NRIs Overcharged: Indian Airline’s Cheap Trick?

A Reddit post on r/nri is drawing attention after a user shared their frustrating experience with IndiGo Airlines while booking a flight from Bangalore to Bali. The issue wasn’t the flight, but the payment process.

Using a U.S.-issued credit card with no foreign transaction fees, the user was asked during checkout whether to pay in INR or USD.

Before they could choose, the system auto-selected USD and slapped on a 6.25% markup, which is far higher than the standard Visa exchange rate.

The user contacted IndiGo’s customer service, hoping to fix it. But the agents had no clue how to reverse the charge. Their only suggestion was to cancel and rebook, with the added risk of refund differences due to currency fluctuations.

With multiple family members on the booking, the extra cost was significant. Reddit users were quick to respond, sharing similar frustrations.

One recalled overpaying on Uber bookings made in advance, only to learn local rides were much cheaper. Another pointed out that Indian websites often claim to support foreign cards but rarely do it well.

Some users believe this isn’t a technical glitch but a design choice. The auto-switch to a more expensive currency, if a user hesitates for even a moment, feels like a sneaky upsell.

Others noted that merchants often leave no option to pay in INR when using foreign cards, forcing expensive conversions.

The broader issue? A digital ecosystem that takes advantage of users unfamiliar with these tricks. For international travelers booking in India, it’s not just about speed, it’s about staying alert in a system tilted to extract more money through subtle moves.