Domestic air carrier IndiGo has quietly revised fee structures across a wide range of ancillary services. Passengers booking domestic sectors will now pay higher amounts for travelling with infants on lap, carrying extra baggage over the permissible limit, booking priority handling, and requesting post-travel documentation. These tariff adjustments directly impact passengers and travelling families who frequently rely on post-booking add-ons.
Tariff Revision Across Add-On Categories to Balance Operating Costs
The revised ancillary fee structure came into effect immediately in mid-September 2026. The modifications encompass everything from infants seated with a guardian to excess baggage slabs, priority airport handling, and official travel certificates. The airline has not issued a formal public statement or cited a specific catalyst for the price increases, leaving the revision unlinked to jet fuel rates, taxation shifts, or regulatory mandates.
Within the operational framework of low-cost carriers, adjusting add-on rates periodically helps manage rising day-to-day operating expenses while maintaining competitive baseline fares on search engines. Ancillary services allow budget carriers to unbundle conveniences, meaning travellers must pay separately for optional upgrades. As a result, the total amount payable at checkout may diverge noticeably from the initial base price displayed during flight searches.
Infant Airfare Jumps by ₹1,000 per Sector
Parents travelling with young children face a steep hike on domestic routes. The fee for infants under two years of age has climbed from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 per sector, as confirmed on the carrier's published domestic fee schedule. This charge is assessed on a per-flight basis.
Under standard commercial airline regulations, infants do not receive a dedicated passenger seat. The carrier classifies children aged between three days and two years as infants, requiring them to be seated on the lap of an accompanying adult passenger. Furthermore, policy restricts an adult to accompanying only one infant on their lap. Parents are strictly required to carry valid age verification documents, such as a birth certificate or passport, during airport verification. For a household consisting of two adults flying with two infants, the supplementary infant fee alone totals ₹6,000 across a single sector before calculating adult ticket prices and taxes.
Higher Rates for Excess Baggage and Unaccompanied Minors
Carrying baggage beyond the free allowance has also become costlier under the updated tariff schedule. The excess luggage levy has increased from ₹700 per kg to ₹800 per kg, imposing an extra ₹100 penalty for every additional kilogram above the complimentary threshold. Passengers still retain the option to purchase pre-booked luggage allowances online. Pre-paid baggage options remain structured in slabs ranging from 3 kg to 40 kg, with pricing calculated according to the specific volume selected prior to airport arrival.
The domestic fee listing for unaccompanied minors shows ₹4,999 on the carrier's standard charges portal, whereas recent reports indicate the fee has moved to ₹5,999. Travellers booking escort assistance for minor children travelling independently should carefully examine the final itemised invoice to confirm the exact active fee before completing the payment process.
Key Checklist Before Finalising Airline Bookings
To avoid unexpected expenses during domestic travel planning, passengers should review all prospective add-ons before completing a reservation
- Initial flight search listings represent base fares and do not reflect supplemental service charges added at checkout.
- Families travelling with children under two years must account for the updated per-sector infant surcharge.
- Examine the exact check-in baggage weight allowance bundled into the purchased ticket category.
- Travellers expecting heavy suitcases should book discounted pre-paid baggage slabs rather than paying airport counter excess rates.
- Selecting preferred window or aisle seats carries an independent seat selection fee.
- Priority check-in, swift boarding, or expedited luggage retrieval require dedicated priority service fees.
- Obtaining an official travel certificate following flight completion requires an ancillary processing payment.
