Child fares on IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet: who actually discounts for ages 2–12 in 2026?
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer writes offbeat destination guides for Indian travellers — places that work in monsoon, shoulder-season picks, and the cities Indian first-time international travellers underrate. Based in Bangalore, perpetually mid-itinerary.) · Published · 10 min read
On Indian domestic flights, children aged 2–11 pay the same base fare as adults on most LCC routes — but taxes and seat charges make the total vary. IndiGo, Akasa and SpiceJet all technically allow a child discount on the base fare, but the discount is often small enough that it barely shows up in the all-in price. Here is what I found when I actually priced a Delhi–Mumbai round-trip for a family of four.
TL;DR — the short answer
On Indian domestic routes, children aged 2–11 are charged the adult base fare on IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet — with a nominal discount that in most fare classes amounts to roughly 10–25% off the base component only. Since the base fare is already the variable bit (taxes, user development fee, passenger service fee are fixed per sector), the real-world saving is much smaller than it sounds. Infants under 2 travelling without a seat pay around 10% of the adult base fare plus taxes, which is the bigger genuine discount. The honest answer: on IndiGo's cheapest sale fares, the child 'discount' sometimes vanishes entirely because the lowest fare class has a near-zero base. Book as a family on one PNR to get seated together; splitting across separate bookings saves nothing and risks being separated.
How do Indian LCCs actually price child tickets?
Worth understanding the structure before comparing airlines, because the marketing around 'child fares' is genuinely misleading. An airfare in India has two components: the base fare (the bit that varies by class, demand and date) and a set of statutory charges — Airport Development Fee (ADF), User Development Fee (UDF), Passenger Service Fee (PSF), Airline Fuel Charge (AFC), and GST. Children aged 2–11 do get a discount on the base fare and the airline's own add-ons, but statutory government taxes are applied at adult rates.
So if a DEL–BOM sector has a base fare of, say, ₹1,200 and statutory charges totalling ₹800, a child ticket at 90% of base = ₹1,080 base + ₹800 taxes = ₹1,880 versus adult ₹2,000. The 'child discount' saves you about ₹120. When that same route goes on sale and the base fare drops to ₹499, the child saving is a fraction of that. The statutory charges never budge.
This is why comparing the all-in total matters more than looking for a headline 'child fare'. Use FlightGPT to search for your specific dates and compare the actual totals — the difference between airlines on a specific day can matter more than which carrier claims a deeper child discount.
IndiGo child fare policy — what they actually give you
IndiGo allows children aged 2–11 to book a child ticket, which typically gets a discount of around 10–15% on the adult base fare depending on the fare bucket. In the cheapest 'Saver' buckets where the base fare is already very low, the discount is negligible in absolute rupees — you might save ₹50–₹100 on a sector. In more expensive 'Flexi' buckets booked close to travel, the same percentage translates to a more meaningful saving, but you're already paying more.
IndiGo does NOT include a free seat for children by default — if you want to sit next to your child you'll need to add seats (standard seats are typically ₹100–₹600 per person per sector in the free pool, preferred seats cost more). With the DGCA's pressure on free seat selection, IndiGo has made more standard seats available at zero charge — but this is flight-dependent. Book together on one PNR and use web check-in 48 hours out if the seat map looks sparse at booking time.
One thing IndiGo gets right: their booking flow correctly prompts you to add the child's age at the time of booking, so you get routed to the right fare class. Don't try to book a child as an adult to 'save' the hassle — it can cause ID issues at the airport.
Akasa Air child fare policy — often the most transparent
Akasa Air, being the newer entrant, has a cleaner fare structure than either IndiGo or SpiceJet. They offer a child fare (2–11) that is typically around 10–20% below the adult base fare, and their booking flow is quite clear about what you're being charged. Akasa's all-in prices on popular routes like DEL–BOM and BLR–BOM are competitive — occasionally better than IndiGo's cheapest non-sale fares — and the transparency of what is and isn't included is genuinely better.
The catch with Akasa: their network is still smaller than IndiGo's. If your family needs to fly to a tier-2 city or a regional destination, Akasa may simply not operate the route. For the metro-to-metro routes they do cover, they're worth including in your comparison.
Akasa also charges for seat selection on most preferred seats, similar to IndiGo. Standard middle seats are typically free; window and aisle seats in standard rows carry a modest fee. Same advice applies: book all family members on one PNR.
SpiceJet child fare — the complicated one
SpiceJet has had a difficult few years operationally and financially, and as of 2026 it operates a reduced network compared to its peak. That said, it still flies several domestic routes and does offer child fares. The discount structure is broadly similar to IndiGo's — roughly 10–15% off the base fare — but SpiceJet's booking engine has historically been clunkier about surfacing the child total clearly.
