IRCTC Air vs MakeMyTrip: Which Platform Is Actually Cheaper in 2026?
By Diya Verma (Diya Verma flies from Tier-2 Indian cities and chases every possible fare hack — reposition flights, hidden-city ticketing, mileage runs and OTA bundle tricks. She has booked 200+ international trips out of Lucknow, Indore and Jaipur.) · Published · 9 min read
IRCTC Air charges a flat ₹100 convenience fee and bundles a ₹50 lakh travel insurance policy free of cost — which already puts it ahead of most OTAs charging ₹249–499 in fees. But there's more to the story: LTC fares, cancellation differences, and when MakeMyTrip's deals actually beat IRCTC.
TL;DR — Quick Answer
For most straightforward domestic bookings, IRCTC Air is cheaper — its convenience fee is typically around ₹100 per transaction (one of the lowest in India) and it bundles complimentary travel insurance worth up to ₹50 lakh. MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip charge ₹249–₹499 in convenience fees but often run bank-card discounts that can offset the gap. Government employees booking LTC fares must use IRCTC Air — those special fares aren't available anywhere else. Use FlightGPT to scan prices across all sources before choosing where to book.
What Is IRCTC Air and How Is It Different?
Most people know IRCTC as the Indian Railways ticketing site, which it is. But IRCTC also runs a flight booking service (air.irctc.co.in) that's been quietly improving for years. It's a government-of-India platform and that distinction matters for a few specific use cases.
Unlike private OTAs, IRCTC Air:
— Is the exclusive platform for LTC (Leave Travel Concession) fares for Central Government employees
— Offers a complimentary travel insurance policy (typically up to ₹50 lakh sum insured, covering flight cancellation, accident, and sometimes baggage) at no extra charge on most bookings
— Charges a flat, low convenience fee
— Is considered an official government channel, which sometimes matters for reimbursement claims
The trade-off: the UI is functional but not slick, the search can be slower, and you won't get the AI-powered flexible-date tools or the broad OTA cashback ecosystem.
Convenience Fee Comparison: What Each Platform Actually Charges
This is the most direct cost difference and it adds up over many bookings:
| Platform | Typical Convenience Fee (2026) | Free Travel Insurance? | Bank Discount Deals? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRCTC Air | ~₹100/booking | Yes (typically up to ₹50L) | Occasional |
| MakeMyTrip | ₹249–₹499/booking | Sold separately (₹99–199) | Frequently (HDFC, ICICI, SBI) |
| Cleartrip | ₹249–₹399/booking | Sold separately | Yes (Flipkart/Axis tie-ups) |
| EaseMyTrip | ₹0–₹199/booking | Sold separately | Yes |
| Airline Direct | ₹0–₹150 (varies) | No | Occasionally |
Fees change, and platforms push promotions constantly — verify the current fee shown on checkout before you book. What looked like the cheapest option this morning might have a promo applied by afternoon.
The LTC Fare Advantage: IRCTC Air for Government Employees
This is arguably IRCTC Air's biggest differentiator, and it applies to a very specific audience. Central Government employees of India are entitled to Leave Travel Concession benefits — essentially, the government reimburses air travel under certain conditions. For this reimbursement to work, tickets must be purchased at published LTC fares from authorised carriers. IRCTC Air is the only OTA platform that officially shows and books these LTC fares.
LTC fares are typically fixed/regulated fares that IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express offer specifically for this scheme. They're not always the cheapest available fares — in fact sometimes the open market beats them — but they're the ones eligible for government reimbursement. If you're a Central Government employee travelling on LTC and you book through MakeMyTrip instead, you may find your reimbursement claim complicated or rejected. Worth the IRCTC Air login friction if you're in this category.
When MakeMyTrip or Cleartrip Actually Beats IRCTC Air
There are real scenarios where the private OTAs win:
- Bank card deals: MakeMyTrip routinely runs deals with HDFC, ICICI, SBI, and Kotak cards offering flat discounts — sometimes ₹500–1,500 off — that dwarf the convenience fee. If you have one of these cards, always check what's live on the MakeMyTrip promotions page. IRCTC Air rarely matches this.
