Guide

Baggage allowance to India: economy, by airline

By Travel Care team · Last checked 20 October 2026

Most full-service airlines flying between Australia and India give economy passengers 20–35 kg of checked baggage, depending on the fare you buy, and no single bag can weigh more than 32 kg. Singapore Airlines gives 25–30 kg, Emirates 20–35 kg (30 kg on Saver fares that start in Australia) and Qantas 30 kg. Low-cost airlines such as Scoot and AirAsia include no checked bag on their cheapest fares, so you only get what you pay for.

Economy baggage by airline, Australia to India

This table shows the free checked baggage in economy on the airlines most of our families use between Australia and India. Allowances depend on the fare type, and airlines change them, so the allowance printed on your e-ticket is always the final word.

Airline	System	Economy checked allowance	Official page
Singapore Airlines	Weight	Lite 25 kg, Value 25 kg, Standard 30 kg, Flexi 30 kg	singaporeair.com
Emirates	Weight	Special 20 kg, Saver 25 kg (30 kg on journeys starting in Australia), Flex 30 kg, Flex Plus 35 kg	emirates.com
Qantas	Weight	30 kg on international flights outside the Americas, no bag over 32 kg	qantas.com
IndiGo (booked on a Qantas ticket)	Follows Qantas	Qantas says its allowance applies for the whole journey when IndiGo codeshare flights are on a Qantas ticket	qantas.com
Qatar Airways	Weight	Lite 20 kg, Classic 25 kg, Convenience 30 kg, Comfort 35 kg	qatarairways.com
Malaysia Airlines	Weight	Economy Value 20 kg, Basic 25 kg, Flex 35 kg (fare families from 10 April 2025)	malaysiaairlines.com
Air India	Depends on fare	Varies by fare type. We couldn't confirm the current Australia figures on Air India's site, so check the allowance shown when you book and on your e-ticket	airindia.com
Scoot	Buy what you need	Basic economy has no checked bag. Bundles include 20 kg. You can buy 20–40 kg. No bag over 32 kg	flyscoot.com
AirAsia and AirAsia X	Buy what you need	The cheapest fares have no checked bag. Premium Flex includes 20 kg. Extra baggage is sold online, up to 60 kg each way on some routes. No bag over 32 kg	airasia.com

Most of these airlines also allow about 7 kg of cabin baggage in economy. AirAsia counts its 7 kg across two cabin items, so check the cabin rules for your airline before you pack.

Piece or weight: what's the difference?

Under the weight concept, you get a total number of kilos. You can spread it across as many bags as you like, as long as no single bag is over 32 kg. Most travel between Australia and India works this way. A 30 kg allowance could be one 30 kg suitcase, or two bags of 15 kg each.

Under the piece concept, you get a number of bags, each with its own limit, usually 23 kg in economy. Two pieces of 23 kg gives you more in total (46 kg), but each bag has to come in under 23 kg. Airlines mostly use the piece concept for flights to and from the Americas. There are exceptions on India trips, though. Thai Airways moved to the piece concept within Asia and Australia for travel from 2 March 2026, and Air India's allowance depends on the fare you buy. If your ticket says "2PC", you're on the piece concept. If it shows a number like "30K", it's weight.

Low-cost airline traps to watch for

The cheapest fare is cabin bag only. Scoot's basic economy and AirAsia's lowest fares include no checked bag. Add baggage when you book, because adding it later or at the airport usually costs more.
Separate tickets mean collecting your bags. If you book a Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore and then a separate Scoot ticket to Amritsar, you'll have to collect your bags in Singapore and check them in again, and each airline's allowance applies on its own leg. On one ticket, your bags are checked through to India.
Mixed tickets can have mixed allowances. On a single ticket with more than one airline, the allowance is usually set by the main international airline. When Scoot is sold as a connection on a Singapore Airlines ticket, confirm which allowance applies on the Scoot flight.
Cabin bags get weighed. Low-cost airlines are strict about the 7 kg limit at the gate, so don't count on squeezing extra into your hand luggage.

Wedding-trip luggage tips

Wedding trips are where baggage matters most. Outfits, gifts and sweets add up quickly, and the return trip is often heavier than the trip over.

Compare fare types, not just fares. On Singapore Airlines, moving from Value to Standard takes you from 25 kg to 30 kg. That can work out better than buying extra kilos, and you usually get better change conditions too.
Weigh everything at home. Keep each bag under 32 kg, or under 23 kg if your ticket uses the piece concept.
Keep valuables in your cabin bag. Jewellery, gold, cash, passports and OCI cards should never go in the hold.
Pack heavy outfits carefully. A garment bag can often go in the cabin if it fits within the cabin allowance. Check with the airline first.
Buy some gifts in India. It's often easier than carrying them from Australia.
Declare food when you come home. Sweets, spices and other food from India must be declared on your Incoming Passenger Card when you land in Australia.

Booking for a big family group? Tell us how many bags everyone needs before we quote, and we'll compare the fare types for you. If parents are travelling on their own, our parents' travel page covers wheelchair help and transit tips.

Baggage on the routes we book most

Adelaide to Amritsar: Singapore Airlines and Scoot via Singapore (check the Scoot leg), or Malaysia Airlines all the way via Kuala Lumpur.
Melbourne to Delhi and Sydney to Delhi: non-stop with Air India, or with Qantas from Melbourne in season. Check how Air India's allowance shows on your ticket.
Brisbane to Hyderabad and Adelaide to Mumbai: usually one stop with a full-service airline, so 25–35 kg is typical.

Talk to a real person about your baggage

Fares and schedules change every day, so we don't publish prices on this page. For live fares, call or WhatsApp the Travel Care team on 0421 882 733. We're a family-run agency at 222 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville, booking flights since 2010, and we speak English, Hindi and Punjabi. Seen a cheaper fare somewhere else? Send us the screenshot and we'll see what we can do.

Last checked: 20 October 2026 by the Travel Care team.

Questions we get asked

How much luggage can I take to India from Australia?

In economy on a full-service airline, usually 20–35 kg of checked baggage depending on the fare, plus about 7 kg in the cabin. Singapore Airlines gives 25–30 kg, Emirates 20–35 kg and Qantas 30 kg. Low-cost fares on Scoot and AirAsia may include no checked bag at all.

Is it two bags of 23 kg or 30 kg in total?

It depends on whether your ticket uses the piece or weight concept. Most Australia–India tickets use weight (for example 30 kg in total, with no bag over 32 kg). Your e-ticket shows '2PC' for pieces or a figure such as '30K' for weight.

Do I get checked baggage on Scoot or AirAsia?

Not on the cheapest fares. Scoot's bundles include 20 kg and AirAsia's Premium Flex includes 20 kg. Otherwise you buy baggage separately, and it's usually cheapest to add it when you book.

My ticket has two airlines. Whose baggage allowance applies?

On a single ticket, it's usually the main international airline's allowance, and bags are checked through. On separate tickets, each airline's own allowance applies and you may need to collect and re-check your bags at the connecting airport.

Can I buy extra baggage for a wedding?

Yes. Most airlines sell extra kilos or extra bags in advance, and it's usually cheaper online than at the airport. Sometimes a higher fare type with more baggage included works out better. We can compare both for you.

How much baggage does a baby get?

It varies by airline. Singapore Airlines, for example, allows up to 10 kg of checked baggage for an infant, plus certain baby items. Check the infant allowance for your airline before you pack.