How to Avoid OTA Convenience Fees in India 2026: MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, EaseMyTrip and More
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
Every major Indian OTA — MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, EaseMyTrip, IRCTC Air — tacks on a convenience fee that quietly inflates your final flight price. Here’s a platform-by-platform breakdown of what they charge, and the straightforward ways to avoid paying it.
TL;DR — How Much Are You Actually Being Charged?
OTA convenience fees in India range from around ₹100 to ₹500+ per transaction depending on the platform, route, and payment method. MakeMyTrip typically charges in the ₹249–₹499 range on domestic flights (varies by fare class and promotion), Cleartrip runs around ₹100–₹500 depending on the booking, and IRCTC Air often charges around ₹100–₹150 per booking. EaseMyTrip has historically offered zero-convenience-fee periods but reverts to charging when the promotion ends. Booking direct on the airline’s website or app eliminates this fee entirely.
These numbers are approximate and change frequently — always check the final payment page before confirming any booking.
Why Do OTAs Charge a Convenience Fee at All?
OTAs earn a margin from the GDS (Global Distribution System) they use to access airline inventory, and some also earn a commission from airlines on certain fare classes. But margins have compressed significantly as airlines have moved more bookings to their own direct channels. The convenience fee is partly how OTAs recover operating costs and technology investment.
From your perspective as a traveller, you’re paying for the convenience of seeing multiple airlines in one place, the OTA’s customer support layer, and their price-guarantee or cancellation policies. Sometimes that’s genuinely worth it. Often it isn’t, especially for simple domestic bookings where you could just go directly to IndiGo or Air India’s own app.
The fee is most galling because it’s added at the very last step of booking, after you’ve already spent 10 minutes searching and comparing. That’s not an accident.
Platform-by-Platform: What Each OTA Charges in 2026
Here’s what I’ve observed across platforms, with the important caveat that these fees change frequently based on promotions, payment method, and sometimes even the device you’re using. Always verify on the final payment screen.
MakeMyTrip: Typically in the ₹249–₹499 range on domestic economy bookings. They sometimes waive or reduce it for MyCash wallet payments, or during promotional periods. International bookings often have a higher convenience fee than domestic. They also charge more on certain premium fare classes. Check the ‘Fare Details’ section before you hit pay.
Cleartrip: Ranges roughly ₹100–₹500 depending on the booking. Cleartrip has historically been more aggressive about hiding this until the final screen. Their fee can vary based on airline and payment method. UPI payments sometimes attract a lower fee than credit/debit cards.
IRCTC Air: Generally lower than the pure commercial OTAs — often around ₹100–₹150 per booking. IRCTC runs on a different model since it’s government-linked and primarily designed for rail passengers crossing over to air. The downside: the booking interface is slower and search results sometimes lag commercial OTAs.
EaseMyTrip: Has run zero-convenience-fee promotions that got a lot of attention, but these aren’t permanent. When the promotion is active, it’s one of the best platforms for straightforward domestic bookings. When it reverts to normal, the fee brings it back in line with competitors. Check before assuming it’s free.
Ixigo: Ixigo has also run zero-fee periods and competes on price transparency. Worth including in your comparison, especially for train+flight combinations.
Verify current fees at each platform’s official site before booking — I’ve seen these numbers shift within weeks.
When Booking Direct on the Airline’s Website Actually Saves You Money
For simple domestic bookings with no complex cancellation needs, booking direct on IndiGo’s app or Air India’s website almost always saves you the convenience fee. IndiGo’s app is reasonably good, Air India’s has improved post-merger, and Air India Express’s direct booking is straightforward for short Gulf routes.
The direct booking advantage breaks down when:
- You need to compare multiple carriers and routes simultaneously
- You want the OTA’s price guarantee or cancellation protection
- You’re booking a complex itinerary involving multiple airlines
- The OTA has a bank offer that more than offsets the convenience fee
That last point is important. OTAs regularly run bank-specific offers — ₹1,000 instant discount on HDFC cards, flat ₹500 off with certain SBI cards, etc. If the bank discount is larger than the convenience fee, the OTA is actually cheaper even after the fee. I keep a note of which bank offers are running before I book — it’s worth spending 5 minutes checking.
The Zero-Fee Alternatives That Actually Work
1. Book direct on the airline app: IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air all have apps or websites with no convenience fee. You’re getting exactly the same ticket, same refund policy, often same seat selection — minus the platform cut.
