AI-AIX Codeshare Partnership

 Two Airlines. One Group. More Possibilities.

As part of the same family, Air India and Air India Express share one purpose—making travel easier, more accessible, and more meaningful. Our codeshare partnership combines the strengths of both airlines to offer enhanced connectivity and greater choice across our expanding network.

 What This Partnership Brings You

Expanded Network & More Options – Enjoy wider reach and effortless connections across India and beyond.

One Trip, One Booking – Book a single itinerary that blends the convenience of both airlines.

Aligned Travel Experience – Benefit from coordinated baggage allowances, complimentary meals on eligible sectors, a consistent onboard experience, and streamlined customer support.

No matter where your journey begins—on Air India or Air India Express—you’ll experience the same warmth, thoughtful service, and commitment to making every journey memorable.

Booked an Air India * Air India Express Codeshare Flight?

If you’ve booked an Air India Express codeshare flight on an Air India ticket (through any booking Channel), here you’ll find helpful details about baggage, onboard services, and check‑in processes to ensure a smoother travel experience.

 This page covers the services and guidelines applicable to the following journey types:

  1.  Standalone Air India Express Codeshare Flights (Ticketed on Air India)
    Single‑segment or multi‑segment journeys operated only by Air India Express
  2.  Air India + Air India Express Journey (Ticketed on Air India)
    One segment is operated by Air India and another by Air India Express

As we continue enhancing our systems and processes to offer an even smoother travel experience, the policies outlined below remain applicable to all current codeshare bookings. (Last updated on 28 February 2026.)

Explore the FAQs below for a quick overview of services and guidelines.

1.  How much baggage is allowed on my ticket?

Baggage allowance for any type of journey will be as per Air India’s baggage policy fare rules and the class of travel. Please refer Checked Baggage Allowance | Prepare to Travel | Air India

2.  Can I purchase extra baggage in advance? What are the charges, and what happens if I exceed my allowance at the airport?

Extra baggage cannot be pre-purchased for any type of codeshare itinerary. Extra baggage charges will be applicable at the airport, and the charges will depend on the type of journey and the airline operating your first segment as defined below. Also, website or online discounts are not applicable at the airport.

  • For standalone Air India Express journeys: Air India Express airport baggage rates will apply as per the Air India Express baggage policy. Please refer Charges on Excess Baggage | Air India Express for Air India Express baggage charges.
  • For Combined Journeys (International) starting on Air India Express:  Air India’s international piece/weight rates will be applicable.
  • For Combined Journeys (Domestic) starting on Air India Express:  Air India Express’s domestic airport baggage rates will apply.
  • For Combined Journeys starting with an Air India segment: Air India’s baggage rates will be applicable. Please refer Charges on Excess Baggage | Prepare to Travel | Air India for Air India baggage charges.

3. How much cabin baggage can I carry?

Cabin baggage allowance will be as per Air India’s cabin baggage policy and the class of travel. Cabin or Carry-on Baggage | Prepare to Travel | Air India

1.  Will I get a meal during the journey?

Yes, a standard meal is provided in an AI-IX codeshare journey be it a standalone non-stop journey on Air India Express or a combined itinerary including both Air India and Air India Express. Note, only in cases where it is a combined itinerary and both segments are operated by AI express, standard meal will be provided only on the first segment of the journey.

2.  What will be the meal-menu options available?

Standard meals are provided on codeshare flights, with the meal type predetermined based on the journey duration and governed by the respective airline’s meal policy for each segment of travel. This means the Air India meal policy applies on the Air India‑operated segment, and the Air India Express meal policy applies on the Air Inda Express‑operated segment.

For the Air India Express‑operated segment, one of the following meal options is offered (illustrative only; actual meal may vary):

  • Codeshare journeys < 75 minutes (all fare types): Nut Mix
  • Codeshare journeys >75 minutes Economy Cabin: Herb Roast Vegetable Roll
  • Codeshare journeys > 75 minutes Business Cabin - Mini Idli, Medu vada & Upma

For Air India segment meal options please refer Experience Premium Airline Food With Air India. On the Air India operated segment of the journey, passengers may also prebook special meals, subject to availability and airline policy.

