Find cheap IndiGo flights

IndiGo (6E) is an Indian airline which, in spite of being a low-cost and primarily domestic carrier, is the country's largest airline. What's more, it is actually one of the largest airlines in the world (and by some measures, the largest in Asia by passengers carried). It operates hubs at seven Indian airports, including the international gateways of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi.

I hope you’ll enjoy my insights about IndiGo, which I’ve found not only to be the most pleasant and service-oriented airline in India, but one of the best low-cost carriers in the world.

Cabin class, seats & legroom

For most of its existence, IndiGo has operated its various aircraft in an all economy-class configuration.

Like most low-cost carriers, however, it has monetised seating, with extra fee payments required for seats with extra leg room, as well as aisle seats and exit seats. You’ll pay a different amount depending on which route you’re flying. I usually find this worth the cost on longer routes to Bangkok or Baku, but less important on short domestic sectors, such as Mumbai-Goa or Delhi-Chennai.

Standard IndiGo seats feature 76 cm of pitch and 46 cm width, which is actually relatively generous in my experience. Many low-cost carriers only offer 71 cm of pitch! Upcharge seats on IndiGo may feature a few extra centimetres of legroom (as is the case for bulkhead and exit row seats), or maybe simply offer you more room to spread out due to their proximity to the aisle.

6E Prime

IndiGo sells bundles that include seat selection, checked luggage, snacks and priority boarding under the name ‘6E Prime’, which has nothing to do with Amazon (though I can understand why you might think it does). If you plan to purchase all these add-ons, you can often save money using 6E Prime, as opposed to paying for them à la carte.

IndiGo Stretch

IndiGo is set to introduce IndiGo Stretch soon. Marketed as business class, the product – featuring a wider seat with more recline, and ‘wings’ on either side of the head rest for enhanced privacy – is comparable to short-haul European business class.

Importantly, only select Airbus A321 aircraft will offer the product. You won’t be able to select IndiGo stretch if you’re flying on an A320.

Because IndiGo will be launching long-haul flights (and a new fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft) in 2027, many airline journalists speculate that IndiGo Stretch is meant as a sort of complement.

Namely, that business class travellers from Europe, North America, Asia or Australia will be able to connect to a domestic business class product on select Indian domestic or short-haul regional routes. However, details are yet to be announced.

Food and drink on IndiGo

Like most other low-cost carriers, food and beverage on IndiGo is not complimentary. An exception to this will be for IndiGo Stretch passengers, who will be able to enjoy a special hot meal included in the price of their ticket.

As far as payment for the food, you can generally go about this in two ways. The easiest way is to pre-purchase your food and drink either at the time of booking or online prior to travel. This gives you better rates, and also saves you from having to mess around with payment on board.

If you forget to do this or change your mind in flight, you can of course buy food onboard using a bank card or Indian rupee (INR) cash. However, passengers who don’t pre-book may find that their selections are unavailable after boarding.

I’m a huge fan of Indian food, and find that Indigo’s inflight snacks tend to be extremely delicious by inflight food standards. In the past, I’ve enjoyed the vegetable samosas and the chickpea curry wrap, though as you can imagine menus do change over time.

Note that IndiGo only stocks aircraft flying routes scheduled to last more than 60 minutes with food and drinks. As a result, if you’re flying a shorter route, I highly recommend eating before you go to the airport, or buying something in the terminal once you’ve cleared security.

Irrespective of whether you buy food and drink onboard, I will say that IndiGo’s flight attendants are always extremely kind and attentive, in my experience. Very few things are free on IndiGo, but a smile always is!

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you need to know about the airport experience when flying with IndiGo.

Baggage policy and fees

IndiGo charges a fee for all checked baggage, which isn’t surprising given its status as a low-cost carrier. However, you can save money by booking online in advance, whether as part of a premium ticket package, or by paying for bags à la carte. Rates are always more expensive at the airport, though this is relative, since India is a very cheap country for most foreign travellers.

In theory, IndiGo strictly limits the size and weight of items you carry onboard, which like most airlines comprise a cabin bag or suitcase and a small personal item like a purse or laptop bag.

However, I’ve personally found enforcement of this pretty lax, though you should read up on guidelines for your flight, just in case. The great news is that if you end up having to pay to check your bag, prices are pretty low by international standards.

Check-in

As a general rule, you will need to check in online and obtain a mobile or printed boarding pass when flying IndiGo. Airport check-in is typically only possible if you have a special situation (such as needing wheelchair assistance), or if you’ve experienced a technical error during online check-in.

In other cases, the only airport services available are bag check counters. This is another reason I recommend pre-paying. Passengers who have done so can bypass queues and use a self-service kiosk; if you need to pay for your bag at the airport, you’ll need to wait to see a person, who tend to be limited in number at most airports.

Lounges

IndiGo doesn’t operate any of its own lounges at the present time, though that may change when it launches long haul flights in 2027. For now, there are a few ways that IndiGo passengers can enjoy lounge access.

The most direct way is to purchase access through IndiGo, which sells access to what it calls ‘partner lounges’ at a discount.

Offered at around a dozen Indian airports, these lounges tend to be basic by international standards, offering buffet-style dining and a limited selection of soft drinks. However, if you want to stretch your legs and enjoy a less crowded environment, they may be worth splurging for.

Another option? If you hold a Priority Pass credential and are flying IndiGo from an airport where a Priority Pass lounge operates, you can access the lounge before your flight.

Onboard experience

Here’s what you can expect onboard an IndiGo flight.

Wi-Fi & entertainment

At the moment, IndiGo offers neither Wi-Fi nor inflight entertainment; none of its aircraft feature seatback entertainment monitors.

However, as of mid-2024, it’s a wireless entertainment system, which will allow travellers to access films and TV shows via the IndiGo app in the event that it rolls out system-wide.

Amenities

IndiGo doesn’t offer any complimentary amenities in-flight as of yet, though it may eventually do so for its future long haul business class product. Currently, you can purchase items like neck pillows, eye masks and blankets, either online during or after booking, or onboard the aircraft pending availability.

Since IndiGo primarily flies domestic and short-haul regional routes, I don’t usually bother purchasing any of these amenities. However, if you’re flying longer routes to airports like Bali (DPS) or Istanbul (IST), it may make sense to buy a pillow or blanket.

6E Rewards loyalty programme

IndiGo’s frequent flyer programme, 6E Rewards, has a unique business model. Namely, that travellers need to pay to use it. This entails a one-time joining fee and an annual fee.

I personally find this to be an unappealing way to achieve passenger loyalty. If you do end up joining the programme, however, you’ll enjoy perks like a one-time free air ticket, lounge access coupons and ongoing flight discounts.

IndiGo credit card

If you’re a citizen or resident of India, you may be able to get an IndiGo credit card through either HDFC Bank or Kotak. In addition to earning IndiGo miles, this can result in reduced fees and increased earnings.

However, the benefits are not substantial; you aren’t missing out on anything if you aren’t able to get one of these cards. You’re better paying cash for IndiGo tickets and saving your miles and points for bookings on more global airlines (though the value proposition may change once IndiGo launches long haul flights!).