- International flights: IRCTC Air's international inventory and OTA-layered deals are less comprehensive. For DEL-DXB or BOM-LHR, MakeMyTrip or Cleartrip often have better aggregated options and OTA-specific markup-wars pricing. Check our routes pages for common international fares.
- Combo deals: MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip bundle flight + hotel packages that can be significantly cheaper than booking separately. IRCTC Air doesn't meaningfully compete here.
- Cancellation credit: MakeMyTrip's MMT wallet system can make refunds more practical for frequent users — though actual DGCA-mandated refunds apply regardless of platform for eligible cancellations.
The Travel Insurance Angle: Is IRCTC's Free Cover Worth It?
IRCTC Air's bundled insurance (typically underwritten by a general insurer as part of their platform agreement) covers flight cancellation, trip delay, personal accident, and sometimes baggage. The sum insured for personal accident is often cited around ₹50 lakh. That alone would cost ₹100–200 as a standalone add-on on private OTAs.
So if you're comparing IRCTC Air at ₹100 fee + ₹0 for insurance versus MakeMyTrip at ₹399 fee + ₹149 for insurance, IRCTC Air comes out almost ₹450 cheaper per booking on a simple transactional basis. Multiply that across 20 annual bookings and you're looking at a meaningful saving.
That said: always read the policy terms. Insurance bundled at no extra cost often has sub-limits and exclusions. Verify the current cover terms at IRCTC Air's own site — the bundled product details can change.
Bottom Line: Match the Platform to Your Situation
No single platform wins every booking. The smart move is to check the base fare (which should be identical since airlines publish fixed prices), then calculate the total: convenience fee + insurance + any card discount. IRCTC Air wins on fees and insurance for most domestic bookings. MakeMyTrip wins when you have a bank card deal live or need international/package options. For flexible-date searches and comparing across sources in one go, FlightGPT's AI search is the fastest starting point. Also read our guides on OTA convenience fee comparisons and how to use fare calendars to round out your strategy.
Frequently asked questions
Is IRCTC Air cheaper than MakeMyTrip for domestic flights in India?
For the base fare, all OTAs show the same airline-published price. The difference is the convenience fee: IRCTC Air typically charges around ₹100 vs ₹249–499 on MakeMyTrip. IRCTC Air also bundles travel insurance free, saving another ₹100–200. But MakeMyTrip's bank card deals can flip the equation if you hold the right card — check what's live at checkout.
What are LTC fares and why are they only on IRCTC Air?
LTC (Leave Travel Concession) fares are regulated airfares for Central Government employees eligible for government-subsidised travel. They're only available through IRCTC Air, which is the official government-recognised booking channel for this scheme. Booking on MakeMyTrip or other OTAs won't get you LTC fares and may complicate your reimbursement claim.
Does IRCTC Air give travel insurance free on every booking?
IRCTC Air has historically bundled travel insurance on most domestic bookings, with accident cover typically cited around ₹50 lakh. The exact terms depend on the current insurer tie-up — verify the coverage details on IRCTC Air's official site before your booking, as the scheme can change.
Is the cancellation process better on MakeMyTrip or IRCTC Air?
DGCA's refund rules apply regardless of where you book — airlines must refund eligible cancellations within 7 business days. In practice, MakeMyTrip's chat support and MMT wallet credit system can be faster for credit resolutions. IRCTC Air's cancellation process is functional but the support interface is more basic. For truly disputed refunds, DGCA's AirSewa portal is your recourse on any platform.
Can I book international flights on IRCTC Air?
Yes, IRCTC Air does list international flights, but its international inventory and deal depth are more limited than MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, or booking direct with the airline. For international routes especially, compare across multiple sources including the airline's own site before booking.