Search and book domestic flights within India
Book flights in English
Alternative Airlines is a flight search and booking site that makes it easy to book domestic flights within India. With Alternative Airlines, you can book flights in English and rely on our trusted customer service team to help you with your booking. To begin, simply enter your chosen departure and arrival destinations into the search form at the top of the page.
Pay for your India domestic flights the way you want
When you book your flights in India with Alternative Airlines, you can pay using the currency of your choice, whether that's using Euros, Dollars, or even Indian Rupee. You can also choose to pay using PayPal, PayPal Credit, or one of our other payment plan options.
1. Airlines that operate domestic flights within India
2. What are domestic flights within India?
3. Why book a domestic flight?
4. Domestic flight check-in times
5. Popular routes and airports
6. Domestic flights in India FAQs
Airlines operating domestic flights in India
Domestic flights in India are provided not only by a local airline, but also by other airlines which have multiple destinations within India. These airlines can be anything from full-service airlines to low-cost carriers. Airlines include:
Air India
The flag carrier of India, operating international flights as well as domestic flights. It also has a subsidiary airline called Air India Express and Alliance Air. The airline has a hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, flying to destinations like Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and many more.
Vistara
Vistara is a full-service airline based in Gurgaon, India operating over 300 weekly flights to over 20 domestic destinations including New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and many more. The airline is owned by Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
IndiGo Airlines
IndiGo is a low-cost airlines based at Gurgaon, India and carrying over 300 million passengers annually to over 80 destinations. As a low-cost airline, it only operate a fleet of Airbus A320 with a seating capacity of 180 passengers to destinations such as Bangalore, Goa, Allahabad, Lucknow, Mumbai and many more.
SpiceJet
A low-cost airline based in Gurgaon, India, previously named Royal Airways. the airline is now flying to over 50 domestic destinations including Chennai, Bagdogra, Gaya, Tirupati, Ahmedabad, Indore and many more. A fleet of Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400 aircraft are being deployed for the airline from its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Go First
Go First, which was founded as GoAir, is an ultra-low-cost Indian airline based in Mumbai. The airline has 6 operating bases in Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kannur, Kolkata and Mumbai. Go First currently flies to over 35 destinations within India as well as Thailand, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Nepal and more.
Star Air
Star Air is an Indian airline based in Kempegowda Interational Airport and only operates domestic flights and some commuter flights for the region. The domestic destinations that the airline is flying to are Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Belgaum, Tirupati, Kalaburagi, Hubli, Indore, Mumbai, Ajmer and Ghaziabad.
Zoom Air
Zoom Air is a domestic full-service carrier in India based at Indira Gandhi International Airport, flying to seven domestic destinations including New Delhi, Agra, Jaisalmer, Tezpur, Jorhat, Kolkata and Durgapur.
AirAsia India
AirAsia India is an airline that is headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The airline flies to over 15 destinations in India using a fleet mainly consisting of Airbus A320-200s. Some of the domestic destinations AirAsia India flies to include Dabolim, Srinagar, Ranchi, Kochi, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad and many more.
Akasa Air
Akasa Air is a brand new Indian low-cost airline that commenced operations in August 2022. Its first flight took place on the 7th of August flying from Mumbai to Ahmedabad with a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Akasa Air currently flies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Mumbai and Chennai, with plans to fly to Delhi from the beginning of October 2022.
Why book a domestic flight?
Whether you are travelling within India for work and require a commuter flight, travelling for a holiday with family or wanting to explore the whole of India with a multi-city or open-jaw flight, Alternative Airlines can find flights to suit you.
As one of the largest countries in the world, and the second-most populated country in the world, there’s no wonder that there’s so much to see and do in India. From luxurious beaches in Goa and culture in Rajasthan and Jaipur to the more obvious tourist spots such as the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple at Amritsar.
You can get to sites such as these and other destinations from major cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Goa.
Domestic flight check-in times
Although the check-in time will often be later for domestic flights than it is for international flights, the times will vary from airline to airline. Here are a few popular airlines along with their check-in times for web check-in and airport check-in:
Air India
- Online: 48 - 2 hours before for most flights. For some flights, this will be available 54 hours before your flight.
- Airport: At the airport, passengers will have to have checked in for their flight at least 75 minutes before departure.
Vistara
- Online: Passengers can check in for their flights 48 hours before departure. This service closes 1 hour before departure.
