Methodology
How we run each monthly audit:
- Search a fixed sample route — Delhi → Mumbai, IndiGo Saver, economy, 14-day advance — on each OTA.
- Note the search-page price (airline base + taxes + GST).
- Complete the booking flow to the payment-confirmation screen (without entering payment details).
- Document any line item between (search-page price) and (amount payable).
- Note pre-ticked add-ons (insurance, web check-in assist, etc.) — these are common hidden additions.
Source for the methodology framework: Consumer Protection Act 2019 Section 2(34) ("unfair trade practice"), RBI Master Direction on Payment Aggregators (2023), DGCA airfare advisories. All require fee components to be itemised upfront.
Monthly audit results
May 2026
Airline base fare: ₹3,200 · Taxes + GST: ₹842 · Subtotal before any OTA fee: ₹4,042
| OTA | Convenience fee | Payment gateway fee | Pre-ticked add-ons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HappyFares | ₹0 | ₹0 | ₹0 | All-in price ₹4,042 matches the search-page price exactly. Zero OTA convenience fee. Add-ons are opt-in at checkout, never pre-ticked. |
| EaseMyTrip | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify at competitor.com/checkout. Industry pattern: convenience fee ₹149-249 per passenger; pre-ticked travel insurance ~₹99 in some flows. |
| Travanya | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify at competitor.com/checkout. Industry pattern: convenience fee ₹199-299, payment gateway fees may apply. |
| Tripozo | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify at competitor.com/checkout. Industry pattern: convenience fee + payment gateway surcharge typically present. |
| MakeMyTrip | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify | Self-verify at competitor.com/checkout. Industry pattern: convenience fee ₹249-499 per passenger published in their terms. |
Month notes: No HappyFares fee changes this month. Continued zero-OTA-fee policy on every domestic + international booking.
Frequently asked questions
How often is this transparency report updated?
Monthly. On the 1st of each calendar month, we re-audit our own checkout flow and document any fee changes. The competitor columns are deliberately framed as "verify at their site" because we cannot guarantee real-time accuracy on third-party platforms — the methodology is the same for every OTA, and you can independently confirm.
Why don't you publish exact competitor numbers each month?
Two reasons. (1) Legal: stating dated specific competitor fees creates exposure if those fees change before this page updates. (2) Methodology: the most reliable measurement is the buyer's — we publish HOW to measure and invite the reader to verify at the competitor's checkout themselves. This keeps the comparison framework neutral and durable.
What does "zero OTA convenience fee" mean exactly?
HappyFares does not add any fee to the airline's ticket price for the booking transaction. The price shown on the search-results page is the price you pay at checkout. The only line items that can vary are: (a) the airline's own taxes + fuel surcharge + GST (regulator-mandated, visible upfront), and (b) optional, opt-in add-ons that you actively choose at checkout (e.g., Web Check-In Assist). No hidden line item is added at the payment step.
How can I verify HappyFares' claim independently?
Step 1: Search any domestic flight on happyfares.in. Note the search-page price. Step 2: Click through to passenger details. Step 3: Click through to the payment confirmation screen. The amount payable should match the search-page price plus only the airline's tax components. If you find any HappyFares-side fee labelled "convenience fee", "service fee", "platform fee", or "booking fee" — please report it via help.happyfares.in. We back the zero-fee guarantee with a public refund policy.
What about international flights?
Same zero-fee policy applies. The only OTA-side charges on international bookings are clearly labelled, optional add-ons (Web Check-In Assist, Travel Insurance, Aero Messenger) — never pre-ticked, never hidden. HappyFares uses the RBI reference FX rate with zero conversion markup for fares quoted in USD or other currencies.
What regulator-mandated fees are included in my final price?
For domestic flights: airline base fare + fuel surcharge (YQ) + airport development fee (UDF) + passenger service fee (PSF) + GST at 5% (economy) or 12% (business/first). For international flights: airline base fare + applicable foreign taxes (departure/arrival country) + Indian GST as applicable. All of these are airline + government charges, not HappyFares charges. They are visible at the search-results stage.
How do you make money if you don't charge convenience fee?
HappyFares earns commission from the airline on each ticket sold (industry-standard 3-7% distribution commission). This is paid by the airline as a distribution cost regardless of whether the OTA also charges a passenger-side fee. Most major Indian OTAs charge BOTH; HappyFares takes only the airline-side commission and passes the entire consumer-side fee saving to the customer.