Flying IndiGo? Your next flight could cost you more than expected

IndiGo has increased charges for a handful of passenger services, giving flyers another reason to check the fine print before booking their next flight. The airline revised fees for select add-ons on Friday, September 18, with the changes affecting services that passengers can opt for while booking or managing an IndiGo flight.

The fare hike does not mean every IndiGo flight ticket has suddenly become more expensive, but travellers booking flights with add-ons should expect to pay more depending on the service they choose. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest IndiGo charges, what has changed and how much more passengers will have to pay.

Why's Indigo increasing certain charges?

The timing is significant. With rising crude oil prices putting pressure on airlines’ operating costs, higher fees for optional services could help IndiGo offset some of that squeeze. For passengers, however, the changes mean that some of the extras that make flying a little more convenient will now cost more.

What’s getting more expensive?

Quite a few things, as it turns out. According to a report by Business Standard, IndiGo has raised charges for services including infant travel, unaccompanied minors and excess baggage.

Parents, be prepared to spend more

Indigo infant charges – that is, the fee for infants travelling on domestic flights – has gone up to ₹3,000 from ₹2,200. The unaccompanied minor fee has climbed to ₹5,999, from ₹5,000. That’s an extra ₹999 for children flying without an accompanying adult and charges may vary on international routes. That’s quite a small increase, relatively speaking, until you see the bigger picture. Think about it: if 10 lakh infant passengers were all charged the additional ₹800, that would amount to ₹80 crore in additional gross revenue, before accounting for passengers who don't pay the fee or travel on routes where different charges apply.

Pack light!

And families with infants aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch. Indigo baggage charges just got overhauled too. Excess baggage now costs ₹800 per kg, up from ₹700. So, if your suitcase is 5 kg over the permitted limit, that little overpacking will now cost you ₹4,000, compared with ₹3,500 earlier.

IndiGo currently operates more than 430 aircraft and nearly 2,200 flights a day, so there is, presumably, a considerable amount of luggage making its way through those aircraft. For passengers, however, an overweight suitcase just became ₹100 per kilo more painful.

More hikes

If you want to skip the check-in queue, priority check-in and boarding now costs ₹650, up from ₹450. That’s roughly a 44 per cent jump for the privilege of getting through a little faster.

And finally the paperwork, which isn’t escaping the price hike either. Travel certificates now cost ₹300, up from ₹200, charged separately from the base fare as part of IndiGo’s menu of optional services.

Here's a list of all the new fare hikes: