Senior citizen flight discounts in India 2026: who qualifies, how much you save, and how to book
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about the consumer-protection side of travel — DGCA passenger rights, OTA refund policies, hidden fees, dynamic-currency-conversion traps and the seven kinds of booking mistakes that quietly drain Indian travel budgets.) · Published · 9 min read
Air India offers senior citizen discounts of up to around 35% on published base fares for passengers aged 60 and above on select domestic routes. IndiGo’s discount is more modest — typically around 6% off the base fare. Both offers come with conditions: route availability, fare class, and booking channel restrictions mean the savings aren’t universal. Here’s how to actually access them.
TL;DR — the short answer
In 2026, Air India offers a senior citizen discount of up to around 35% on published base fares for domestic routes, available to passengers aged 60 and above. IndiGo offers a more limited concession — typically around 6% off the base fare — for the same age group. Neither discount applies automatically online; you need to select the specific senior concession fare category during booking. The discount is on the base fare only, not taxes and surcharges. Verify the current discount percentage and eligible routes on each airline’s official website before booking — these figures are revised periodically.
What is the age threshold? 60 or 65?
This is the most common source of confusion. Both Air India and IndiGo use 60 years as the minimum age for senior citizen concession fares on domestic routes — not 65. The 65 figure circulates online from outdated information and from confusion with international airline policies or senior card eligibility in some contexts.
Air India also has a separate category of concession for passengers aged 75 and above on some routes, with a higher discount percentage. But the baseline senior citizen fare is available from age 60. IndiGo’s policy similarly sets 60 as the threshold.
At the airport counter, you’ll typically be asked to produce a government-issued document showing date of birth — Aadhaar card, PAN card, or passport. Book with the exact name and date of birth as on that document. A discrepancy causes boarding complications that a ₹500 saving isn’t worth.
Air India’s senior discount: the real picture
Air India’s senior citizen concession has historically been one of the more generous among Indian carriers — up to around 30–35% off the published base fare on select domestic sectors. A few things to know before you get excited:
- It applies to the base fare only. Taxes, fuel surcharges, user development fees, and other levies are non-discountable. On short domestic routes where taxes make up a large chunk of the ticket price, the net saving is smaller than the headline percentage suggests.
- Available on select sectors and fare classes. Not every Air India domestic route has the senior discount available at every point in time. If the flight is already selling at a low promotional fare below the discounted senior fare, the concession fare may not appear — the airline doesn’t let you stack an already-cheap fare with a concession.
- Book directly on Air India’s website or app. When you select the number of passengers, choose ‘Senior Citizen’ from the passenger type dropdown. The fare calendar will then show senior-eligible fares where available. You’ll need to enter date of birth at this stage.
- Air India Express (the low-cost arm) has different, more limited policies — don’t assume what applies to Air India full-service applies to Air India Express routes. Check separately.
Verify the current percentage and any route-specific conditions on airindia.com — the numbers have been revised in the past and will be again.
IndiGo’s senior fare: modest but real
IndiGo’s senior citizen discount is typically around 6% off the base fare for passengers aged 60 and above — considerably less than Air India’s offer, which reflects IndiGo’s low-cost model where margins are tighter. The saving on a ₹3,000 base fare works out to roughly ₹180, which isn’t nothing but isn’t transformative either.
How to book the IndiGo senior fare:
- Go to IndiGo’s website (goindigo.in) or app.
- On the booking page, before searching, look for the passenger type selection. Change from ‘Adult’ to ‘Senior Citizen’ for the relevant passenger.
- Search for flights. The senior fare will appear as a fare option if available on that route and date.
- At check-in (airport or web), be prepared to show ID with date of birth.
One thing IndiGo’s senior fare doesn’t include that you might expect: there’s no extra baggage allowance or priority boarding tied to it (unlike the student fare, which has a generous extra baggage perk). It’s a pure price concession, nothing else.
