IndiGo vs SpiceJet: Which Airline is Best for You?

After planning domestic travel within India, if a traveller is looking for a budget-friendly airline, then both Indigo and SpiceJet can be an ideal choice, as they can offer affordable deals and discounts to travellers. However, now the major question arises regarding the difference between Indigo vs SpiceJet in having a hassle-free air journey. Therefore, this doubt can be figured out by comparing essential factors like baggage allowance, routes, destinations, or services offered by both airlines. Thus, to get a complete guide regarding the comparison between IndiGo and SpiceJet, go through the references below and get a full guidance set accordingly.

IndiGo vs SpiceJet: An Overview

IndiGo: IndiGo is a well-reputed Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It operates domestic and International flight routes, connecting over 80 domestic and 30+ international destinations. IndiGo Airline was founded in 2005 and started its operations in 2006. In addition, IndiGo is considered the largest airline in India because of the passengers it carries and its fleet size, which is around 403. It cannot be wrong to say that the list of Cheapest airlines in India is incomplete without including IndiGo, as this airline provides all its services of premium quality.

SpiceJet: SpiceJet is an Indian low-cost airline, and the sixth largest in terms of the number of domestic passengers carried. Its headquarters are in Gurgaon, Haryana. In reference to the market share, IndiGo occupies 4%, and in addition to that, it also connects around 73 destinations, which includes 60 Indian and 13 International. SpiceJet Airline was founded in the year 1994, but it commenced its operations in the year 2005. The size of the SpiceJet fleet is 97, and the airline's first flight was operated between Delhi and Mumbai on 24 May 2005. The services available onboard SpiceJet Airlines for every class are prominent.

Baggage Allowance and Fees:

IndiGo: At IndiGo, the baggage allowances vary according to the route/destination. For domestic flights, the checked baggage per person is 15 kg. For international flights, it is around 20, 25, or 30 kilograms. Note that the excess baggage fee will also be applied to the traveller's ticket accordingly.

SpiceJet: With the SpiceJet Airlines baggage allowance and fee, domestic flights are allowed one checked bag up to 15 kg. For all international flights, there are two checked bags up to 20 kg (or 30 kg, that is, for specific destinations). Additionally, the excess baggage at SpiceJet gets charged at Rs. 600 per kg, and additional pieces incur a fee of Rs 1000 per piece.

On-Time Performance and Punctuality:

IndiGo offers its travellers the best services and facilities, and one among them is IndiGo's on-time performance, which comprises 80.2% of the four metro airports within India. It is eventually rising in the punctuality graph. The factors affecting the on-time performance of IndiGo flights can be adverse under conditions like weather, which is significantly affected in winter and can impact the schedules and on-time performance of IndiGo.

SpiceJet: On the other hand, SpiceJet consistently struggles with punctual timing or SpiceJet on-time performance because this airline is undoubtedly facing criticism for delays and disruptions, and it is getting dropped with the on-time performance rate, respectively. Furthermore, SpiceJet is trying to come up and offer on-time performance, but the factors that make it not worth it are the poor weather conditions and many more outcomes that affect the punctuality of the airlines.

In-Flight Services:

IndiGo: As a low-cost carrier, IndiGo Airlines offers various in-flight services to enhance travellers' IndiGo Flight experience. These include options like pre-booking snacks and beverages, and a new in-flight entertainment application called "Help 6E " enables travellers to stream movies, TV shows, and music on personal devices.

SpiceJet: The SpiceJet flight experience includes its "SpiceScreen" entertainment platform, a variety of snacks and meals, along with special assistance for passengers with special dietary needs.

Comfort and Amenities:

IndiGo: In reference to comfort and amenities offered at IndiGo, it offers the new occurrences like "IndiGo Stretch" business class with spacious seats, enhanced legroom, and some complimentary services which comprise the options to purchase like blankets, pillows, and other amenities on board.

SpiceJet: Being the best domestic airline in India, the main aim of SpiceJet aircraft is to provide an affordable and comfortable travelling experience with amenities like contemporary interiors, a friendly crew, complimentary refreshments, and special assistance for the passengers who seek various sets of needs.

Customer Reviews and Ratings:

IndiGo: When planning a trip with IndiGo, travellers have various concerns, one of which is IndiGo customer reviews, as this is a low-cost airline, and it gets mixed customer reviews. So, this airline has aspects like punctuality, reliability, good cabin service, and value for money. 

SpiceJet: On the other hand, every traveller has mixed concerns about SpiceJet customer reviews and ratings. So, the overall rating is based on a friendly crew, minimal flight delays, and cancellations or no issues with the comfort and cleanliness onboard that it provides to its travellers.

Safety and Reliability:

IndiGo: When it comes to safety and reliability, IndiGo is the low-cost airline in India that is considered to be an up-to-date service provider. It has a good reputation for punctuality, well-trained pilots, no fatal accidents, and a young fleet.

SpiceJet: In comparison to IndiGo Airlines, SpiceJet has faced concerns regarding safety and reliability, and it has recently been reported using customer reviews that highlight issues like flight delays, poor customer service, and even safety concerns.