2. Use a flight metasearch for comparison, then go direct: This is the approach I use for most bookings. Use FlightGPT or another aggregator to see which airline and date combination is cheapest, then go directly to that airline’s site to actually book. You get the comparison without paying the OTA fee.
3. Time your OTA booking to catch bank offers: If you need to book on an OTA (say, for their price guarantee or because it’s a complex multi-carrier itinerary), check if a bank offer covers the convenience fee. HDFC, ICICI, SBI, and Axis all run flight-specific offers regularly.
4. Use UPI on OTAs that charge less for UPI payments: Some platforms charge a lower convenience fee for UPI than for cards. It’s a small saving but it’s real.
5. Corporate booking tools: If you travel for work, many companies use GDS-based corporate tools (Yatra Corporate, Thomas Cook B2B, or the company’s own portal) that negotiate away the retail convenience fee. Ask your travel desk.
For travel agents and B2B bookers, platforms like FlightGPT Partner give you access to net fares with no retail convenience fee layer — useful if you’re booking for multiple clients regularly.
One Trick That Works But Nobody Talks About
OTA apps sometimes have different prices than the same OTA’s website. This sounds absurd, but app-exclusive discounts exist on MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip that don’t show up on the desktop. Conversely, I’ve occasionally seen the desktop show lower base fares. If you’re not in a hurry, check both the app and desktop before finalising. The difference is usually small but on a group booking for 4+ passengers, even ₹200 per person adds up.
Also: if you’re price-sensitive, check how fuel surcharges are affecting fares in 2026 — sometimes the OTA convenience fee is small relative to surcharge increases you might not have noticed.
Bottom Line: Is the OTA Convenience Fee Worth It?
For a simple domestic booking on a route where one carrier dominates and you know what you want, book direct. You’ll save ₹100–₹500 and get the same ticket.
For complex international bookings, multi-carrier itineraries, or trips where you want the OTA’s price-match guarantee and support layer, the fee may be worth it — especially if a bank offer covers it. The key is to go in knowing what the fee is before you get to the payment screen, not after. That’s on you to check, because the OTA’s entire flow is designed to get you committed before you see the total.
Frequently asked questions
What is MakeMyTrip’s convenience fee in 2026?
MakeMyTrip’s convenience fee on domestic flights is typically in the ₹249–₹499 range per booking, though this varies based on fare class, payment method, and active promotions. International bookings may have higher fees. The exact amount is shown on the payment screen — always check the Fare Details section before confirming. Verify the current fee at makemytrip.com.
Does IRCTC Air charge a convenience fee?
Yes, IRCTC Air typically charges a convenience fee, often in the range of ₹100–₹150 per booking as of 2026. This is generally lower than commercial OTAs. IRCTC Air is a government-linked platform primarily designed for rail travellers, so its fee structure tends to be more modest. Check the current fee at air.irctc.co.in before booking.
Can I avoid convenience fees by paying with UPI?
On some OTAs, yes — Cleartrip and Ixigo have historically offered reduced or zero convenience fees for UPI payments. MakeMyTrip has also run UPI-specific promotions. This isn’t a permanent feature and changes based on the platform’s current promotions, but it’s worth checking the payment screen options before selecting your payment method.
Is EaseMyTrip really zero convenience fee?
EaseMyTrip has run zero-convenience-fee promotions that were genuinely zero-fee — no hidden charges — during the promotional period. However, these aren’t permanent. When the promotion ends, fees return. Before assuming it’s free, check the payment screen total. Their official site (easemytrip.com) will show the current status.
Should I always book flights directly on the airline website to avoid fees?
For simple domestic bookings where you already know which airline and date you want, direct booking on IndiGo’s app or Air India’s website eliminates the convenience fee and is usually the right call. For complex or multi-carrier itineraries, or when a bank offer on an OTA exceeds the convenience fee, the OTA may still be cheaper. Use a metasearch like <a href='/'>FlightGPT</a> to find the cheapest option, then decide where to book.
Which OTA has the lowest convenience fee in India in 2026?
IRCTC Air and Ixigo have typically been on the lower end of convenience fees, while MakeMyTrip tends to be on the higher end. EaseMyTrip is lowest when their zero-fee promotion is active. The ranking shifts with promotions, so compare the total price (base fare + convenience fee) across platforms for your specific booking rather than assuming one is always cheapest.