IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) is not just for train tickets. Under its aviation arm — IRCTC Air — passengers can book domestic and international flights directly through the IRCTC website and mobile app, just like any other online travel agency (OTA) in India.
IRCTC Air acts as a flight aggregator, displaying fares from IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara (now Air India), Akasa Air, and international carriers. The platform is especially popular among passengers who already use IRCTC for train bookings and want a single platform for all their travel needs.
One key advantage: IRCTC is a government-backed platform, giving many passengers — especially in India — greater confidence in the booking process and refund reliability compared to private OTAs.
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Government BackedMinistry of Railways owned. Trusted by 100+ million Indians annually.
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All Major AirlinesIndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa, Go First and more.
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International RoutesDomestic + international flights including NRI-friendly options.
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Multiple PaymentsUPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, IRCTC wallet.
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📋 Step-by-Step
How to Book a Flight on IRCTC – Step by Step
Booking a flight on IRCTC is straightforward. Here is the complete process:
1
Register or Login to IRCTCVisit irctc.co.in or open the IRCTC Rail Connect app. Log in with your existing IRCTC credentials. New users must register with a valid mobile number and email ID. One IRCTC account works for both train and flight bookings.
2
Navigate to IRCTC AirOn the homepage, click on "IRCTC Air" from the top menu or go directly to air.irctc.co.in. This is the dedicated flight booking portal powered by IRCTC.
3
Search for FlightsEnter your origin city/airport code, destination, travel date, number of passengers, and cabin class (Economy / Business). Select One Way, Round Trip, or Multi City as required.
4
Compare & Select Your FlightIRCTC displays flights sorted by price, departure time, or duration. Review the fare type carefully — check whether the fare includes free baggage, meal, and seat selection or not.
5
Enter Passenger DetailsFill in full name as per government-issued ID, date of birth, nationality, and contact details. For international flights, passport number and expiry date are mandatory. NRI passengers should use passport details.
6
Add Ancillaries (Optional)Select additional baggage, seat preference, or meal options if available. These vary by airline and fare type.
7
Proceed to PaymentReview the total fare including base fare, taxes, IRCTC convenience fee, and GST. Complete payment using UPI (PhonePe, GPay, Paytm), credit/debit card, or net banking.
8
Receive E-Ticket ConfirmationAfter successful payment, you receive a booking confirmation via email and SMS with your PNR number. This PNR is issued by the airline and can be used for web check-in directly on the airline's website.
💡 Pro Tip: Web check-in must be completed on the airline's own website (e.g., IndiGo, Air India), not on IRCTC. Use the PNR number from your IRCTC booking confirmation to check in online, typically 24–48 hours before departure.
🌍 By Audience
IRCTC Flight Booking Guide by Passenger Type
The booking experience and requirements differ depending on where you are based. Select your region below:
For India-Based Passengers
Indian residents have the smoothest IRCTC flight booking experience. All payment methods including UPI are fully supported, and domestic Aadhaar/PAN-linked accounts can be used for identity verification.
ID Required: Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Passport, PAN card, or Driving Licence (any government-issued photo ID).
Payment: UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), SBI/HDFC/ICICI/Axis net banking, all major credit and debit cards.
GST Invoice: Passengers can enter GSTIN at the time of booking for business travel GST credit.
Senior Citizen Benefit: Some airlines offer senior citizen discounts on specific routes. Check fare types carefully on IRCTC Air before booking.
Student Fares: Available on select routes with valid student ID from airlines like IndiGo and Air India, bookable via IRCTC Air.
Domestic Routes: DEL–BOM, BLR–HYD, MAA–CCU, all major Indian metro and tier-2 city routes available.
Best practice for India passengers: Always compare IRCTC Air fares with Google Flights and the airline's own website. IRCTC convenience fees can add ₹150–₹400 per passenger per segment. Sometimes booking directly on the airline site is marginally cheaper for non-cancellable fares.