- Airport: Check-in counters will close 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
IndiGo Airlines
- Online: Passengers can check in online anytime, up to 1 hour before flying.
- Airport: Check-in at the airport will close 45 minutes prior to departure time, although passengers are recommended to check in around 2 hours before flying.
SpiceJet
SpiceJet check-in is only available for domestic flights.
- Online: Web check-in is open from the time of confirmed booking up to two hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Airport: Passengers need to be at the boarding gate at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Go First
- Online: Web check-in is open 72 hours to 2 hours before the scheduled departure time. Please note that web check-in is restricted in the following destinations: Kuwait, Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha and Sharjah.
- Airport: Check-in will open 2 hours before and close 45 minutes before the flight is scheduled to depart. For flights from Srinagar and Jammu, check-in will be closed 90 minutes before, and flights from Bagdogra will close 120 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Star Air
- Online and Mobile: 24 hours before scheduled departure time.
- Airport: Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure time.
Zoom Air
- Online and Mobile: Opens 24 hours before scheduled departure time. Closes 3 hours prior to departure.
- Airport: Check-in opens 2 hours before departure and closes 45 minutes prior to departure.
AirAsia India
- Online and Mobile: You can check in online 2 weeks prior to departure up until 1 hour before the scheduled departure time.
- Airport: Opens 2 hours before departure and closes 1 hour before departure for domestic flights.
Akasa Air
- Online and Mobile: Available from 48 hours up to 1 hour before departure for domestic flights.
- Airport: Check-in at the airport for Akasa Air flights is currently not available. Instead, you can check in via the mobile app.
Popular routes and airports
Flights to Goa
Best Airport to Fly Into:
When going to Goa, you will need to fly to Goa International Airport, which is officially known as Dabolim Airport. This airport is located about an hour away from the city of Goa, but there are great connections to the city from the airport.
Airlines that fly there:
There are a number of airlines which fly to Goa Airport from destinations across India. These include Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara.
Flights to Mumbai
Best Airport to Fly Into:
Mumbai Airport, officially known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, is the closest airport to Mumbai.
Airlines that fly there:
Most of the major Indian carriers operate flights from Mumbai to other destinations in India. These include GoAir, AirAsia India, Alliance Air, Air India, SpiceJet and Vistara.
Flights to Hyderabad
Best Airport to Fly Into:
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, sometimes referred to as Hyderabad Airport, is the closest airport to the city of Hyderabad. Located just 24km outside of Hyderabad, there are good connections to the city from the airport.
Airlines that fly there:
IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet, Vistara, GoAir and Alliance Air all operate flights from other destinations in India to Hyderabad. There are in addition a number of other airlines which connect Hyderabad to the world through flights to destinations elsewhere in the world.
Flights to Chennai
Best Airport to Fly Into:
To get to Chennai, you will need to fly into Chennai International Airport.
Airlines that fly there:
To get to Chennai from a destination within India, you can fly on airlines such as Vistara, US Bangla Airlines, TruJet, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Alliance Air.
The most popular routes in India:
The following is a list of the most popular Indian internal flights:
Delhi 
Mumbai
Delhi Bangalore
Mumbai Bangalore
Delhi Kolkata
Delhi Hyderabad
Delhi Pune
Mumbai Goa
Delhi Chennai
Mumbai Chennai
Mumbai Hyderabad
Delhi Ahmedabad
Bangalore Hyderabad
Mumbai Kolkata
Delhi Lucknow
Domestic flights in India FAQs
Do I need a passport for domestic flights in India?
Currently, a passport is not required for Indian nationals when travelling on flights within India. However, passengers are required to have a valid form of identity. This could include the following:
- Passport
- Driving License
- Election Voter Photo Card
- PAN Card (issued by the Income Tax department)
- Photo Identity cards issued by the Government
- Photo public and reputed Private sector organisations (issued by their employer, government or private organisation)
- Photo Credit Card
For children or students at school, a college or school identity card is also considered acceptable proof of identification. Infants travelling with their parents should not require identification, assuming that their parents have valid identification. However, it is recommended that children under 2 who travel for free without a seat on the plane take their birth certificate with them, to prove their age.
Passengers who are not Indian nationals, but are foreign nationals will need a passport on their Indian internal flights. Read more about travel documents for flights here.
How early do I need to arrive for flights within India?
Generally, passengers won’t need to arrive as early for their flights as they could if they were flying internationally. Please see the check-in times above for popular Indian airlines to see the latest check-in time, and plan your arrival at the airport around that.
