IndiGo Charges Poha For Rs 400 In Cash, Rs 450 On Card, Claims Passenger. Airline Reacts

Air travel often comes with small, unexpected moments that leave passengers puzzled - especially when it comes to in‑flight purchases. For one IndiGo passenger, a routine meal order during a flight sparked confusion after the amount charged on his credit card appeared higher than the price quoted by the cabin crew.

In a post shared on X, the man revealed he was charged 15 per cent extra on an ordered meal. He wrote, "Ordered a meal on IndiGo flight yesterday. Crew said: ₹400 with complimentary drinks. Fair enough. When it came to payment: Cash → Rs 400. Credit card → POS only shows $5 on the machine which turns out to be 460 Rs." 

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The passenger claimed that when he asked the crew about the extra Rs 60, they told him the Rs 400 charge was only applicable for cash payments. If he is using a credit card for the meal on the flight he'd have to pay the extra amount. 

“Not because of taxes. Not because of premium service. Just because you chose to pay digitally. In a country pushing UPI & cashless payments… this is what we get on board? If Rs 400 is the meal price, charge the same regardless of payment mode. IndiGo, care to explain?" the man asked.

Ordered a meal on IndiGo flight yesterday.

Crew said: ₹400 with complimentary drinks.

Fair enough.

When it came to payment:

Cash → ₹400
Credit card → POS only shows $5 on the machine which turns out to be 460 Rs.

I asked why.

Response: Sir cash 400… card 460, our…

— Bigul Chugh (@bigulchugh) March 24, 2026

Responding to the post, IndiGo explained that the extra charge was due to exchange rates applied to credit card transactions on international flights. “As discussed, while your payment was made in cash onboard, in case a transaction is made via credit card on international flights, it is processed in USD. The equivalent amount in INR is determined based on the prevailing exchange rate at the time of billing, which may vary," the airline wrote.

Also Read: New Safety Rules Kicked In For All Airlines. Why IndiGo Was Hit The Hardest

Dear Mr. Chugh, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. As discussed, while your payment was made in cash onboard, in case a transaction is made via credit card on international flights, it is processed in USD. The equivalent amount in INR is determined based on the…

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 24, 2026

IndiGo furrther asked the passenger to check their website for details about the flight experience. "We truly appreciate your understanding and patience and remain committed to continually enhancing our services to provide you with a more seamless and transparent experience," the airline concluded.