- 27 Aug, 2024
In addition to the high cost of airline tickets, there are a plethora of other fees that can further increase the expense of travel. Advocate Shrayansh Singh's recent social media post challenging IndiGo's "Cute Fee" has now taken over the internet and social media asking about tthe fairness and transparency of different airport fees. His amusing query about whether the cost was for being "cute" or had anything to do with the airline's cuteness immediately went viral on social media and prompted a noteworthy response from the airline.
There is still much debate in the public about the fairness and transparency of airline fees, which highlights the need for better explanations and passenger education on these charges. In addition to the CUTE fee, there are other fees which are charged for the following:
The Aviation Security Fee (ASF) is a charge that goes toward funding the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for guarding the majority of the nation's major airports.
Airports impose the User Development Fee (UDF) in an effort to boost their operator's revenue.The precise amount of UDF differs between airports.
Regional Connectivity Fee is charged for the case, when an aircraft departs with an aggregate take-off weight (MTOW) greater than 40 tons, this fee is assessed.
The passenger Singh has tweeted,
“” Dear @IndiGo6E,
1. What is this 'Cute Fee'? Do you charge users for being cute? Or do you charge because you believe that your aeroplanes are cute?
2. What is this 'User Development Fee'? How do you develop me when I travel in your aeroplane?
3. What is this 'Aviation Security Fee'? Am I not paying taxes to the Government for ensuring my safety when I travel? Or has @MoCA_GoI outsourced aviation security to businesses?
Kindly respond, because ye tum logo ka zyada ho raha hai ab.””
Additionally to this, there are other passengers also who have reverted as, “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.” This is what Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/cute-charge-explained-is-it-a-fee-for-cuteness-airlines-response-to-passenger-fuels-debate/articleshow/112683295.cms have pointed from the trending X (formerly Twitter) conversation.
What is a CUTE fee?
The use of escalators, metal detectors, and other equipment at airports is subject to fees known as CUTE, or Common User Terminal Equipment charges. There are situations when the CUTE fee is also known as a passenger handling fee.
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