Looking “pretty” can also cost you dearly, because you can be taxed for it. This issue is being discussed because a question about Cute Charge arose in a viral post on social media. The company has imposed this charge on an IndiGo flight, so the user is wondering if people are charged for looking cute or if their aircraft is cute. After all, what is a cute charge?
First of all, let us tell you that a user named Shreyansh Singh’s post about the cute charge is going viral on social media. In this case, questions have been raised not only about the cute charges but also about the ‘aviation security fee’ and ‘user development fee’ included in the price of the flight ticket. At the end of the post, it is written, “You guys are getting too much now.”
Dear @IndiGo6E ,
1. What is this ‘cute fee’? Do you charge users for being cute? Or do you charge because you think your planes are cute?
2. What is this ‘User Development Fee’? How do you develop me when I travel on your plane?
3. What is this ‘Aviation’ thing? pic.twitter.com/i4jWvXh6UM
– Shrayansh Singh (@_shrayanshsingh) August 19, 2024
What is Cute Charge?
Responding to Shreyansh Singh’s post, Indigo said that Cute Charge is actually charged for many common equipment used at the airport. This includes metal detectors, accelerators, and other necessary tools. Here the full form of Cute is ‘Common User Terminal Equipment’. However, this cute debate on charges did not end here.
Hello, we would like to inform you that Cute charges refer to the Common User Terminal Equipment charge. It is basically the amount charged for the use of metal detector machines, escalators and other equipment used at the airport. (1/3)
– IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 19, 2024
The company was also questioned as to whether metal detectors and other items are not part of airport security. Are their expenses not covered by taxes collected by the government, which are transferred separately to the pockets of customers? After this, a whole debate has erupted on social media about the transparency of the tax on airfares.
Isn’t this part of airport security? Aren’t metal detectors owned by the CISF, which is a government security organisation? Also for airport security?
The equipment used at the airport, including the airport buildings themselves, is for public use.
– Shrayansh Singh (@_shrayanshsingh) August 19, 2024
What is the meaning of other charges on the airline ticket?
In the viral post, questions have also been raised about Indigo charging two other charges. ‘Aviation Security Fee’ and ‘User Development Fee’, what do these charges by the airlines mean? So, in this, aviation security fees are collected to foot the bill of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). While under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), security of some airports is in the hands of the state police.
While the ‘User Development Fee’ is charged by the airport operator. These fees are used to increase the airport operator’s revenue and fill the gap. The purpose of this fee is to ensure that the airport operator gets a fair return on its investment. Both charges vary at different airports.
What charges apply to your airline ticket?
If you buy an airline ticket in India, the base fare is very low. Airlines mainly charge customers the base fare and fuel surcharge. After this, the customer has to pay various taxes and other fees, making the overall ticket expensive.
This includes Passenger Service Fee, Aviation Security Fee, Airport Development Fee, User Development Fee, Cute Fee, Infant Fee, Service Charge, GST, Seat Fee, Regional Connectivity Fee and Insurance amount. You don’t need to be charged all the charges at once, it depends on your airline, airport and domestic or international route.
