Air India Alliances & Partners

Last updated: 31 October 2026.

Air India reaches many more places than its own aircraft by working with other airlines and with train operators. This page explains the different kinds of partnership, which airlines are involved, the rules that apply on a partner flight, and how Maharaja Points work with Star Alliance carriers. Amounts are in Indian rupees unless noted.

Kinds of partnership

• Codeshare: a flight operated by a partner but sold with an Air India flight number. You get one booking and one set of rules, through check-in where the systems allow it, and help from Air India if plans change. Frequent flyer points apply on Star Alliance partners only.
• Interline: one ticket that joins Air India flights with a partner's, each with its own flight number. It gives wider choice, simpler ticketing, baggage checked through and easy single-stop links.
• Virtual interline: flights from different airlines are combined with software. Each leg needs its own check-in, you collect and re-check bags at the stopover, and you must manage any missed connection yourself (in some cases Air India offers through-check or help).
• Air India Express: a codeshare between two airlines of the same group (details below).
• Singapore Airlines: a commercial cooperation on eligible routes between India and Singapore, with extra itineraries, a smoother booking, and Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer miles earned on all booking classes. Both airlines say further reciprocal benefits are planned, and that flights and connections may change.
• Star Alliance: Air India has been a member since 2014 (see the section below).
• Rail and Fly: train legs sold under an Air India ticket.

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Airline partners by region

Air India's partner airlines (codeshare and interline combined) are grouped as follows. Air India also publishes dated PDF lists marking which carriers are codeshare, interline or both.

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Star Alliance and Maharaja Points

• Star Alliance is the largest airline alliance. Air India says 25 partner airlines take part in earning and spending Maharaja Points. Quote your Maharaja Club number when you book and again at check-in, and fly in a booking class that earns points.
• Points depend on the operating airline's own rates for your booking class, not on the fare. Not every flight qualifies, so confirm with the operating airline. Points can take up to four weeks to arrive. Book in your name as it appears on your passport and in your account.
• If you miss out, claim afterwards: 365 days, 210 days or 180 days depending on the airline (shown below), and only when you were a Maharaja Club member on the travel date.
• Spending: search with Pay From set to Points on Air India's booking page. Eligible partner flights show up where award seats exist; some can be booked online and others only through customer support. Taxes, government charges and partner fees are paid in cash, and points are deducted when the ticket is issued. Award tickets are often issued one sector at a time. Changes, cancellations and upgrades follow the operating airline's rules, as do seats and onboard services. Codeshare flights may not qualify, Cash + Points is not offered on partner flights, and partner award seats are capacity-controlled. The Points Calculator estimates the cost, and you can buy points to cover a shortfall.
• Asiana leaves the alliance on 16 December 2026. Maharaja Points are no longer earned on Asiana flights from 16 October 2026, and from 1 December 2026 they cannot be spent on Asiana flights or upgrades. People holding award bookings for travel after 30 November 2026 must make other plans and can ask customer support for a refund.
• Maharaja Club Gold and Platinum members are matched to Star Alliance Gold, and Silver members to Star Alliance Silver. The perks (extra baggage, priority check-in and boarding) come from the alliance tier and do not apply on non-alliance partners.
• Lounges: Star Alliance Gold members on a connecting partner flight (any cabin) in a journey that includes at least one alliance flight can use alliance lounges, the connecting partner's lounges and third-party lounges it uses at the departure airport, with one guest on the same flight. Show a boarding pass with the Gold marker, or a Gold card with proof of a same-day alliance connection. Entry depends on lounge space and local rules.

How many points each partner awards

Percentages are of the actual miles flown, by booking class (the letters). Classes missing from a row do not earn. Rates are set by each airline and can change without notice.

Booking classes missing from a row earn nothing. From 1 July 2026, Thai Airways booking class A earns 100% of actual miles flown.

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Air India Express codeshare flights

These rules cover flights flown by Air India Express but sold on an Air India ticket, whether alone or together with an Air India flight. They were last updated by the airline on 28 February 2026.