When is the best time to find cheap tickets?
There are many tips and tricks you can follow to help get cheap flights in India. For example, our blog on the cheapest day to buy flights is good for finding general tips about booking cheap flights. However, for information about domestic flights in India, you should do your research and look up peak times for visiting India, and things such as big events in the areas you are planning to travel to which might bump the price up.
How much baggage can I take on domestic flights within India?
Baggage will depend on the airline you are flying with. When searching and selecting a flight on Alternative Airlines, the included baggage will be displayed, with additional baggage available for purchase displayed as an option.
Can I book domestic flights online?
Yes! You can book any flight in India online at Alternative Airlines. Simply use the search bar above to enter your flight search, select your desired flights and simply continue on with the payment process. The flight booking process is simple, we also have a step-by-step guide to help you. Here at Alternative Airlines, we offer lots of payment plan options, ranging from Klarna to Affirm, Afterpay, and PayPal Credit to Zip and ZestMoney. Discover all our ways to pay.
Are fruits allowed on domestic flights?
You will have to get the permission of the airline you are flying with to see if you are allowed to take fruits with you on your flight. Read more about the foods you can fly with here, or alternatively, you can check out our information about booking an airline meal if you’d prefer a meal on your flight.
Can I book flights on EMI?
Yes, you can! Book flights through Alternative Airlines to pay on EMI. We offer lots of pay-monthly options, including Spotii. Visit our guide to booking flights on EMI to find out more.
Other useful Guides
If you plan on flying internally within Pakistan, you may be interested in the following guides:
FAQs
How to book cheapest domestic flights in India? ›
- Book at the right time.
- Be flexible.
- Use flight search engines.
- Identify the cheapest days to fly.
- Follow the airlines on social media.
- Check low cost/budget airlines.
- Go for non-refundable tickets.
- Clear your cookies.
- Air India Express.
- Jet Konnect.
- Go Air.
- Indigo.
Alternative Airlines is an online travel agency (OTA) and a safe flight search and booking website where you can find over hundreds of different flights results online. These can be to a wide range of remote destinations and well-known locations, and then you can book them all on the same website (no redirection!).
Is it cheaper to buy tickets directly from the airline? ›The Bottom Line: Buy Online
To get the cheapest plane ticket, always book online. Even if this means booking a ticket on your phone in the airport parking lot, you'll be better off. Airport ticket prices just aren't less expensive, as people seem to think.
- Make Early Booking. ...
- End Moment Ticket Booking. ...
- Research Enough. ...
- Know When to Book the Flight Finally. ...
- Be Flexible & Keep on Experimenting with Travel Dates. ...
- Go for the Cheapest Payment Method. ...
- Go for an Air Pass. ...
- Try to Avoid Flying on Long Weekends.
- MakeMyTrip. Makemytrip is one of the best website for flight booking in India, and anyone can easily join in and make an account. ...
- Goibibo. Goibibo, a unit of the Ibibo Group, also owns RedBus.in, India's top online bus ticketing website. ...
- Cleartrip. ...
- Yatra. ...
- EaseMyTrip. ...
- Skyscanner. ...
- Thomas Cook. ...
- Expedia.
| Rank | Airline | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Spirit Airlines | $0.209 |
| 2. | Frontier Airlines | $0.225 |
| 3. | Hawaiian Airlines | $0.257 |
| 4. (T) | Allegiant Air | $0.322 |
Flight tickets tend to get costlier on Fridays and on weekends. Also, try to book your flights in incognito mode. Some of these ticket booking websites save your server details and show higher airfares the next time you visit them. So, open an incognito tab on a Tuesday to book the cheapest flight tickets.
Which website gives cheapest flight tickets? ›- Momondo.
- Kayak.
- Expedia.
- Priceline.
- Orbitz.
- Agoda.
- Hotwire.
- Skyscanner.
With Alternative Airlines, you can book any domestic or interstate flight within the US and spread the cost of your tickets over time. It's incredibly easy to do so when booking through our site - we offer many flexible payment plans at checkout depending on where you reside and the currency you're paying in.
Do I have to accept an alternative flight? ›
2. Choose an alternative flight. If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight. It's up to you whether to fly as soon as possible after the cancelled flight, or at a later date that suits you.
What is a good alternative to a flight? ›Happy travels! Happy landing! Enjoy the ride! Wishing you a quick flight!
