Most Indian airlines let a baby stroller or pram travel for an infant without a separate charge, but the wording differs by airline. IndiGo states one stroller or baby pram per infant is free. Air India allows one collapsible stroller, carrycot or infant car seat. Air India Express says a collapsible stroller can go to the gate. Check your airline before you fly.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Travelling with a lap infant is easier when you know whether the stroller stays with you until the aircraft door. Here is what the airlines themselves publish, and where the fine print is thin.
Can you take a stroller or pram on an Indian flight?
Generally yes. Several Indian airlines list a stroller as an infant concession rather than part of your own baggage allowance. The catch is that an infant (under two years, travelling on an adult’s lap) usually has no free checked-baggage allowance of their own, so the stroller concession is a specific line in each airline’s rules, not a general entitlement.
Because the wording changes from airline to airline, the safest habit is to read your airline’s baggage page for infants before you pack. Screenshots of the page are handy to show at the airport if staff are unsure.
What do IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air and Air India Express say?
Here is a summary of what each airline’s own pages say, as seen in October 2026.
- IndiGo: its baggage page says one stroller or baby pram is allowed per infant free of charge. Infants do not get a free checked-baggage allowance. IndiGo’s assistance page lists a hand-baggage allowance of up to 7 kg for each infant.
- Air India: its baggage guidelines say an infant is entitled to one collapsible stroller, carrycot or infant car seat. How the stroller is handled at the aircraft door depends on the airport, so confirm how this works at yours.
- Akasa Air: the baggage page has no checked allowance for infants and one handbag of up to 7 kg for an infant. The line about one stroller or baby pram per infant free of charge appears in its international section. The domestic section does not mention strollers, so ask Akasa before a domestic trip.
- Air India Express: its domestic flights page says infants have a defined baggage allowance and can bring a collapsible stroller through to the gate. It does not state further limits on that page.
- SpiceJet: check SpiceJet’s baggage and infant pages, or contact the airline, to confirm the stroller rule before you travel.
None of these pages gave a stroller size or weight limit in the text I could see. Where a number is not published, do not assume one. A compact fold-up stroller is the lowest-risk choice on any airline.
What does gate-check mean, and how does it work?
Gate-checking means you push the stroller to the boarding gate, then hand it to the ground staff just before you board. They load it in the hold and, on arrival, it is usually brought back near the aircraft door or to the baggage belt, depending on the airport. Air India Express describes the first part of this on its domestic page: a collapsible stroller can be brought through to the gate.
Some practical tips follow.
- Fold it before you reach the gate so nobody has to wait for you.
- Take out valuables, bottles and anything loose. Staff may ask you to remove the cushion or bag.
- Tie or tag it with a visible label that has your name and phone number.
- Ask at the gate where it will be returned, since that can differ between airports.
What about a car seat or a baby carrier?
Air India’s guidelines name an infant car seat alongside the stroller and carrycot. IndiGo’s pages note that on some long-haul flights operated with Norse, baby seats and strollers are not permitted in the cabin, so a car seat for use on board is not something to take for granted. For a lap infant, a soft baby carrier is often easier than a stroller, since it keeps both hands free on the boarding stairs and at security.
Lap infants do not get their own seat, so any seat-based safety equipment would need an adult-fare seat. Ask the airline first if you are thinking of that.
What does an infant ticket cost?
Infants on domestic flights are not free. IndiGo revised its infant fee in September 2026, and Akasa Air also charges an infant fee, so check the current amount on the airline’s site before you book. Adding the infant to the same booking as the adult in advance is usually cheaper than adding the infant at the airport. Carry proof of age, such as a birth certificate or a vaccination card, since staff may ask for it.
Common Questions
Is a stroller counted in my baggage allowance?
On IndiGo, the stated rule is one stroller or baby pram per infant free of charge, separate from your allowance. Other airlines word it differently, so read their infant section.
Can I take the stroller into the cabin?
Do not count on it. Most travellers hand over the stroller at the gate, and IndiGo lists restrictions on some aircraft.
Does the stroller have to be foldable?
Air India’s rules say collapsible, and Air India Express says collapsible. A compact fold is the safest choice everywhere.
Do I pay extra to check in the stroller?
Where airlines state it as an infant concession, there is no extra charge for the stroller itself. Infants on domestic flights do carry their own infant fee, as above.
Can I request a bassinet?
Bassinet availability depends on the airline, aircraft and seat, so ask the airline early.
Where do I get the stroller back?
It is commonly returned near the aircraft door or at the baggage belt. Ask the staff at the gate to be sure.
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Baggage rules and fees change. Verify current specifics with the airline, DGCA or the airport before you travel.
