In a light-hearted exchange that has caught the attention of social media, a passenger recently asked IndiGo Airlines a cheeky question on X (formerly Twitter), “Do you charge customers for being cute?” This playful query quickly gained traction, and IndiGo’s witty response left netizens amused.
Rather than brushing off the question, IndiGo responded with humor. The amusing exchange between IndiGo Airlines and a passenger began when Shrayansh Singh, a lawyer and frequent traveler, posted a screenshot of his IndiGo ticket on X (formerly Twitter), drawing attention to a curious Rs 50 charge labeled the “Cute Fee.”
In a playful jab at the airline, Singh asked whether IndiGo was charging customers for being “cute” or if it considered its aircraft “cute.” While the remark was lighthearted, Singh also expressed his concern over additional charges, questioning the necessity of fees such as the “User Development Fee” and the “Aviation Security Fee.”
In his post, he wrote, “Dear @IndiGo6E, What is this ‘Cute Fee’? Do you charge users for being cute? Or do you charge because you believe that your aeroplanes are cute?”
He further inquired, “What is this ‘User Development Fee’? How do you develop me when I travel in your aeroplane? What is this ‘Aviation Security Fee’? Am I not paying taxes to the Government for ensuring my safety when I travel?”
In response to Shrayansh Singh’s humorous inquiry about the “Cute Fee,” IndiGo Airlines clarified the matter, explaining that the charge refers to the “Common User Terminal Equipment” (CUTE) fee. The airline pointed out that this fee is intended to help cover the costs of airport infrastructure, which ensures the smooth functioning of operations and passenger safety.
“Isn’t this a part of airport security? Aren’t the metal detectors a property of the CISF, which is a security organisation of the govt. for the security of airports too? The equipment being used at the airport, including the airport buildings itself, are public utility infrastructure. They are supposed to be maintained by the tax paid by us,” he wrote.