3.  Can I pre-book/ pre-pay for a special meal (e.g., vegetarian, Jain, vegan, diabetic, child meal, gluten-free, etc.)?

Currently, special meal pre-booking (pre-purchase) is not available for codeshare journeys through our website or by calling the customer support. However, please be assured that we are actively working on enhancing our systems to make these options available soon.

For your travel:

  • On the Air India sector: Air India’s meal policy will apply.
  • On the Air India Express sector: Standard meal as described in the above question will be provided. No other special request can be processed for the Air India Express segment.

1.  Can I select my seat in advance?

Yes, you can select your seats in advance. Here’s how you can do it:

Before the web check-in window (before the 48-hour window of flight departure):

  • For the Air India operated segment: You can choose and purchase your preferred seat through Manage My Booking (MMB) on the Air India website.
  • For the Air India Express operated segment: Advance seat selection is not available until the web check-in window opens.

During the web check-in window (During the 48-hour of departure): Seat selection becomes available for both Air India and Air India Express segments.

  • For the Air India operated segment: You can choose and purchase your preferred seat during web check-in flow.
  • For the Air India Express operated segment: Seat selection is allowed during this window. However, purchase of a premium seat is currently not possible on such segments through any of the customer support channels.

2.  I cannot prebook my seat on the Air India Express segment‑ of my journey. What can I do for selecting seat on the Air India Express segment?

Pre-purchase of seat for the Air India Express segment is not available in advance when it has been booked as a codeshare itinerary with Air India. However, you can choose (not purchase a premium seat) your seat free of cost during the web check-in window (depending on the available seats at the time).

3. Are cabin upgrades (business class/ premium economy) available for purchase?

Purchase of cabin upgrades to business or premium economy class is not available on any type of codeshare journeys. 

 1. How do I web check-in?

Web check-in Windows opens 48 hours before departure time for flights (Departure‑48hrs). You should always web check-in on the website of the airline operating the first segment of your journey.

2. In which cases will web check-in not be available?

Web check-in may not be available in situations where Air India Express is the first segment, and an additional amount needs to be paid at the airport (for service purchased etc.) or when certain services require airport verification. This may include:

  • Any unpaid balance or pending charges associated with your booking
  • Special assistance requests, such as wheelchair services

If you haven’t added any of these services and still find yourself unable to complete web check-in, please reach out to our customer support team and we’ll be happy to assist you and help resolve the issue.

1.  How do I check in at the airport for my journey?

Airport check‑in should be done at the counter of the airline operating the first segment of your journey.

  • First segment is Air India: Check-in on Air India counter
  • First segment is Air India Express: Check-in on Air India Express counter.
    This ensures your boarding passes and baggage tags are issued correctly for your entire journey, whether it includes Air India Express standalone flights, Air India and Air India Express mixed segments, or both segments on Air India Express.

2. What time do airport check-in counters close for check-in and baggage drop?

Check‑in counters close before departure based on the airline operating your first segment and whether your overall itinerary is domestic or international. The closure timings are as follows:

  • For domestic itinerary (Your trip is domestic)
    1. Air India: Counters close 60 minutes before departure.
    2. Air India Express:
      1. Metro airports: Counters close 60 minutes before departure
      2. Non‑Metro airports: Counters close 45 minutes before departure
  • For international itinerary (Your trip is international)
    1. Air India: Counters close 75 minutes before departure
    2. Air India Express: Counters close 60 minutes before departure

1.  How can I request wheelchair assistance or other special needs?

These can be booked in line with the Air India policy for booking wheelchair. While this service is not available for booking on the website, it can be requested by calling either Air India or Air India Express call centre.

2.  Can minors travel unaccompanied?

No, unaccompanied minors are not allowed on codeshare flights.

3.  Can I add infants post booking?

We encourage passengers to add an infant in the original booking. However, if you need to add an infant post booking, this can be requested by calling the customer support centre.

