Some Indian airlines offer a senior citizen discount on domestic base fares. SpiceJet’s own page says passengers aged 60 or older get up to 14% off the base fare on direct domestic flights, with taxes charged in full. IndiGo and Air India also describe a senior option for passengers aged 60 and above. Carry a photo ID showing your date of birth.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Many travellers over 60 ask whether Indian airlines still give a senior citizen concession. Some do, but terms differ and change, and older articles online quote figures that are no longer current. This guide covers only what the airlines themselves publish, and says plainly where we could not confirm a detail.
Which airlines offer a senior citizen fare?
From the airlines’ own pages, three offer a senior option on domestic flights: SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India. In each case the age threshold is 60 years. We could not confirm a current senior citizen fare for Akasa Air or Air India Express from their own official pages, so we do not describe those here. Check each airline’s site directly.
It helps to know what a concession usually looks like. It is normally a percentage off the base fare only. Airport charges, taxes and fees are still paid in full, so the saving on your final ticket is smaller than the headline percentage suggests.
What does SpiceJet say?
SpiceJet’s senior citizen page states these terms:
- Age: passengers aged 60 years or older.
- Discount: up to 14% off the base fare. Taxes, fees and surcharges are charged in full.
- Where it applies: direct domestic flights, one-way and round-trip. International flights are excluded.
- How to book: on spicejet.com or through SpiceJet’s reservation centre, selecting the senior option.
- ID: a valid ID showing date of birth must be presented at check-in. Without it you may be charged the full fare or denied boarding.
- Changes: changes and cancellations are allowed with applicable charges. The ticket cannot be transferred to another person, and the name cannot be changed.
- Other: seats are limited, the offer cannot be combined with other offers, and SpiceJet may change or withdraw it.
What do IndiGo and Air India say?
IndiGo. IndiGo’s senior citizen page describes a discount on the base fare for passengers aged 60 and above on domestic flights, booked through IndiGo’s own website or app by opting in for the senior citizen discount. A valid photo ID with date of birth has to be shown at check-in, and if it cannot be produced the benefit is not given. Seats under the scheme are limited. The percentage is shown differently on different versions of IndiGo’s pages, so we do not quote a figure. The booking page will show what you actually get.
Air India. Air India has published a senior citizen concession on its own website. It applies to passengers aged 60 and above on the date of travel, selected as a concession type during booking, and a valid photo ID is needed. The percentage and validity dates have changed over time, so check Air India’s current offer page before you rely on it.
A word on old figures: you may see articles that mention a 50% concession on domestic base fares. Those figures may come from older schemes and do not match the terms the airlines publish today.
Did you know? An aircraft seat is sold fare by fare, not seat by seat at one price. Two passengers on the same flight can pay different amounts depending on the fare bucket open when they booked.
How do you get the concession without problems?
- Book on the airline’s own channel if required. SpiceJet and IndiGo state that the discount is booked on their own website, app or reservation centre. Check the terms of the airline you are flying before booking elsewhere.
- Select the senior option while booking. It is usually a tick box or a fare type, and it is not applied automatically on every route.
- Carry a valid photo ID with date of birth. Keep the original with you for check-in. The airline may refuse the concession without it.
- Compare against ordinary fares. A small percentage off the base fare can still cost more than a regular fare on another flight or date. Compare the final price.
- Read the change and cancellation terms. Concession tickets can have stricter rules, such as no name change.
Travelling with limited mobility? Wheelchair and special assistance requests are made to the airline itself, ideally well before the flight. Web check-in and airport check-in are free on Indian airlines, so there is no charge to check in early.
Common Questions
At what age can I get a senior citizen fare?
SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India all describe the concession for passengers aged 60 and above. Air India states it is based on age on the date of travel.
Does the discount apply to the whole ticket price?
No. It applies to the base fare. Taxes, fees and surcharges are generally charged in full.
Is the senior citizen fare available on international flights?
SpiceJet and IndiGo describe their concession for domestic flights only. Air India’s terms differ by sector and date, so read its current page.
What ID do I need?
A valid photo ID showing your date of birth, shown at check-in. Some airlines state that the concession can be withdrawn if you cannot produce it.
Can I get the concession on a ticket booked for someone else?
The concession is tied to the senior passenger travelling with matching ID. SpiceJet states that the discounted ticket cannot be transferred to another person.
Is web check-in free?
No. Checking in is free on Indian airlines, on the web and at the airport.
Looking for flights for your parents or grandparents? Compare fares on HappyFares with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, set a price alert, or ask Meera, our AI assistant, for options. Consider adding travel insurance too.
Concession percentages and conditions change without notice; verify current specifics with the airline, DGCA or the airport before you travel.
