A social media user who travels on IndiGo posted a question to the airline, after which a discussion started on the internet. Posting on ‘X’, the user asked the airline what the ‘cute charge’ taken from him is. A social media user named Shreyansh Singh shared a screenshot of his airline ticket in the post, in which it is told that apart from the fare, the airline has charged him Rs 50 as ‘cute charge’.
The user wrote in the post, “In the ticket fare breakup, ‘cute charge’ was written next to Rs 50.” Sharing the screenshot, the user wrote, “Dear IndiGo6E, what is this ‘cute fee? Do you charge users for being cute? Or do you charge because you think your planes are cute?”
He further wrote that what is this ‘user development fee’? When I travel in your plane, how do you develop me? What is this ‘aviation security fee’? Am I not paying tax to the government for my safety while traveling? Or has the Civil Aviation Ministry outsourced aviation security to businesses? Please answer, because now you guys are getting too much.
In response to Shreyansh Singh’s questions, Indigo Airlines said that ‘CUTE Charges’ means Common User Terminal Equipment Charge.
IndiGo said, “This is essentially the amount charged for the use of metal-detecting machines, escalators and other equipment used at the airport.” The airline added, “In addition, User Development Fee is a charge levied for the development and maintenance of airport infrastructure and Aviation Security Fee is a charge collected by IndiGo for and on behalf of airport operators in India in respect of customer bookings across sectors.
Apart from this, many other users also gave their reactions on the question of ‘cute charge’, which led to an online debate on social media.
A user named M. Thareeja wrote, “Now I understand why IndiGo was showing me three times the price, apparently, looking beautiful is a crime too!
Another user Sagar M responded, writing, “Well now that you have asked the question, they can now add ‘explanation fee’.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)