Team HappyFares

No, a convenience fee is not universally compulsory on flight bookings in India. It’s a per-passenger charge a booking platform (and sometimes an airline) adds at the payment step, not a government tax. On a platform that charges it you usually can’t remove it for that booking, but you can avoid it by choosing a

To do Cathay Pacific web check-in, go to cathaypacific.com or open the Cathay app, enter your booking reference and last name, add your passport and travel-document details, pick a seat, and download a mobile boarding pass. Online check-in is free, opens about 48 hours before departure, and closes around 90 minutes before international flights. Updated

To add extra baggage on Air India, open airindia.com, go to “My Bookings” (Manage Booking), enter your PNR and last name, and add prepaid excess baggage to your trip. You can also do it on the Air India app or by calling the contact centre. Buying at the airport is the most expensive option, so

On most Indian airlines, web check-in opens about 48 hours before departure and closes about 60 minutes before for domestic flights. International flights close a little earlier (roughly 60–75 minutes before), and you should still reach the airport about 3 hours ahead. Exact minutes vary by route and airport, so confirm on your airline’s site

To check your SpiceJet PNR status, go to spicejet.com and open “Manage My Booking” (or use the SpiceJet mobile app), then enter your 6-character PNR along with the email address or last name on the booking. You’ll see your flight date, time, seat, and current status — confirmed, cancelled, or rescheduled. The SpiceJet website and

To check your IndiGo PNR status, go to goindigo.in, open “View / Change Booking,” and enter your 6-character PNR (booking reference) along with your email or last name. You can also see it under “My Trips” in the IndiGo 6E mobile app. It shows your flight date, time, seat, and whether the booking is confirmed,

To avoid convenience fees on flight bookings in India, compare the final payable amount across platforms (not just the base fare), uncheck pre-ticked add-ons like insurance and seats, and pay by UPI or net-banking to dodge card surcharges. Some convenience fees can’t be removed, so the real win is choosing a platform that keeps them

To check your Air India PNR status, go to airindia.com, open “My Bookings” / “Manage Booking”, and enter your 6-character PNR plus the lead passenger’s last name. You’ll see your flight date, time, seat, and whether the PNR is confirmed, waitlisted, or cancelled. The Air India mobile app (“My Trips”) and the Air India contact

To do Air India Express web check-in, go to airindiaexpress.com or the Air India Express app, enter your PNR (booking reference) and last name, pick a seat, and download your boarding pass. Web check-in is free and opens about 48 hours before departure, closing around 60 minutes before domestic flights and 75 minutes before international