For US-Based NRI Passengers
Non-Resident Indians (NRI) based in the United States can book domestic and international flights via IRCTC Air. Here is what you need to know:
Account: You need an existing IRCTC account. Registration is open to NRIs with a valid Indian mobile number (for OTP). Use a trusted Indian number or have a family member assist with OTP.
Identity: Indian Passport is the primary accepted ID for NRI passengers on domestic Indian flights. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is also accepted on most airlines.
Payment: International Visa/Mastercard credit and debit cards are accepted on IRCTC Air. American Express acceptance may vary by flight. Note that some payments from US IPs may require additional verification.
Currency: All transactions on IRCTC Air are in Indian Rupees (INR). Your US bank will apply the prevailing USD/INR exchange rate plus a foreign transaction fee (typically 1–3%).
Popular Routes for US NRIs: JFK/EWR/ORD/SFO to DEL/BOM/HYD/BLR/MAA via Air India, United, Delta (international legs) connecting to domestic IRCTC-bookable segments.
Tax Note: No US tax implications for booking Indian domestic flights from the US. Refunds come back in INR to your card.
NRI US Tip: If you face payment failures with a US card on IRCTC, try using a family member's Indian debit card or use a Wise/Revolut card with INR balance. IRCTC's payment gateway occasionally blocks certain international BINs.
For UK-Based NRI Passengers
NRI passengers in the United Kingdom can use IRCTC Air to book Indian domestic and select international flights. Key points:
Identity: Indian Passport or OCI card accepted for all domestic Indian flight bookings via IRCTC Air.
Payment: UK Visa/Mastercard credit and debit cards (including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest) are generally accepted. Amex acceptance is limited.
Currency: Transactions are in INR. GBP/INR conversion applies at your UK bank's rate. Expect 1–2.5% foreign transaction fee depending on your card.
London to India Flights: Air India operates LHR/LGW to DEL/BOM/HYD/AMD/COK/CCU. These international segments are not bookable on IRCTC Air. Use IRCTC only for the onward domestic leg after arrival in India.
Typical Use Case: NRI flying LHR→DEL (Air India direct), then booking DEL→BLR or DEL→MAA on IRCTC Air for the domestic connection.
Refund to UK Card: Refunds from cancelled domestic Indian flights booked via IRCTC are processed in INR back to your card. GBP credit will reflect the exchange rate at time of refund processing — which may differ from booking rate.
UK NRI Tip: Use a zero foreign-transaction-fee card (e.g., Halifax Clarity, Barclaycard Rewards) for IRCTC bookings to avoid extra charges on INR transactions.
📊 Platform Comparison
IRCTC Air vs Other Flight Booking Platforms
How does IRCTC Air compare to popular OTAs like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Ixigo, and Cleartrip? Here is a detailed comparison:
Feature
IRCTC Air
MakeMyTrip
Ixigo
Cleartrip
Government Backed
✔ Yes
✘ No
✘ No
✘ No
UPI Payment
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
International Cards
~ Partial
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
Convenience Fee
₹150–400/pax/seg
₹200–600/pax
₹149–499/pax
₹200–500/pax
GST Invoice
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
Cancellation Handling
Airline policy applies
Own policy + airline
Airline policy
Airline policy
Refund Speed
7–10 working days
5–7 working days
5–10 working days
7–10 working days
NRI Booking Support
~ Limited
✔ Good
✔ Good
✔ Good
Train + Flight on One Platform
✔ Yes (unique)
✔ Yes
~ Partial
✘ No
Price Alerts
✘ No
✔ Yes
✔ Yes
~ Limited
* Convenience fees vary by payment method, route, and promotional offers. Prices are indicative as of January 2025.
Unlike train tickets where IRCTC has its own fixed cancellation charges, flight cancellations via IRCTC Air follow the airline's own fare-rule-based cancellation policy. IRCTC acts as a booking agent and passes through whatever refund the airline provides, minus IRCTC's own convenience fee which is generally non-refundable.
General Cancellation Rules
Cancellation charges depend entirely on the fare type selected at booking (e.g., Saver, Value, Flex on IndiGo).
