In a recent light-hearted exchange that went viral on social media, a passenger playfully questioned IndiGo Airlines on X (formerly Twitter), asking, “Do you charge customers for being cute?” This humorous interaction quickly gained attention, and IndiGo’s witty reply had netizens thoroughly entertained.

The exchange started when Shrayansh Singh, a lawyer and frequent traveler, shared a screenshot of his IndiGo ticket on X, pointing out a curious Rs 50 charge labeled as the “Cute Fee.” With a playful tone, Singh asked whether the airline was charging passengers for being “cute” or if they thought their aircraft were “cute.” While the query was light-hearted, Singh also raised concerns about other fees, like the “User Development Fee” and the “Aviation Security Fee.”

In his post, Singh humorously asked, “Dear @IndiGo6E, What is this ‘Cute Fee’? Do you charge users for being cute? Or do you charge because you believe that your airplanes are cute?” He continued, “What is this ‘User Development Fee’? How do you develop me when I travel in your airplane? And what is this ‘Aviation Security Fee’? Don’t I already pay taxes to the government to ensure my safety while traveling?”

IndiGo Airlines responded to Singh’s playful question by clarifying that the “Cute Fee” actually stands for the “Common User Terminal Equipment” (CUTE) fee, which helps cover airport infrastructure costs, ensuring smooth operations and passenger safety.

Singh further commented, “Isn’t this part of airport security? Aren’t metal detectors owned by the CISF, a government security organization responsible for airport security? The equipment and infrastructure at the airport are public utilities maintained by taxes paid by us.”

The humorous exchange and IndiGo’s witty response sparked widespread amusement on social media, adding a lighthearted twist to the ongoing conversation around airline fees.