Special Needs

To request a stretcher for any passenger, you need to submit the Medical Information Form (MEDIF). Ask your physician to fill in the form and head to the nearest Air India office in your city. It takes up to 72 hours for our medical officer to sanction the request. In some places like Canada, it may take up to five working days.  

To request oxygen on board the flight, you need to submit the Medical Information Form (MEDIF). Please find our nearest office in your city with the form filled in by your physician.  It takes up to 72 hours for our medical officer to sanction your request. In some places like Canada, it may take up to five working days.  Oxygen on board will be provided by us, passengers cannot carry their own oxygen cylinders.

Yes, passengers must share the following details with the airline booking offices at the time of making the booking or at least 48 hours in advance to get IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulations verification before confirming acceptance.

 1) Number of batteries installed on the device along with the weight and dimensions of the device.

2) Whether the battery is detachable or not 

3) The Watt-hour (Wh) rating of each battery 

4) If you do not know the Wh rating, please share the Ampere-hour (Ah) and voltage rating 

5) Do carry the manufacturer certificate or details with you  

6)Passengers can carry the following aboard the flight:

• Non-spillable battery: Dry battery (including integrated battery), gel battery or wet battery (sealed, non-spillable battery)
•  Spillable battery: Wet battery   
• Lithium battery: Lithium-ion battery 

Note 1: The Watt-hour rating of the wheelchair or mobility aid single battery must not exceed 300 Wh. For mobility aids powered by two batteries, each battery must not exceed 160 Wh. You can carry one spare battery, not exceeding 300 Wh, or two spares each not exceeding 160 Wh. 

*Note 2: If your battery-powered mobility aids and wheelchairs do not meet the IATA Dangerous Good Regulations, we will not be able to accept them on the flight. 

Note 3: Passengers carrying their own wheelchairs (battery operated or non-battery operated) need to have wheelchairs that can manoeuvre through the airport, security hold, and up to the aircraft. Our staff will collect the wheelchair at aircraft entrance and load it in the aircraft hold. Passengers will get back the wheelchair on arrival at the destination either at the aircraft exit or in the arrival hall. In case of infrastructural constraints, we will provide a wheelchair till the arrival hall.                

If you are travelling with special medication, make sure you carry the prescription when you board the flight. This applies to both domestic and international travel. If you need more information on carrying medication, do consult your physician or contact the local embassy of the country you are travelling to. 

Yes, our unaccompanied minor service is available for children over five and under 12 years of age flying alone. When flying to the Middle East, the age limit is between five and 16. All you need to do is download and fill our unaccompanied minor request form and submit it to nearest Air India office. Please ensure that the request is submitted at least three working days in advance so we can ensure the utmost safety for the children travelling with us. 

Our unaccompanied minor service is for children over five and under 12 years of age. Children up to 16 are considered minors only if they travel to the Middle East. 

Contact your nearest Air India office at least three working days before the date of departure to ensure there are no delays in sanction and issuance of tickets. This service is available on Air India operated flights only. 

An expectant mother in good health may be accepted for transportation up to and including the 32nd week of pregnancy.

• When making the bookings, if the pregnancy is advanced beyond 32 weeks and with the anticipation of normal delivery, the expectant mother will be accepted for travel up to and including the 35th week of pregnancy. The completed Medical Information Form (MEDIF) and a medical certificate from the attending obstetrician is mandatory.
• Cases of multiple and complicated pregnancies will not be allowed to board after 32 weeks of pregnancy. They include twins, triplets etc.
• Complicated pregnancy is when a pregnant lady has experienced a complicated delivery. 
• If more than a month elapses between the date of the booking and departure, a medical certificate must be obtained three days prior to date to travel. 
• If the pregnancy beyond 35 weeks, the expectant mother may be accepted for transportation only on urgent or compassionate grounds, with the authority of the Executive Director, Medical Services of Air India.

 If you are over 35 weeks (about 8 months), we would not be able to let you board, considering your safety. You will be permitted to travel only in case of an emergency after permission from the Executive Director, Medical Services, after filling out the MEDIF form.

Extra seat can only be purchased subject to availability of seats only and can also be purchased subsequently from the city booking office or at the airport of departure on the date of travel. The charge for the extra seat would be the same fare as your original seat if both seats are purchased simultaneously, except for the government taxes and airport levies.

You can carry your pets as baggage or have them shipped as cargo. Please consider the following if you plan to fly with your pet. 

• Pets can be carried at an additional charge only. Even if you do not have any other baggage, pets will not be considered as luggage.
• You must pay an excess baggage fee for pet carriages on all domestic routes and permitted international routes.
• The charges will be calculated based on the weight of the pet, the pet-container, and food per container.  
• A service dog is free to travel on board if it is medically established that it is trained to lead a differently abled passenger. Please ensure the pet is adequately harnessed to be carried in the cabin and should not occupy a seat. 
• Pets are not permitted on nonstop flight on India-USA-India, India-Canada-India routes. Exception applies to service dogs for hearing or vision impaired individuals only. 
• Please make sure that your pet has valid health and rabies vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required at place of departure and arrival. Air India shall not be responsible if your pets are refused entry or passage through any country or territory.
• We let pets fly at the owner’s risk and only if all requirements of the carrier are met. 

Yes, duly vaccinated pets can fly in the cargo hold with valid health and rabies vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents required at the place of departure and arrival.You can read our Policy for Carriage of Pets  for more information.