A passenger’s allegation of faulty baggage weighing machines at Goa’s Dabolim Airport has triggered a heated controversy, with budget carrier IndiGo and airport authorities refuting any discrepancies.
The claim, made by Rattan Dhillon, a Chandigarh resident, has now gone viral on social media, raising fresh questions about transparency in baggage fee calculations.
Dhillon, who boarded IndiGo flight 6E724 from Goa to Chandigarh on August 4, posted a detailed grievance on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the airline of overcharging him due to “manipulated” luggage scales. According to him, the same bag showed three different weights at three separate counters (18 kg, 16 kg, and 15 kg) yet he was told to pay excess baggage fees based on the highest figure.
“Yesterday, while boarding flight 6E724 from Goa to Chandigarh, my bag showed 18 kg on one belt, 16 kg on another, and 15 kg on a third. When I questioned the discrepancy, the IndiGo staff simply replied, ‘Sir, the 15 kg machine must be wrong, 18 is the correct weight’,” Dhillon wrote in his post on Tuesday, August 5.
He further claimed that his luggage had weighed exactly 15 kg at his hotel before leaving for the airport. He was eventually charged Rs 11,900, including Rs 1,500 for an umbrella. “This is nothing less than daylight robbery, and passengers are being ripped off without realizing it. IndiGo must be held accountable for this fraud,” he added.
See the viral post:
One of the biggest unnoticed scams by IndiGo is the inconsistent weighing scales at their check-in counters.
Yesterday, while boarding flight 6E724 from Goa to Chandigarh, my bag showed 18 kg on one belt, 16 kg on another, and 15 kg on a third.
When I questioned the… pic.twitter.com/L6wOQFIway
— Rattan Dhillon (@ShivrattanDhil1) August 5, 2025
His post sparked outrage among other frequent flyers who shared similar experiences of inconsistent baggage weighing. The viral post included a photograph of the weighing counter and a screenshot of his ticket, further fuelling public debate over airline practices.
IndiGo issued a formal response, asserting that its equipment is regularly calibrated and inspected. “We attempted to contact Mr Dhillon on his registered number but could not reach him. All our baggage weighing machines are certified by the airport authority and undergo periodic checks,” the airline said in a statement.
IndiGo also revealed that the total check-in luggage for Dhillon and his co-passengers amounted to 52 kg, exceeding the permitted limit of 45 kg for three passengers, and the extra charges were in accordance with airline policy.
Goa International Airport backed IndiGo’s explanation, stating that all check-in counter weighing machines are verified and certified annually by the Legal Metrology Department of the Goa government.
While IndiGo maintains that there was no fault in the equipment, Dhillon’s post has reignited debate about accountability and consumer rights in domestic air travel. Calls for stricter independent audits and the installation of transparent weighing systems visible to passengers have intensified.