Destinations and Route Networks:

IndiGo: A reputed airline that operates on both domestic and international routes, it operates more than 2200 daily flights to 128 destinations, including 91 domestic and 37 international destinations—for example, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Kochi.

SpiceJet is also considered to be the low-cost airline and the best budget airline in India. Based on the number of domestic passengers carried, it is the sixth largest airline in India, holding share of 4%. In addition to that, it serves 73 destinations, including 60 domestic and 13 international routes.

Frequent Flyer Programs & Rewards:

IndiGo: At IndiGo, there are two main programs available for frequent flyer members. The first one is the IndiGo "BluChip Loyalty Program," which helps members earn points (BluChips) for flights and other activities. The second one is the "6E Rewards Program," which is linked to a top-brand credit card, from which members have access to earn rewards by using the cards and from some other merchants.

SpiceJet: Like IndiGo Airlines, SpiceJet offers a frequent flyer program membership, namely "SpiceClub," through which travellers can earn SpiceCash top-ups. Such points can be earned for air tickets and add-ons, and additional points can be earned for booking directly on the SpiceJet website and application. Concerning that, travellers can redeem these points for free flights, free meals, free upgrades for SpiceMax, and much more.

Additional Services and Perks:

IndiGo: Additional services and perks are offered to IndiGo Airline travellers, including 6E Prime for seat selection, snack combos, and fast-forward service, as well as facilities like a pre-booked add-on, lounge access and some other benefits for frequent flyers through the 6E Rewards program. Thus, IndiGo has become one of the Cheapest domestic flights in India, offering sheer comfort to all their travellers.

SpiceJet: On the other hand, when it comes to SpiceJet Airlines' additional services and perks then, this airline provides SpiceClub, a frequent flyer program. SpiceMax is for premium comfort, and further benefits include meal choice, web check-in, priority bag out, pre-booking, and special meals.

Conclusion:

Hence, both IndiGo and SpiceJet Airlines stand out as the best in their scenario, but to conclude, the best references according to the best airlines for budget travel are quite as discussed above in the section. However, if you want to choose any airline for domestic or international travelling, then you will have to get through with the above-discussed information as it will be enough to assist in making your travel quite convenient. Note that to get more familiar with the factors that both airlines offer to their travellers, one must visit the official websites of IndiGo and SpiceJet.

FAQ About SpiceJet vs IndiGo

Q. Which airline is cheaper: IndiGo or SpiceJet?

Ans. Both IndiGo and SpiceJet tend to be the best airlines on their terms, but SpiceJet is concluded to be the best as it offers affordable airfare deals and offers based on different routes/destinations.

Q. Which airline has better baggage policies for budget travellers?

Ans. For budget travelling preferences, Southwest Airlines offers better baggage policies, a significant advantage over other airlines.

Q. Is IndiGo safer than SpiceJet?

Ans. Both IndiGo and SpiceJet are well-known airlines in India. So, regarding safety conditions, IndiGo tends to provide higher safety and better on-time performance than SpiceJet.

Q. Does IndiGo or SpiceJet have better punctuality?

Ans. When it comes to punctuality, IndiGo provides such services on time, and due to this phenomenon, it has a much stronger reputation than SpiceJet.

Q. Which airline has better seat comfort for long flights?

Ans. Travellers prefer better seat comfort when they want to go on a long-haul journey. IndiGo is an airline that offers such preferences well, as it provides slightly better seat comfort than SpiceJet.

Q. Are there any hidden charges with IndiGo and SpiceJet?

Ans. Yes, there are some hidden charges on both IndiGo and SpiceJet, as these airlines are considered low-cost carriers. Thus, the hidden charges are typically included in full-service airlines, such as seat selection, checked baggage, and meals.

Q. Which airline has better customer service?

Ans. SpiceJet and IndiGo airlines are considered low-cost airlines, and when it comes to the best customer service offering, IndiGo is generally considered to have better customer service than SpiceJet.

Q. Which airline is better for international travel?

Ans. For International travel from India, IndiGo is considered the best choice over SpiceJet due to its broader international network, better on-time performance, and generally more positive customer experience.

Q. What are the best days to book cheap tickets for IndiGo and SpiceJet?

Ans. For both SpiceJet and IndiGo, the best days for booking flight tickets are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. These days also offer slightly better deals for IndiGo and SpiceJet flights.

Q. Which airline has more legroom?

Ans. Every long-haul primary's main concern is comfort and more legroom, and due to IndiGo's fleet size, it is perceived to offer slightly more legroom than SpiceJet. In addition, IndiGo operates Airbus A320/321 aircraft known for their more excellent or more legroom and wider seats.

Q. Does SpiceJet offer free meals on flights?

Ans. SpiceJet Airlines is considered a budget airline, so it does not offer free meals on flights. Instead, it allows travellers to pre-book or purchase meals on board.

Q. Can I get free food on Indigo?

Ans. No, IndiGo is a low-cost airline, so it does not offer free meals on any international or domestic flights. However, instead of providing free meals, IndiGo allows travellers to pre-book snacks or purchase food items on board.