Unbelievable… Now There’s a ‘CUTE’ Charge Too!: Indigo Airlines Charges Passenger a Cute Fee; Ticket Goes Viral Sparking Online Debate

A social media user traveling with Indigo posed a question to the airline, which has since sparked a discussion online. The user, posting on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), inquired about a ‘cute charge’ levied by the airline. 

Shrayansh Singh, another social media user, shared a screenshot of his airline ticket, showing that besides the fare, the airline had charged him an additional 50 rupees under the label ‘cute charge’.

What is the ‘Cute Fee’? User Questions Airline Over Unusual Charge

A social media user questioned Indigo Airlines about an unusual charge on his ticket, leading to widespread curiosity online. In his post on ‘X’, the user wrote, “In the breakdown of the ticket fare, a ‘cute charge’ of 50 rupees was listed.” 

Sharing the screenshot, the user humorously asked, “Dear IndiGo6E, what is this ‘cute fee’? Are you charging users for being cute? Or do you think your plane is cute, hence the charge?”

Passenger’s Amusing Query: “What is the ‘User Development Fee’?”

The user continued to raise questions, asking, “What is this ‘User Development Fee’? How will you contribute to my development when I travel on your plane? And what is this ‘Aviation Security Fee’? Am I not already paying taxes to the government for my safety during travel? Or has the Ministry of Civil Aviation outsourced aviation security to businesses? Please respond, as this is becoming too much now.”

Indigo Airlines Responds to ‘Cute Fee’ Query

In response to Shrayansh Singh’s questions, Indigo Airlines clarified that the ‘Cute Charge’ stands for Common User Terminal Equipment charges. Indigo explained, “This is essentially the amount charged for the use of metal-detecting machines, escalators, and other equipment at the airport.” 

Additionally, the airline stated that the User Development Fee is charged for the development and maintenance of airport infrastructure, while the Aviation Security Fee is collected from customers on behalf of airport operators across India to ensure security.

“Being Cute is a Crime!”—Social Media Reacts with Humor

In response to the explanation provided by Indigo Airlines, people on social media couldn’t resist making jokes. One user, M. Thareja, quipped, “Now I understand why Indigo charges me three times the price—it seems being cute is also a crime!” 

Another user, Sagar M., humorously added, “Well, now that they’ve answered the questions, they might as well add an ‘Explanation Fee’ too.” The lighthearted banter over the ‘Cute Charge’ led to a wave of amusing reactions, sparking a lively discussion online.