My honest advice: SpiceJet is worth checking if IndiGo and Akasa are both expensive for your specific date, but I'd verify the flight's operational status closer to travel (track SpiceJet's schedule reliability before booking). If SpiceJet is significantly cheaper, that gap may not hold through cancellations or schedule changes.
For a representative DEL–BOM round-trip on a non-peak weekday, the all-in difference between IndiGo and SpiceJet for a family of 2 adults + 2 children (ages 6 and 9) tends to sit in the range of ₹500–₹2,000 either way depending on when you search. On sale days, IndiGo often beats SpiceJet on the all-in total. Check all three using FlightGPT's comparison search rather than opening three tabs.
When does booking child tickets separately (not as a family) actually save money?
Almost never, and usually causes problems. Here's the scenario people sometimes try: book 2 adult tickets under one PNR for the cheapest available class, then open a fresh search and see if a child ticket on its own is cheaper in a different booking class. Theoretically, if one fare class is sold out for adults but still available for children, you might save a little. In practice:
- You end up with separate PNRs, so the airline system doesn't know your family should sit together. You'll likely be scattered across the cabin.
- If either booking has a schedule change or cancellation, the airline handles them independently. Your coordination becomes a headache.
- The child fare class isn't separately priced from the adult class in a way that creates systematic savings — they're both drawn from the same inventory bucket with the child discount applied on top.
The only case where splitting makes sense is if you have different frequent flyer numbers and want to credit miles separately — but even then, most Indian LCCs don't have the kind of FFP where this matters significantly for domestic travel.
Short version: Book the whole family on one PNR, choose the same flight, and pick seats together. That is always simpler and usually just as cheap or cheaper.
Air India comparison — worth knowing
Air India (post-Tata acquisition and the Vistara merger) operates on a different model. For full-service economy fares, children aged 2–11 typically get a discount of around 25–33% off the adult base fare — a more genuine discount than the LCCs offer. The catch is that Air India's base fares are higher to begin with, so the all-in family total can still exceed IndiGo's cheapest family booking.
Where Air India earns its keep for families: free checked baggage (usually 15–25 kg per passenger depending on route and class), one advance seat selection at no extra charge for most fare classes, and a more reliable meal service. If you're travelling with young children who have strollers, car seats, or a lot of gear, Air India's all-in cost can close the gap with IndiGo faster than you expect once you add bags. Do the math for your specific load.
Check Delhi–Goa family flight cheapest months for a breakdown of when Air India's family total actually beats IndiGo's on that specific route.
Bottom line for families comparing fares
Child fares (ages 2–11) on IndiGo, Akasa and SpiceJet all carry a discount on the base fare component, but the absolute saving in rupees is usually modest — sometimes under ₹200 per sector per child. The more meaningful variables are: the base fare level on the day you book, baggage fees if you're travelling with gear, seat selection charges, and schedule reliability. Search on FlightGPT to see the all-in family total across airlines in one view. For any route, also check Air India Express infant and child policies if you have a baby under 2 in the group.
Frequently asked questions
Do children aged 2–11 get a discount on Indian domestic flights?
Yes, but it's a discount on the base fare component only — statutory charges (airport fees, PSF, GST) are charged at adult rates. In practice the saving is often in the range of ₹100–₹500 per sector per child depending on the route and fare class. Infants under 2 without a seat get a bigger discount, typically around 10% of adult base plus taxes.
Does IndiGo charge children the same as adults?
IndiGo applies a child fare that discounts the base component by roughly 10–15%, but on their cheapest sale fares the absolute saving can be negligible. The all-in total for a child ticket is usually close to — but slightly below — the adult total. Always check the itemised fare breakdown in the IndiGo booking flow.
Is Akasa Air cheaper than IndiGo for families?
On routes where Akasa operates, their family fares are often competitive and their booking flow is more transparent. On any given date, either airline could come out cheaper — the only way to know is to compare both for the same flight date. Use FlightGPT or open both airline sites side-by-side for the specific dates you need.
Is SpiceJet reliable for family travel in 2026?
SpiceJet has had operational challenges — reduced fleet and schedule reliability issues. Check the specific route and read recent traveller reports before booking. If SpiceJet is significantly cheaper, weigh that saving against the risk of schedule changes. On most metro routes, IndiGo or Akasa are safer bets for families.
Should I book children on a separate PNR to save money?
No — separate PNRs mean the system won't seat your family together, and managing two bookings through changes or delays is far more stressful than any marginal saving (which usually doesn't materialise anyway). Book the whole family on one PNR.
At what age does a child need their own seat on Indian flights?
Children aged 2 and above must have their own seat and pay the child fare. Infants under 2 (infant-in-arms) travel on the parent's lap without a seat, paying a reduced infant fare — typically around 10% of the adult base fare plus applicable taxes. Only one infant-in-arms is allowed per adult passenger.