Fully flexible fares allow cancellation with minimal or zero airline cancellation fee.
Non-refundable/Saver fares typically attract heavy cancellation charges — sometimes the full base fare is forfeited.
IRCTC's own convenience fee (charged at booking) is non-refundable in most cases.
Taxes (PSF, UDF, fuel surcharge components designated as refundable) are returned to the passenger.
Cancellation Timeline — Typical Charges
Time Before Departure
Saver Fare
Value Fare
Flex / Fully Refundable
More than 7 days
₹3,000–5,000/pax
₹1,500–3,000/pax
₹0–500/pax
2–7 days before
₹4,500–6,000/pax
₹2,500–4,000/pax
₹500–1,000/pax
24–48 hours before
₹5,500–7,500/pax
₹3,500–5,500/pax
₹1,000–2,000/pax
Less than 24 hours
Full fare forfeited
₹5,000+ or full fare
₹2,000–3,500/pax
* Indicative ranges only. Actual charges depend on airline, route, and specific fare type. Always check fare rules before booking.
How to Cancel an IRCTC Flight
Log in to your IRCTC account at irctc.co.in or the IRCTC Air portal.
Go to "My Bookings" → select the flight booking.
Click "Cancel Ticket" and review the cancellation charges shown before confirming.
Confirm cancellation. A cancellation confirmation email/SMS is sent immediately.
Refund is processed to the original payment source within 7–10 working days.
If the airline cancels the flight: You are entitled to a full refund including convenience fee in most cases. IRCTC processes this automatically within 7–10 working days. You do not need to contact IRCTC separately for airline-initiated cancellations.
Refund for NRI Passengers (US/UK)
Refunds for NRI passengers are processed in INR back to the original card used at the time of booking. If you paid with a US or UK card, the refund in INR will be converted to USD or GBP by your bank at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of refund credit. This may result in a slightly different amount than expected due to exchange rate fluctuation between booking and refund dates.
💡 Tips & Tricks
How to Get the Best Deals on IRCTC Flight Booking
For All Passengers
Book Early: Domestic Indian flights are cheapest 6–8 weeks before departure. Fares rise sharply in the last 2 weeks.
Flexible Dates: If your travel dates are flexible, check fares on ±3 days around your preferred date. Even 1–2 days can save ₹1,000–3,000.
Mid-week Travel: Tuesdays and Wednesdays typically have lower demand and cheaper fares on most Indian domestic routes.
Early Morning / Late Night Flights: Red-eye and dawn departures are generally cheaper but inconvenient. Good for budget-conscious travellers.
Compare with Airline Website: Always cross-check IRCTC Air fare with the airline's own website. Factor in IRCTC's convenience fee before deciding.
Use Credit Card Offers: HDFC, SBI, and ICICI bank credit cards often have cashback or discounts on flight bookings via IRCTC Air.
For NRI Passengers (US/UK)
Use a No-Foreign-Fee Card: Avoid foreign transaction charges. Use Wise card, Revolut, or a travel credit card with zero FX fees.
Avoid Last-Minute Bookings: Indian domestic fares spike dramatically within 72 hours of departure. Book your domestic connection well in advance.
Allow Adequate Connection Time: If connecting from an international flight at DEL or BOM, allow at least 3–4 hours for immigration, baggage claim, and domestic terminal transfer before your IRCTC-booked domestic flight.
Have a Backup Payment Method: International card failures are common on IRCTC. Have a family member's Indian UPI/debit card as backup.
Baggage Tips
Most Indian domestic Saver fares include only cabin baggage (7 kg). Check in advance if you need checked baggage — add it at booking time to save vs buying at the airport.
IndiGo charges ₹650–₹1,200 per kg for excess baggage at the airport. Pre-purchased baggage is 60–70% cheaper.
Air India includes 15–25 kg checked baggage on most domestic fares — good for heavy packers.