• Baggage: the allowance follows Air India's rules and your class. Extra baggage cannot be bought ahead on any codeshare itinerary; you pay at the airport, at Air India Express's airport rates for trips that are entirely domestic or entirely on Air India Express, at Air India's international piece or weight rates for international trips that begin on Air India Express, and at Air India's rates for any trip that begins on an Air India flight. Website discounts do not apply at the airport. Cabin baggage follows Air India's cabin rules.
• Meals: a standard meal is served, set by journey length and the rules of the airline flying that leg. On a combined itinerary made up of two Air India Express legs, only the first leg gets it. Examples offered: a nut mix for trips under 75 minutes; a roasted-vegetable roll in economy and mini idli, medu vada and upma in business on longer trips. Special meals cannot be pre-booked on codeshare trips; on the Air India leg Air India's meal rules apply.
• Seats: before the 48-hour window you can buy a seat on the Air India leg through Manage My Booking. On the Air India Express leg you can only choose a free seat during the check-in window, and premium seats cannot be bought through any channel. Cabin upgrades cannot be purchased on codeshare trips.
• Online check-in: it opens 48 hours before departure, on the website of the airline flying your first leg. It may not be possible if a payment is outstanding at the airport or if a service such as wheelchair help needs checking at the desk. Contact customer support if you have added none of these.
• Airport check-in: use the counter of the airline flying your first leg. Counters shut 60 minutes before departure for domestic itineraries on Air India and at Air India Express metro airports (45 minutes at its non-metro airports), and 60 minutes for international itineraries on both airlines (75 minutes at Delhi for both, and also at London Heathrow for Air India).
• Other services: wheelchairs are requested by phone with either airline's call centre, not on the website. Unaccompanied minors cannot travel. Adding an infant after booking is done by phone and depends on the flight's infant limit. Priority baggage and priority boarding cannot be pre-purchased; they can be bought at check-in, for that airline's leg only. Special assistance follows the operating airline's own policy.
• Disruption: more than 72 hours before departure, Air India offers rebooking or a refund; closer to departure the carrier operating the flight puts you on its next seat out, or you may ask for a refund if you qualify. If a stand-alone Air India Express flight is cancelled, you are moved to another flight within the Air India group. Reschedule through Manage Booking or the call centre under Air India fare rules; refunds follow the same rules. A downgraded booking is dealt with by customer support. If you are refused boarding, the airline running the flight finds another way to get you there.
• Loyalty: Maharaja Points can be earned and spent on eligible Air India and Air India Express codeshares, but Tata Neu coins are neither earned nor accepted on these trips.
• Lounges: available only on the Air India leg, subject to your cabin or tier. Air India Express business class has no lounge entry.

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Rules on partner flights

Booking and contact

• You are told at booking when a segment is operated by a partner; the itinerary names the operating airline.
• You can book an all-partner international trip when Air India sells it as a codeshare, for example Delhi to Addis Ababa to Johannesburg on Ethiopian, with Air India as the ticketing airline. Corporate and marine fares can be sold on codeshare and interline bookings subject to fare rules.
• Unaccompanied minors cannot travel on codeshare or interline journeys. Infants are allowed (ticketed as INF) and are best added at the time of booking; customer support can add one later.
• For booking help, changes, refunds and queries after the trip, contact the ticketing airline. Contact the operating airline only during the journey, for example about lost or late bags.
• Whether you clear immigration or security again depends on the airport, country and your nationality. On an international-to-domestic connection you go through immigration and customs where you first enter the country (Frankfurt to Delhi to Varanasi: at Delhi). On international-to-international links it varies (a Delhi to London to New York trip may stay airside at Heathrow but still face extra screening). Transit visas are your responsibility.

Changes, refunds and disruption

• You can change or cancel a ticket with partner flights; charges and refunds follow the ticketing airline's fare rules. Change through the place you booked: Manage Booking or customer support for Air India sales, or the agent for agent sales.
• If the disruption is more than 72 hours before departure, you are offered another flight or a refund under the fare rules. Closer than that, the airline flying the leg rebooks you on its next suitable flight, or you may claim a refund if you qualify. A missed onward flight is handled by the airline that operated the delayed first leg.
• If you are refused boarding, the airline running the flight arranges another route and pays compensation where its own policy or local law demands it. Flight status for Air India flights is on Air India's site, and for partner flights on the operating airline's site. Rerouting brings no extra compensation beyond the alternative flight or refund of the unused part.

Baggage, seats and meals

• Codeshare: Air India's baggage rules apply. Interline: the rules of the Most Significant Carrier (usually the airline flying the longest sector) apply. For trips to or from the USA or Canada, the airline flying the first sector decides. A journey mixing both types follows whichever carrier flies the longest sector.
• Extra baggage cannot be pre-bought on interline or codeshare trips; excess charges are collected at the departure airport under the first airline's rules and cover the whole journey.
• Bags are usually tagged all the way through, though some countries make you collect and re-check them on first arrival.
• Advance seat selection works only on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and EVA Air flights. Meals depend on the operating airline: full-service carriers usually include one, low-cost carriers may sell food or offer none.
• If you are moved to another airline after a disruption, the original airline's baggage allowance still applies. Pre-bought excess baggage is honoured; otherwise you may pay the new airline for extra weight. Lost or late bags are handled by the airline that last carried them.

Check-in and special help

• Boarding passes for the whole trip are issued where the airlines use the IATCI through check-in system; elsewhere you check in again at the transfer point. Online check-in goes through the airline operating the first leg, and later legs depend on the partner.
• On two separate tickets Air India checks you and your bags in only as far as its own ticketed destination. For example, with Delhi to Frankfurt on Air India and Frankfurt to Helsinki on Finnair, you collect bags at Frankfurt, clear immigration and check in again.
• You can ask for help such as a wheelchair (WCHR) on partner flights when you book; the operating airline decides and provides it.

Frequent flyer

• Points are earned and spent only on Air India and Star Alliance flights, not on codeshare or interline flights of other airlines. Extra baggage, priority check-in and boarding follow Star Alliance status. See the Frequent Flyer page for tiers.

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Rail and Fly

You can add a train leg to an Air India ticket in Europe. Enter the train station code as origin or destination (QYG for all German stations), pick from the flights and trains shown, and pay. Your Air India baggage allowance stays the same from flight to train. Trains run about every two to three hours. Choose Economy or Business for the rail leg. You pick your station at rail-checkin.com during online check-in, within 72 hours of departure. The Deutsche Bahn service in Germany is temporarily suspended.

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Questions travellers ask us

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Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of Air India. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.