Air India Baggage Allowance - how strict are they??!

I am flying from London out to Chennai, via Mumbai, with Air India and have a question.

Does anyone know how strict they are on their 20kg allowance? I have flown many times before with BA and know what I could get away with with them but this is the 1st time with Air India.....

Also, do they weigh your hand luggage? Allowance is 8kg apparently and I am struggling to get below about 14kg (most heavy stuff in there) though the case is of allowable size.

I an going for 6+ months and have managed to cut what I am taking right down but am just a bit worried (more than necessary I know) about getting to the airport and finding that Air India are a bit hot on allowances. The annoying thing is that i am allowed 30kg from Mumbai to Chennai!

Any help welcome and thank you.......

It depends on flight load. If its flying full capacity you may have to pay extra. If its mostly empty then a few kgs does not matter.
Hand Baggage is rarely checked for weight. So if its in shape it shouldn't be a problem.

I came to know this from a local newspaper , AI was in news for some wrong reasons of late.

Things are not going good for Air India now a days. Going bankrupt and shortage of planes. Recently AI officials got caught for allowing extra 3 passengers on plane and giving one of them a seat in Cockpit while other two on crew seats. After investigation some heads were sacked.

So i think they will be going strict now, specially on International flights.

If someone is lucky he can fly the plane it seems.

And I am just worrying about a few extra kilos

Mmm - BA seeming like a good option at the moment. Oh well, AI flight was cheaper...

Thanks all. I will keep the heavy stuff in my hand luggage and hide it with a friend if necessary!

You'll never get away with carrying a friend in your hand luggage!

Apparently the trick is to fly with JET...

A friend recently arrived and was allowed 2 cases as 23kg each. 46kg. I mean - pleeease.

Oh what fun I could have had. Could've brought out all I wanted! Mind you, only the marmite got missed out...

BTW - was FINE with 22kg and 12kg hand luggage. Don't know why I worried.

There is no trick ... anyone whose origin or final destination is USA/Canada ... is allowed 2 X 23 Kg for economy class by almost all airlines on connecting sectors.

I have flown with 80 kg checked baggage and 25 kg hand baggage on Air India with 2 tickets without paying extra on Europe-India sector with no USA/Canada connection.

Call me patriotic or whatever, Air India really pampers me ... love it.

True...

She was flying from London to Chennai though, like me. I was allowed 20kg, she got 46! And who says life is fair??!!