international destinations. Its infant policy is in line with other budget carriers.

Infant fare: Approximately 10% of adult base fare plus taxes on domestic routes.

Cabin baggage: Infants are entitled to a small additional cabin allowance for baby essentials.

Stroller: One collapsible stroller per infant is allowed free of charge and can be gate-checked.

Checked baggage: Infants typically receive 7 kg checked baggage on domestic routes.

Bassinet: Not available on SpiceJet’s domestic network.

Pre-boarding: Available on request at the gate.

Airline-by-Airline Quick Reference Table

Feature	IndiGo	Air India	Akasa Air	SpiceJet
Infant cabin baggage	7 kg	Tote + food	7 kg	Varies
Infant checked baggage	None (domestic)	10 kg Economy	None (domestic)	7 kg
Free stroller	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stroller in cabin	Possibly if very compact	No	No	No
Gate check stroller	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bassinet (domestic)	No	Select routes	No	No
Bassinet (international)	No	Yes (on request)	Limited	No
Free car seat	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Priority boarding	Yes (on request)	Yes	Yes	Yes

Policies are accurate as of 2026. Always verify directly with your airline before travel as policies are subject to change.

Gate Check vs. Counter Check: Which Is Better for Your Stroller?

This question comes up for almost every parent flying with a stroller for the first time. Here is the honest answer.

Gate check is almost always better for parents. Here is why:

When you gate-check, you keep the stroller through the entire airport journey: from the car park or taxi drop-off, through check-in, through security, through the terminal, and all the way to the aircraft door. For a parent with a baby and multiple bags, having the stroller available during this entire journey is genuinely useful.

On arrival, a gate-checked strollerstroller is returned to you at the aircraft door or aerobridge, usually before you even reach the baggage belt. This means you have it immediately as you disembark, which is when you most need it.

Counter-checked strollers travel in the hold like regular luggage and come out on the baggage belt. You have to navigate from the aircraft to baggage claim without it, carrying your baby and bags the entire way.

When counter check makes sense: If your stroller is very large or bulky and difficult to fold compactly for the walk to the gate, or if the airline specifically requires counter check for your stroller type.

Tips for gate check:

• Fold your stroller at the aircraft door, not at the gate desk. Use the time at the gate desk to get it tagged, then fold it right before boarding.
• Remove any loose accessories: cup holders, phone mounts, rain covers. Pack these in your carry-on. Accessories are not covered if lost during baggage handling.
• Take a photo of your stroller before handing it over. If it comes back damaged, the photo is your evidence for a damage claim.
• When you land, wait at the aircraft door before moving toward baggage claim. Your stroller should be returned there. If it is not, ask a crew member; it may have been sent to baggage claim instead, which occasionally happens at busy airports.

What to Do If Your Stroller Is Damaged at the Airport

It happens. Strollers are not always handled gently in the hold, and returning to find a broken wheel or a bent frame is frustrating.

Here is what to do:

Step 1: Before leaving the baggage claim area, report the damage to the airline’s baggage desk. Do not leave the airport without doing this. Once you leave, claims become significantly harder to process.

Step 2: Fill in a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the desk. Get a copy. Keep the reference number.

Step 3: Take clear photographs of all damage before and after reporting.

Step 4: Follow up with the airline’s baggage claims department within the timeframe specified on the PIR, typically 7 days for visible damage.

Under Indian DGCA regulations, airlines are liable for damage to checked baggage. The claim process is administrative but straightforward if you follow the steps above. The most common reason claims are rejected is that damage was not reported at the airport at the time of collection.

To protect your stroller during baggage handling, a padded stroller travel bag is one of the most useful accessories you can own. It reduces the risk of damage significantly and keeps all accessories together during the journey.

How the Loopie Hop Works With Indian Airline Policies

The Loopie Hop is designed with Indian airline travel in mind, which shows up in the specifics.

At 8.4 kg with a compact one-hand fold, it qualifies as a free gate-check item on every major Indian airline. It folds in seconds at the aircraft door, so the boarding process is not slowed down. On arrival, it unfolds just as quickly at the aerobridge, so you are moving again within moments of disembarking.

The UPF 50+ canopy, mosquito net, and front wheel suspension make it equally useful at the destination as at departure, whether you are navigating an airport terminal in Delhi or a resort path in Goa.

For stroller protection during air travel, the Loopie Hop is compatible with a dedicated stroller travel bag that covers it fully for check-in and protects it through baggage handling. See the Loopie Hop

You can see it in person at Loopie stores in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. Find a store near you

Pre-Flight Checklist: What to Confirm Before Every Flight With a Baby

• Infant added to the booking with the correct date of birth
• Infant fare paid and confirmed on the booking reference
• Stroller noted on the booking (not always required but worth flagging)
• Bassinet requested at booking and confirmed (for Air India international routes)
• Bulkhead or bassinet-compatible seat requested if applicable
• Travel documentation for the baby confirmed: passport for international travel, birth certificate where required
• Breast milk, formula, and baby food packed in carry-on with easy access for security declaration
• Stroller accessories removed and packed in carry-on before arriving at the airport
• Photo of stroller taken before check-in
• Priority boarding request noted to ask for at the gate.