Air India Complaints - Common Issues, Contact Info, Useful Tips, and How We Can Help

Last Updated: December 22, 2023

It’s never easy when you need to make an Air India complaint or complain officially to any airline, for that matter. You have to figure out the Air India complaints procedure, find out how to contact them, and determine the resolution you’re looking for. This all takes time.

For busy travellers, a good way to save time is by using a trusted partner like AirAdvisor to complain on your behalf. We’ll show you how we can help and also provide all the details you need to know should you prefer to handle Air India complaints yourself.

What are the Common Air India Complaints?

When you’re the customer, you can really complain about whatever you want. Here, we’ll focus on the issues that are most likely to result in some form of compensation to make it worth your while.

Flight delay compensation: Valid Air India complaints for certain flights delayed 3 hours or more can entitle you to up to £520 (€600) in compensation.
Flight cancellation compensation: As with delays, in some cases, when your flight is cancelled with fewer than 14 days’ notice, you can claim the same amount of compensation to cover the inconvenience and expenses incurred.
Mishandled baggage: Baggage complaints, when your bag is either lost, delayed, or damaged, can result in even higher compensation - up to £1,395 or €1,300.
Denied boarding: If your Air India flight is oversold, resulting in you being denied boarding, contacting the airline to complain can get you compensation of up to £520 (€600).
Customer service: If you’ve found the in-flight experience, booking process, or any other dealing with Air India unsatisfactory, a complaint may elicit compensation like vouchers or discounts on upcoming travel.

Your Passenger Rights - EU/UK 261

The most common rights passengers exercise are those related to Air India's delayed and cancelled flights. Depending on your departure airport, some disruptions trigger Regulation EU 261 or Regulation UK 261. These regulations apply even though Air India is neither based in the EU nor the UK.

Which Air India Flights Apply to UK/EU 261?

	Covered by EU 261	Covered by UK 261	Compensation Eligibility (if covered)
Flights leaving EU airports	Yes	No	Between €250 and €600; depends on flight distance
Flights arriving to EU airports	No	No
Flights leaving UK airports	No	Yes	Between £220 and £520; depends on flight distance
Flights arriving to UK airports	No	No

Both EU261 and UK 261 cover the same scenarios and the required associated compensation. There are a few caveats to filing an eligible Air India complaint, and they are:

Your flight must depart from either an EU or UK airport.
The delay needs to be a minimum of 3 hours.
The cancellation has to happen within less than 14 days of the scheduled flight.

When it comes to mishandled bags, you can claim the following according to the Montreal Convention:

Flight Type	Compensation Maximum
Domestic Air India flights entirely within the EU	€1,300
International Air India flights to or from the EU	€1,300
Domestic Air India flights entirely within the UK	£1,000
International Air India flights to or from the UK	£1,395

Has your Air India flight from the UK or EU been delayed by at least 3 hours? We can help with your complaint today!Check Your Flight

Air India Complaints - What You Need

Before you attack the Air India complaints procedure, make sure that you have what you need and know what to include for a successful outcome:

Specify your contact details so that they can reach you easily to resolve the complaint.
Keep your booking reservation (including flight details), boarding pass, luggage reference tags, and anything else given to you by the airline that may apply to your complaint.
Take photos. In the case of damaged bags, nothing says it better than a few photos.
Take notes. It’s important to be simple and to the point when describing the incident to the airline. Use specific dates and times, names of people you spoke to, and any other pertinent details.
State your expectations clearly. Be straightforward in communicating your expectations to resolve the Air India complaint to your satisfaction.

Ways to Contact Air India for Complaints

When submitting general Air India complaints, the airline has a customer service portal where you can ask a question or give feedback. Here are some additional ways:

Air India Complaints Email

There is no official email address, but on their website, there’s an option to contact customer service using the Air India complaints form that corresponds with your query. There is one for flight interruptions, baggage, and booking, among others.

Air India Complaints Phone Number

Air India has several global customer care centres to choose from based on your location. In the UK, it’s +44 0800 048 9254 and in the US, it’s +1-888-634-1407. Both are toll-free.

Air India Complaints Live Chat

The bottom right-hand icon on most Air India pages links you to the live chat option. Customarily, you’ll start with a chatbot and then escalate to a live agent.

Alt: Ways to file an Air India after travel complaint

Flight Interruptions - Steps to File Air India Complaints

Go to the AirAdvisor homepage and enter your flight details.
Click on “Check Compensation.”
Work your way through the easy-to-understand prompts and submit.
Our experienced flight disruption agents will contact you if there are any questions or further documents needed.
From there, we will deal with Air India for you until a resolution is reached.

Using our convenient Air India complaints form online saves you tons of time, and we only charge a small fee as a percentage of your compensation. So, if you don’t win, we don’t charge a thing!

Are you finding it tricky to get the Air India flight cancellation compensation you deserve? We’re here to help!Check Your Flight

Air India Response Time for Complaints

When you use the Air India complaints form online, the response time is 24 hours.

FAQs - Air India Complaints

What is the best way to make an Air India complaint?

A solid option is to partner with AirAdvisor to file any flight interruption claims. We have extensive knowledge of the Air India complaints procedures and can save you tons of time and hassle. For other types of complaints, using the applicable online form works well.

How do I contact Air India with a complaint?

In the US, you can call 1-888-634-1407, and in the UK, the number is +44 0800 048 9254. If you prefer to avoid holding, the online customer support portal is the way to go. Air India complaints submitted there get a reply within no more than a day.

How long does it take Air India to respond to passenger complaints?

In general, when you submit your query online, the response time is 24 hours or less.

Is it worth complaining to Air India?

Yes. Other than voicing your feedback to help the airline improve its services, when your flight departing from the UK or EU is interrupted, an Air India complaint may get you between £220 (€250) and £520 (€600); depending on the flight’s distance and a couple other factors.

Does Air India have a live chat?

Yes, in fact, they have two chat options. You can “Ask AI.g” for answers to common questions or chat with a live agent. The general chat function on the website is found in the bottom right corner of most pages.