Airtel is one of the largest telecom operators in India. It offers a wide range of prepaid and postpaid mobile plans to cater to the needs of different customer segments. The main balance refers to the amount of money available for making calls, sending SMS and using mobile internet in a prepaid Airtel number.
What is a prepaid mobile connection?
A prepaid mobile connection requires the customer to recharge their account with a certain amount in advance to be able to make calls, send SMS and use mobile internet. Unlike postpaid connections where the user is billed at the end of the month for their usage, prepaid connections require topping up account balance from time to time.
Some key aspects of prepaid mobile connections:
- Customer needs to recharge account to add talktime, data and validity
- Usage limits depend on recharge amount and pack selected
- Outgoing calls, SMS and data usage possible only if account has sufficient balance
- User needs to manually renew or top up balance to extend services
- No monthly bills generated like postpaid connections
- Suitable for customers with fixed or limited usage needs
Prepaid connections provide more control over usage and expenditure to the customers. They allow budgeting mobile usage as per need and requirement.
What is main account balance?
Whenever a customer does a recharge on their Airtel prepaid number, the recharged amount gets added to the main account balance. This main balance can be used for the below mentioned services:
- Make outgoing calls to any phone number
- Send SMS to contacts
- Browse internet using mobile data
- Access value added services (VAS) like music streaming, caller tunes etc.
- Make payments for online transactions and subscriptions
Some key points about main balance:
- It is the primary account balance in Airtel prepaid numbers
- Amount from recharges gets added here by default
- Valid for making calls, SMS and data usage as per pack chosen
- Unutilized balance carries forward on recharging before expiry
- Automatically displays on prepaid account dashboard
The main balance reflects the available or unused amount in the account at any given time. Customers can easily view it by dialing *141# USSD code or on Airtel Thanks app.
How to check main balance for Airtel prepaid number?
Here are some quick and easy ways to check main account balance for Airtel prepaid numbers:
- SMS – Send SMS BAL to 121 from your Airtel number
- USSD code – Dial *141# and press call/send
- Airtel Thanks app – Login to view account balance
- Airtel website – Login to My Airtel account to check balance
- From your phone dialer – Call 121 IVR and choose balance related options
- At offline retailer – Visit nearest retailer for balance enquiry
The main balance gets displayed automatically when checking via any of the above mentioned methods. For pre-registered online payment methods, the balance also shows up on making recharges on Airtel website or Thanks app.
How to use main balance?
The main account balance in Airtel prepaid can be used in the following ways:
Make outgoing calls
Balance from main account is used by default for making any outgoing calls to other phone numbers or landlines. Rate per minute depends on the prepaid pack chosen by customer.
Send SMS
Main balance is deducted when sending normal text messages to any mobile number while on an Airtel prepaid connection.
Mobile data usage
When browsing internet on phone using Airtel prepaid connection, data pack balance if available is used first. Once this finishes, main balance is utilized for further internet usage as per base rate.
Value Added Services
Subscribing to value added services like Hello Tunes, Airtel Xstream, Airtel Thanks rewards etc. also deducts charges from main balance only.
Online payments and recharges
Linked prepaid account balance can be used seamlessly to make online payments and recharges. Payment confirmation is followed by balance deduction from main account.
Roaming charges
While national roaming is free, international roaming charges are deducted from main balance only.
Factors affecting main balance
Following factors can affect the main account balance:
- Recharges – Adding talktime increases main balance
- Outgoing calls and SMS – Deducts balance as per usage
- Data usage – Once data pack finishes, deduction from main balance
- VAS subscription charges – Hello Tunes, Airtel Xstream etc subscription
- Online payments and recharges -Digital payments deduct from main balance
- International roaming – Incurs charges on main balance
- Plan validity expiry – Balance lapses if recharge not done before expiry
- Balance transfer – Sharing balance using service reduces balance
Keeping track of the above factors provides clarity on main balance deductions or lapses. Prompt recharges help maintain adequate balance at all times.
Advantages of main balance
Here are some benefits of main balance in Airtel prepaid accounts:
- Single consolidated balance for all services
- Need not remember multiple account balances
- Lesser chances of unverified balance deductions
- Main balance displays on all platforms
- Easier tracking of balance usage and lapses
- Simpler recharge requirements
- Better control over account balance and usage
A single main balance helps users manage prepaid account better without hassles of maintaining multiple balances. It brings simplicity and transparency for prepaid mobile usage.
How to transfer main balance?
