‘Cute Charge’ explained: Is it a fee for cuteness? Airline’s response to passenger fuels debate

Shrayansh Singh, an advocate who booked an IndiGo flight ticket from Lucknow to Bengaluru, noticed a ‘Cute Charge’ listed in the payment breakdown of his ticket. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he humorously questioned whether passengers were being charged for their own cuteness or if the airline was referring to its planes as cute.

X user’s questioning IndiGo’s ‘Cute Charge’ has sparked widespread debate over the transparency and justification of various airport fees. The post quickly caught the attention of social media users and prompted a notable response from the airline.

Singh voiced his frustration with the ‘Cute Fee,’ along with other charges like the ‘User Development Fee’ and ‘Aviation Security Fee,’ which he found unclear and seemingly arbitrary. “Dear IndiGo, what is this ‘Cute Fee’? Are you charging passengers for being cute, or do you think your planes are cute?” Singh humorously asked.


He went on further to question the airline about the additional charges on his ticket, including the “User Development Fee” and “Aviation Security Fee.” Singh asked, “What is this ‘User Development Fee’? How exactly are you developing me when I travel on your aircraft? And the ‘Aviation Security Fee’—aren’t my taxes already covering my safety when I fly? Or has the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India outsourced aviation security to businesses?”

The airline promptly responded to Singh’s query, clarifying that the ‘Cute Fee’ refers to the Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) charge. They explained that this fee covers the use of various airport facilities, such as escalators, metal detectors, and other equipment utilised by passengers during their time at the airport. Despite the explanation, the response did little to alleviate Singh’s concerns.

Shrayansh countered the airline’s explanation by arguing that airport security equipment, like metal detectors, falls under the jurisdiction of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and should be funded by the government. “Isn’t this part of airport security? Aren’t the metal detectors the property of the CISF, as it’s a government security organisation?” he retorted, questioning why passengers are being charged for what he believes should be a government-funded service.

The conversation around airline fees has gained significant traction online, attracting both support and criticism from the public. Many users sided with Singh, sarcastically speculating that airlines might soon start charging for basic necessities like the oxygen consumed at the airport. One user quipped, “What’s next, usage fees for fuel nozzles at petrol pumps? Oops, I hope I’m not giving them any ideas.”

Others defended the airline, arguing that such fees are common practice worldwide. “Airlines aren’t at fault here. The Cute Fee, User Development Fee, and Passenger Service Fee are all imposed by the Airport Authority to maintain the airports. Airlines are simply collecting these fees on their behalf,” one user noted.

The issue of transparency and fairness in airline charges remains a central topic in public discussion, emphasising the need for clearer justification and communication of these fees to passengers.

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