Should I book flights directly with airline India? ›If you book directly via airlines you not only avoid referral fees given to booking websites but also get some incentives such as additional points or miles. Moreover, third-parties often do not account for flight sales or promotional offers on their sites.
Can I go to the airport and ask for the cheapest flight? ›Yes, buying plane tickets at the airport really can be cheaper. Fees for online purchases can range between $18 to $25 dollars per flight segment, which adds up to as much as $100 per person on a roundtrip flight with a connection. That's $200 for two people, and even more for a family!
What day are flights cheapest to buy? ›- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically.
- Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush.
- Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
- Book one to three months in advance.
- Set a price alert.
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Do domestic flights get cheaper closer to the date? ›Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date. According to CheapAir.com, you can expect rates to go up after that period.
How far in advance are domestic flights cheapest? ›For domestic travel, Berg says to begin monitoring prices three to four months in advance, booking one to two months ahead of travel. "Most domestic trip airfare will fall between one and three months before your departure, before rising rapidly in the last three to four weeks before takeoff," Berg said.
Which is the best site to book domestic flight tickets in India? ›At EaseMyTrip.com, you can search and book various domestic airlines including, Air India, GO FIRST, Indian Airlines, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara and more to enjoy a good connectivity to different Indian cities. Covering all major destinations of India, these airlines offer best airfare deals to the passengers.
Which month is cheapest to fly to India? ›High season is considered to be January, November and December. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is February. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest India flight deals.
How do I find extreme cheap flights? ›
- Check the cheapest days to fly out. ...
- Check which locations are on offer. ...
- Use flight price search engines. ...
- Book through travel agents for students. ...
- Last-minute deals aren't always cheaper so book early. ...
- Beware of extra costs on budget airlines. ...
- Go incognito when booking flights.
- 10 Tips for Getting Cheap Flight Tickets.
- Fly during the working weekdays.
- Have a look at airline websites.
- Think about the time of departure on the day you book your flight.
- Booking tickets via the Trip.com app.
- Last-minute deals aren't always cheaper so book early.
Booking Searches Are Low
It is quite obvious that based on searches, airlines vary their prices. At midnight, fewer people are willing to open sites and book tickets. This drops down the overall price of the ticket and you can get the ticket at a very affordable price by dialing 1-802-341-3403.
Timing Matters: Not Too Early, Not Too Late
The general rule is that for domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance.
Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book
And midnight later in the week actually gets more expensive. So put the "always book at midnight" myth to bed.
Of all the flight-buying websites, Skyscanner is almost always the cheapest due to its multi-city searches, price trend tracker, and secret “everywhere” feature.
Which is the best app to book cheap flight tickets? ›- MakeMyTrip. MakeMyTrip is a multi-purpose app that can be used for both travel and hotel bookings. ...
- EaseMyTrip. You can save money on flights when you use the EaseMyTrip app. ...
- Goibibo. Every time you book a flight with the Goibibo app, you can save money with exclusive discounts. ...
- Cleartrip. ...
- Expedia. ...
- Yatra.
While the average cost of flying in the U.S. fell during the pandemic in 2020, travelers booking domestic flights are now seeing steep airline ticket prices. This is because travel demand has steadily increased over the last two years and inflation has surged.
Can Americans use VeriFLY? ›The American Airlines app is available for international travel into the United States and VeriFLY™ is available for flights to / from the U.S.
What are the domestic flights in India? ›There are seven domestic airlines operating in India. Here is the list of airlines in India: AirAsia India, Air India, Air India Express, Go First, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara.
Does airline have to pay for alternative flights? ›
If your flight is cancelled. You have the legal right to either: a full refund - including other flights from the airline that you won't use in the same booking such as onward or return flights. a replacement flight to get you to your destination.
Will an airline book you on another airline? ›Yes. While airlines are not required to put you on another airline's flight, they can and sometimes do, so it does not hurt to politely ask your airline if it will transfer your ticket to another airline that has a flight with available seats.
Why do airlines try to get you to switch flights? ›Why do airlines overbook flights? It boils down to maximizing profits. Airlines want to make sure that every flight is as full as possible in case travelers cancel their tickets at the last minute or don't show up—a common occurrence for airlines, since weather delays often force travelers to miss connecting flights.
Have a safe flight alternative? ›- 1) "Stay safe up there" ...
- 2) "Safe travels" ...