Airtel provides balance transfer facility to share main account balance from one prepaid number to another. Here are the steps to transfer main balance:
- Open Airtel Thanks app on sender’s phone and go to My Account > My Prepaid Number
- Enter receiver’s 10 digit Airtel number
- Enter amount to transfer from main balance
- Confirm transfer by entering MPIN
- Receiver gets confirmation SMS on registered number
- Amount shared gets deducted from sender’s main balance
- Transferred balance adds up to receiver’s main balance
Few points about main balance transfer:
- Minimum amount ₹10, maximum ₹1000 per day
- Free service, no charges applicable
- Only between Airtel to Airtel prepaid numbers
- Sender and receiver must be in same state circle
Balance transfer helps subscribers share main talktime in times of need or emergency in a safe and instant way.
How to redeem main balance?
If due to any reason the main balance in Airtel prepaid account lapses or becomes inactive, here’s how to redeem and restore it:
- Send SMS ACTIVATE to 121 from your registered number
- Select appropriate recharge pack upon confirmation
- Make recharge payment to activate lapsed main balance
- The unused main balance will automatically get credited back
- Account starts working again with talktime, data and validity
Sometimes main balance can also become dormant when number is not used for long time. In such cases, follow the same balance redemption process.
Few important points:
- Balance lapses only if validity expires and timely recharge not done
- Reactivate number within 90 days of pack expiry
- Maximum up to 3 redemption chances available
- Unused main balance gets credited back in account
Balance redemption is a convenient facility to get back and reuse lapsed prepaid balance with an active recharge.
How to Donate main balance?
Airtel allows prepaid users to donate their unused main account balance to the needy via NGOs working for special causes:
- Open Airtel Thanks app and go to My Account
- Select ‘Donate Balance’ option
- Choose NGO name and enter amount to donate
- Confirm by entering MPIN
- Main balance equivalent to donation amount is deducted
- Airtel forwards donated balance to the NGO
Some key points about donating main balance:
- Minimum donation Rs 10, maximum Rs 1000 per month
- Donor gets confirmation SMS from Airtel
- NGOs supported – CRY, HelpAge India, NDPC
- Donated balance is used for social causes by NGO
This provides prepaid subscribers an easy and transparent way to donate their unused mobile balance for social welfare through reputed non-profit organizations.
Main balance validity
Unlike talktime which does not have any validity, main balance also expires after certain duration if account is not recharged on time. Following points explain validity:
- Main balance validity is same as prepaid plan validity
- Balance lapses when recharge validity expires
- Unused main balance expires and cannot be used after validity
- Timely recharges extend validity and carry forward balance
- Validities range from 28 days to 1 year basis recharge plans
- No extensions possible for expired main balance
So customers must keep doing recurring recharges to enjoy uninterrupted services and retain unused main account balance.
How to increase main balance?
Here are some ways Airtel prepaid users can increase their main account balance:
- Recharges – Add talktime by doing top up recharges
- AEPS – Visit authorised retailers to deposit cash into prepaid account
- Online payments – Link credit/debit card or netbanking for easy payments
- Airtel Money – Transfer money to linked Airtel prepaid account
- Referral rewards – Earn bonus talktime for referring new customers
- Promotional offers – Avail special recharge offers with extra talktime
Maintaining adequate main balance ensures uninterrupted mobile usage as well as retaining balance on timely recharges before expiry. Sufficient main account balance also enables using mobile wallet and payment features.
How to reduce main balance?
While a good main balance amount is certainly useful, at times you may also need to reduce the excess or unused main account balance in Airtel prepaid. Here are some options for the same:
- Make calls – Increase usage by making more outgoing calls
- Send SMS – Increase text messages to contacts
- Mobile data – Stream or browse more without using data packs
- Recharge for others – Top up numbers of family or friends
- Balance transfer – Share with other Airtel prepaid account
- Donate balance – Contribute to charitable organizations
- Payment for bills – Recharges, utility payments etc
- Subscription services – Hello Tunes, Airtel Xstream etc
Reducing main balance ensures you don’t lose unused balance at expiry due to non-usage. It also gives more control on account usage costs and spending.
Conclusion
To summarize, the main account balance in Airtel prepaid connections is the primary balance that gets recharged by the customer. It can be used interchangeably for outgoing calls, SMS, mobile data, online payments and other subscribed services.
Checking main balance is easy using USSD codes, SMS, mobile apps and calling IVR. Validity of main balance is as per recharge plan done. Transferring and donating main balance provides more ways to utilize talktime.
With easy recharge options, provision to redeem expired balance and no hidden charges, main balance simplifies prepaid account management for Airtel customers.