Do OTAs (MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, EaseMyTrip) pass through the senior discount?
This is where many people trip up. Most OTAs do not surface the senior citizen fare in their standard search results because the concession fare is a special category that requires age verification at booking and at the airport, which OTAs typically don’t want to handle in their checkout flow.
MakeMyTrip has at times offered a passenger type dropdown that includes ‘Senior Citizen’ — but coverage is inconsistent across airlines and routes. EaseMyTrip has been more variable. Cleartrip’s interface has changed repeatedly. None of them are reliably complete for senior fare access across all carriers.
The safest approach: always book the senior citizen fare directly on the airline’s own website or app. You get the full concession, proper age verification, and if you need to claim a refund or change the ticket, dealing with the airline directly is simpler than going through an OTA middleman.
You can use FlightGPT to compare fares across routes and get a sense of which dates and flights are cheapest — then once you’ve identified your best option, go to the airline’s site directly to book with the senior citizen passenger type selected.
What documents does a senior citizen need at the airport?
Standard requirement across all Indian carriers: a government-issued ID showing date of birth. Acceptable documents typically include:
- Aadhaar card
- PAN card
- Passport
- Voter ID (though the date of birth is sometimes not printed clearly on older voter IDs — Aadhaar is safer)
The document must be original — a photocopy or phone screenshot is usually not accepted by ground staff for concession fare verification. The date of birth on the ID must match the booking details. If you’ve booked with an Aadhaar-linked name, bring the Aadhaar.
Occasionally, ground staff at smaller airports or for particular carriers have asked for an additional document. It doesn’t hurt to carry two. I’ve seen passengers turned away from the concession fare at the gate because the name on the ID didn’t match the booking exactly — book with the exact name as on Aadhaar or passport, full stop.
Is the senior discount worth it compared to sale fares?
Honest answer: sometimes yes, often no. Airlines run promotional fares that can undercut even the discounted senior fare. IndiGo’s Tuesday and Wednesday sales, Air India’s occasional flash sales, and last-minute inventory drops can produce fares that are cheaper than the senior concession bucket.
The senior discount is most valuable on high-demand routes close to travel date, when promotional fares have dried up and the base published fare is high. On a Delhi–Mumbai or Mumbai–Bangalore sector booked two weeks out at non-peak timing, the Air India senior fare can deliver a meaningful saving.
Always compare: open the airline’s senior citizen booking flow in one tab, and a regular search in another. If the non-discounted promotional fare on the same flight is already lower than the senior fare, just book the cheap one — you don’t have to use the concession fare. Also worth reading: our guide on student flight discounts in India 2026 and our article on rules for children flying alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for senior citizen discount on Indian domestic flights?
Both Air India and IndiGo use 60 years as the minimum age threshold for their senior citizen concession fares on domestic routes. The 65-year figure sometimes cited online is outdated or incorrect for most Indian carriers.
How much discount does Air India give senior citizens in 2026?
Air India has offered up to around 30–35% off the published base fare for senior citizens on select domestic routes. The exact percentage varies by route and fare class. Verify the current figure on airindia.com before booking, as it is subject to revision.
Can I book IndiGo senior citizen fare on MakeMyTrip or Cleartrip?
Most OTAs do not reliably surface senior citizen fares for IndiGo or Air India. The safest approach is to book directly on the airline’s official website or app, selecting ‘Senior Citizen’ as the passenger type in the booking flow.
Does the senior discount apply to Air India Express too?
Air India Express (the low-cost arm of the Air India group) has its own separate fare conditions. The senior citizen discount available on Air India full-service may not apply or may be different on Air India Express routes. Always check Air India Express’s own booking flow on their site.
What ID do I need to show at the airport for a senior citizen fare?
A government-issued original document showing your date of birth — Aadhaar, PAN, or passport are the most commonly accepted. The name must match the booking exactly. Carry the original, not a photocopy or phone photo.