- 3) "Bon voyage" ...
- 4) "Fly safe!" ...
- 5) "Have a wonderful trip" ...
- 6) "Happy travels!" ...
- 7) "See you soon" ...
- 8) "Cheerio!"
For the shortest trip, driving is more economical than flying. But for the longer cross-country trip, flying is far cheaper. And keep in mind that this only considers solo drivers. Families or friends traveling in one vehicle can save money by driving, even on longer routes.
Which flight is better for domestic purpose in India? ›IndiGo, the low-cost airline, is the undisputed leader in the Indian domestic market. In April 2021, the airline had a market share of 54 percent with an inventory of 250 aircraft. This sets IndiGo more than 40% ahead of number two, SpiceJet, demonstrating the airline's present market dominance.
Why are Air India flights so cheap? ›End of Air India's monopoly
The new bubbles also mean Air India's monopoly over traffic in and out of India is reduced. The existence of travel bubbles with the UAE, US, and France, allows foreign carriers to compete with Air India. In doing so, it offers travelers more options and lower fares.
The trend is same across the country. One of the reasons for expensive flight tickets is the increase in the price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) by around 80 per cent as compared to last year.
Can you call an airline to negotiate price? ›You can even try bargaining directly with the airline's representative on the toll-free number. Be patient and polite, and ask them about the possibilities of getting the flight at a lower fare.
Can you walk into an airport and buy a plane ticket? ›Believe it or not, this question is worth asking, and the simple answer is yes. You can still buy a flight at the airport. In some cases, like buying a ticket a few hours before departure, it may be the only option available. However, it doesn't come without obstacles.
Are ticket prices cheaper on Tuesdays? ›
But it's not about when you buy airline tickets: It's more about when you actually get on the plane. That means flying on off-peak days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often much cheaper days to fly. Shifting your departure and return dates by just a day or two can save you hundreds of dollars.
Is it cheaper to buy flights last minute? ›Is it cheaper to book a flight at the last minute? We've said this before, but it's worth repeating at the outset—no, it's really not cheaper to book a flight at the last minute. Yes, last minute travelers used to score the occasional fare so low it might have induced shock, but that's no longer the case.
Do flights come down in price last minute? ›Generally speaking, flights are often cheaper last minute if there are still a significant number of seats available. On the other hand, if the flight is almost full then this will most likely result in inflated prices.
Are flights cheap the night before? ›Here's the truth: There is no cheapest day to buy flights. Flight prices change constantly and while your chances of getting a deal are better within a certain window of time (generally 2-8 months out, as mentioned above), there is no magic day on which prices suddenly drop.
What is the cheapest day to book a domestic flight? ›- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically.
- Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush.
- Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
- Book one to three months in advance.
- Set a price alert.
- Momondo.
- Kayak.
- Expedia.
- Priceline.
- Orbitz.
- Agoda.
- Hotwire.
- Skyscanner.
“Prices will be lowest three to six weeks before your trip, rising rapidly in the last three weeks before departure date,” according to the site's analysts. That puts the optimal booking window range from 21 days to about 45 days before travel.
Do flight tickets get cheaper at night? ›Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book
And midnight later in the week actually gets more expensive. So put the "always book at midnight" myth to bed.
Here's what you have to remember: Last-minute flights aren't cheaper: on the contrary, they tend to get more expensive the closer to the departure date. If you have no choice but to book at the last minute, use tools like Skyscanner's “everywhere search” or lastminute.com.
What time of night are flights cheapest? ›According to Skyscanner's research, the best time to book on any given day is around 5 a.m. So, it's true that the early bird gets the worm. Or, the flight deal, that is. In addition, whether you want to save on domestic or international flights, you should also fire up your laptop on Sunday.
Do flight prices go down on Tuesday? ›
When do flight prices drop during the week? According to our data: Tuesday. It seems most airlines launch their discounts on Monday nights, so you can pick up the best prices on Tuesday mornings. Typically, you'll save somewhere between 15 and 25 percent.
What month do flight prices drop? ›Look at January, February, and March for the best flight deals to almost anywhere right now. While lesser travelers are focusing on 2022 flights, the flights just around the New Year's corner are close to half the price.
Do flights get cheaper on Tuesday? ›But it's not about when you buy airline tickets: It's more about when you actually get on the plane. That means flying on off-peak days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are often much cheaper days to fly. Shifting your departure and return dates by just a day or two can save you hundreds of dollars.