Please note the number of infants that can travel on each flight is determined with safety considerations in mind to ensure a secure and comfortable journey for all guests. In certain situations, if the limit for infant travel on a specific flight has already been reached, adding an infant to an existing booking may not be possible.

4.   Can I add priority services (priority baggage, priority boarding)?

Codeshare bookings do not allow pre-purchase (via website, call centre etc.), of any Priority service, but these can be added (if available) at the airport at the time of check-in.  Even if these services are purchased at the airport, it will only apply only to the respective airline segment and not the entire journey.

5.  Is travel assistance available? (eg., Assistance for specially abled people)

Yes, travel assistance is available, and it is provided in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the operating carrier for each segment of the journey.

1.  What is the policy if a flight is cancelled or delayed?

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the next steps depend on when the disruption occurred:

  • Before the operational window (More than 72 hours before Departure): Air India will offer the option to rebook on an alternate flight or you can request a refund, as per the applicable fare rules.
  • During the operational window (Within 72 hours window before Departure): You will be accommodated on the next available flight by operating carrier or you can request a refund, as per the applicable fare rules. Here’s what it means for each situation:

(a)  Air India Express Segment Delayed or Cancelled (and you miss your next flight): If your first flight is Air India Express, and you miss your onward flight because of the delay then Air India Express will accommodate you on the next available flight to complete your journey, OR you may choose a refund, if eligible.

(b)  Air India Segment Delayed or Cancelled (and this results in a missed onward connection on the same booking): If your first flight is Air India, and because of the delay you miss your onward flight then Air India will arrange to put you on the next available flight for the remaining journey, OR you may choose a refund, if eligible.

(c)  Air India Express Standalone Flight: If you are flying only on Air India Express, and your flight is cancelled then you will be accommodated on the next available Air India group flight, OR you may choose to take a refund, if eligible.

2. How can I reschedule my flight?

 If you would like to reschedule your booking, you can do so through our manage booking  (MMB) on the Air India Website or by contacting the Air India Call Centre. Please note that Air India fare rules will apply for any changes made to your itinerary. For more details, you may also refer to Flight FAQs: Refunds, Cancellation, Rescheduling & more| Air India

3.  How do refunds work on tickets?

Refund will follow the Air India ticket and fare rules. Please refer Flight FAQs: Refunds, Cancellation, Rescheduling & more| Air India

4.  My booking has been downgraded. How can I get a refund?

If your booking has been downgraded. Reach out to our customer support team, who will assist you with the change/refund process.
Refund will follow the Air India ticket and fare rules. Please refer Flight FAQs: Refunds, Cancellation, Rescheduling & more| Air India

5.  What happens in case of denied boarding?

If you are denied boarding, the operating carrier will make arrangements for an alternate travel option to help you reach your final destination.

6.  How can I check my flight status?

You can check your Air India flight status on Check your flight status online | Book & Manage | Air India or AI.g chatbot on Air India website. You can also check your Air India Express flight status on Air India Express - Flight Status or Tia chatbot on Air India Express website.

1.  Can I earn Maharaja points on such bookings?

You will earn Maharaja Points only on the Air India operated segment of your journey.
We are actively working to enable Maharaja functionalities for Air India Express as well and will share updates as soon as this becomes available. For more details, please refer to the Welcome to Maharaja Club, Air India's Loyalty Programme | Air India.

2.  Can I use Maharaja points?

No, Maharaj Points redemption is not available on AI-IX codeshare bookings.

3.  Can I earn Tata Neu Coins?

No, Tata Neu Coins cannot be earned for this journey. This is the same for both the Air India and Air India Express segments.

4.  Can I use Tata Neu Coins?

No, Tata Neu Coins cannot be redeemed for any part of this journey, including both the Air India and Air India Express segments.

1. Do I get lounge access for the journey?

Lounge access is available only on the Air India operated segment and is subject to meeting the applicable cabin eligibility or Maharaja tier level requirements. At present, Air India Express Operated Business Class does not offer lounge access benefits.