An X user on Monday triggered a debate on social media after he was charged a “Cute Fee” by IndiGo Airlines.

The X user, identified as Shrayansh Singh, in a detailed post, shared a screenshot of his airline ticket highlighting that he was charged Rs 50 as a “Cute Fee” among other types of fees levied by the airlines.

In the ticket fare breakup, Rs 50 was written against “Cute Charge”. While sharing the screenshot, Singh 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?”

“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? Or has @MoCA_GoI outsourced aviation security to businesses? Kindly respond, because ye tum logo ka zyada ho raha hai ab. (This is becoming too much of you now),” he said.

Responding to the queries of Singh, IndiGo Airlines pointed out that “Cute Charges” refer to the Common User Terminal Equipment charge.

“It is basically the amount that is charged for the use of metal-detecting machines, escalators, and other equipments that are being used at the airport,” IndiGo said.

“Further, User Development Fee is the fee charged for the development and maintenance of airport infrastructure and Aviation Security Fees is fee collected by IndiGo in relation to a booking, from each customer per sector, for and on behalf of Airport operators in India,” the airline said.

Meanwhile, Singh’s questioning about the “Cute fee” sparked an online debate, attracting several hilarious responses by X users.

“Now I understand why IndiGo was showing 3X the price to me—apparently, even being cute is an offense!,” an X user, identified as M. Thareja, wrote.

Another user wrote, Sagar M, responded saying, “OK now that you have asked questions, they may now add “Explanation Fees”.