Answers to the most common questions from India, US, and UK passengers:
Yes. NRI passengers in the US, UK, Canada, UAE, and other countries can book Indian domestic and international flights via IRCTC Air. A valid Indian passport or OCI card is required for identification. International Visa/Mastercard credit cards are accepted, though some international cards may occasionally face payment gateway issues.
Not always. IRCTC Air aggregates fares from airlines but adds its own convenience fee per passenger per segment. The base fare displayed may match other platforms, but the final price after convenience fees can be slightly higher or comparable. Always compare across 2–3 platforms including Google Flights before booking.
IRCTC charges a convenience fee per passenger per segment that typically ranges from ₹150 to ₹400 depending on the airline, route, and payment method. UPI payments sometimes attract lower convenience fees than credit card payments.
IRCTC processes flight refunds within 7–10 working days to the original payment method after the airline confirms the cancellation. The refund timeline may be slightly longer during peak periods or for airline-initiated cancellations involving manual processing.
Yes. IRCTC Air supports UPI payments including Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM UPI. This is one of the fastest payment methods available on the platform. UPI works only for Indian bank accounts — NRI passengers with NRE/NRO accounts linked to UPI can use it, but most NRIs opt for international cards.
Yes, IRCTC Air lists international flights on select routes. Passengers can book international flights with Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and other carriers operating international routes. However, the full range of international routes and airlines is more comprehensively available on MakeMyTrip, Yatra, or Cleartrip.
IRCTC account registration requires an Indian mobile number for OTP verification. NRI passengers typically use a family member's Indian number or an Indian SIM number they retain. Once the account is created, you can update the contact to an international number, but OTP-based logins may still require the registered Indian number.
For domestic Indian flights: Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Passport, PAN card, Driving Licence, or any government-issued photo ID is accepted. For NRI passengers: Indian Passport or OCI card is the standard accepted ID. For international flights: Passport with at least 6 months validity is mandatory.
Yes. A 5% GST is applicable on the base airfare and airline fees for Indian domestic flights. The IRCTC convenience fee also attracts 18% GST. You can enter your GSTIN during booking on IRCTC Air to receive a GST invoice for business travel input tax credit purposes.
Rescheduling (date/time change) for flights booked on IRCTC must be done directly through the airline's website or customer care — not through IRCTC. Use the PNR number from your IRCTC booking. Rescheduling charges depend on the fare type and how far in advance you reschedule.
If the airline cancels the flight, IRCTC processes an automatic full refund to your original payment method within 7–10 working days. In some cases, the airline offers an alternative flight. You can either accept the alternative or opt for a full refund. IRCTC's convenience fee is also typically refunded in airline cancellation cases.
No. Web check-in must be completed directly on the airline's own website or app — not through IRCTC. Use the PNR number (airline-issued) from your IRCTC booking confirmation. Web check-in is typically available 24–48 hours before departure depending on the airline.
Senior citizen discounts on flights are offered by individual airlines (not IRCTC directly). Air India offers concessions for passengers aged 60 and above on select domestic routes. Check the airline's website for current senior citizen offers. These may be bookable via IRCTC Air on specific fares.
Baggage allowance depends entirely on the airline and the fare type selected. IRCTC Air displays the baggage information during the booking process. Typically: IndiGo Economy Saver = 7 kg cabin baggage only; Air India Economy = 15–25 kg checked + 7 kg cabin. Review before booking to avoid airport surprises.
IRCTC Air customer care can be reached at 0755-6610661 or the toll-free number 14646. For flight-specific issues post-booking (delays, cancellations, boarding issues), you should also contact the airline directly as they are the operating carrier.
Tatkal Ticket RefundCheck refund rules for Tatkal confirmed and waitlisted train tickets.
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IRCTC Cancellation FAQAnswers to 30+ common questions on train ticket cancellations and TDR filing.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with IRCTC, Indian Railways, or any airline. Fares, cancellation charges, and policies are subject to change. Always verify current rates and rules on the official IRCTC Air platform at air.irctc.co.in before making booking decisions.