LCC Fare Hacks for Tier-2 Indian Routes in 2025

LCC Fare Hacks for Tier-2 Indian Routes in 2025

India's Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are now at the heart of aviation growth. With new airports, better connectivity, and rising demand for affordable travel, low-cost carriers (LCCs) are aggressively expanding into markets like Surat, Dehradun, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Indore, and Vizag.

For B2B agents, these routes offer untapped margins—but only if you know how to navigate LCC fare structures smartly.

Here’s how to win on India’s secondary routes using LCC hacks in 2025.

Why Tier-2 Routes Matter Now

• UDAN Scheme Expansion: More cities now have direct connectivity, reducing dependency on metros.

• High VFR Traffic: These cities have strong family travel demand to Delhi, Mumbai, and southern hubs.

• Student & Medical Tourism Growth: Cities like Patna, Nagpur, and Kochi are seeing spikes in student or patient group travel.
  

Top Low-Cost Carriers on Tier-2 Routes

• IndiGo: Strongest presence with multiple daily non-metro links

• Akasa Air: Rapid expansion into underserved sectors

• SpiceJet: Frequent flash sales for leisure segments

• Star Air & Alliance Air: Regional jets with lower loads = opportunity
  

5 Fare Hacks B2B Agents Must Use in 2025

1. Use 2-Leg Combinations to Beat Direct Pricing

Sometimes, connecting via a metro hub is cheaper than direct.
Example: Surat → Delhi is ₹6,500 direct, but Surat → Mumbai → Delhi may cost ₹4,200 total.

Pro Tip: Use LCC combo bookings via fare aggregation tools to offer smarter pricing to budget-sensitive travellers.

2. Lock Fares Using “Hold & Pay Later” Features

Most LCC portals and consolidator interfaces now offer fare hold options for 1–24 hours. Use this to:

• Confirm client payment

• Finalise group lists

• Upsell add-ons later

Ideal For: School trips, SME travel, or pilgrimage tours where client confirmation is delayed.

3. Split PNRs for Group Bookings (5–9 pax blocks)

Booking a large group (20+ pax)? Avoid one big PNR. Instead:

• Book 5–9 pax at a time to prevent fare jumps

• Use multi-device booking to hold inventory simultaneously

Savings Insight: Some agents report 8–12% fare difference when split strategically.

4. Use Prepaid Baggage Slabs as a Revenue Tool

Rather than including 15kg or 20kg baggage in the base fare:

• Offer baggage as an optional upsell

• Build margins on pre-booked baggage slabs (₹500–₹900 per sector)

Real Example: A Nagpur-based agent generated ₹15,000 in one month from just baggage upsells on LCC group bookings.

5. Track Flash Sales by Sector, Not Airline

Instead of waiting for mass sales, monitor specific route-wise drops.
Tools: Use Google Flights + airline apps + fare alert APIs
Focus Routes in 2025:

• Indore–Hyderabad

• Patna–Delhi

• Guwahati–Kolkata

• Lucknow–Bengaluru

Agent Tip: Flash fares usually appear Tuesday–Thursday for travel 2–3 weeks out.

Final Thoughts

Tier-2 cities are no longer second-tier in opportunity. They are your next margin centers—if you master LCC behavior and apply strategic booking hacks.

In 2025, successful B2B agents will combine real-time fare tools, bulk booking strategies, and client-specific upsells to own the non-metro market.

Stay sharp, stay flexible—and always test different fare paths before locking your bookings.