diff --git a/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.scss b/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.scss
index e1c9dcebb..8d09a6c33 100644
--- a/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.scss
+++ b/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.scss
@@ -243,3 +243,22 @@
     flex: 1;
   }
 }
+
+.route-filter__error {
+  margin-top: 4px;
+  padding: 6px 8px;
+  background-color: #ffebee;
+  border-left: 3px solid #d32f2f;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: #d32f2f;
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+.route-filter__error-message {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 6px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: #d32f2f;
+}
diff --git a/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.tsx b/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.tsx
index cc2678b42..0c72c9cd7 100644
--- a/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.tsx
+++ b/apps/react/src/app/features/online-board/components/route-filter.tsx
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ const validateCityCode = (code: string | undefined): boolean => {
   return /^[A-Z]{3}$/.test(code.toUpperCase())
 }
 
+// Validate departure input for invalid characters
+const validateDepartureInput = (code: string | undefined): boolean => {
+  if (!code) return true // Empty is not invalid, just incomplete
+  // Only allow 3-letter airport codes (A-Z)
+  return validateCityCode(code)
+}
+
 const validateRouteParams = (departure: City | null, arrival: City | null, date: Date | null): boolean => {
   if (!departure || !arrival || !date) return false
   if (!validateCityCode(departure.code) || !validateCityCode(arrival.code)) return false
@@ -106,6 +113,10 @@ export const RouteFilter: React.FC<RouteFilterProps> = ({
   const [showPassengerDropdown, setShowPassengerDropdown] = useState(false)
   const [cabinClass, setCabinClass] = useState<'economy' | 'business' | 'first'>(initialCabinClass || 'economy')
   const [showCabinDropdown, setShowCabinDropdown] = useState(false)
+  const [departureError, setDepartureError] = useState<string>('')
+  const [arrivalError, setArrivalError] = useState<string>('')
+  const [sameAirportError, setSameAirportError] = useState(false)
+  const [searchValidationError, setSearchValidationError] = useState<string>('')
 
   const totalPassengers = adults + children + infants
   const maxPassengers = 9
@@ -113,6 +124,16 @@ export const RouteFilter: React.FC<RouteFilterProps> = ({
 
   const isSearchDisabled = !validateRouteParams(departure, arrival, date)
 
+  // Validate departure and arrival on change
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Check for same city error
+    if (departure && arrival && departure.code === arrival.code) {
+      setSameAirportError(true)
+    } else {
+      setSameAirportError(false)
+    }
+  }, [departure, arrival])
+
   // Auto-search when departure or arrival city is selected
   useEffect(() => {
     if ((validateMinimalRouteParams(departure) || validateMinimalRouteParams(arrival)) && onSearch) {
@@ -122,6 +143,21 @@ export const RouteFilter: React.FC<RouteFilterProps> = ({
   }, [departure, arrival])
 
   const handleSearch = useCallback(() => {
+    // Clear previous search validation error
+    setSearchValidationError('')
+
+    // Check for all required fields
+    if (!departure || !arrival || !date) {
+      setSearchValidationError('Please fill in all required fields')
+      return
+    }
+
+    // Check for same city error
+    if (departure.code === arrival.code) {
+      setSameAirportError(true)
+      return
+    }
+
     if (validateRouteParams(departure, arrival, date) && onSearch) {
       // Pass all search parameters including return date for round trips, passenger counts, and cabin class
       onSearch(departure!.code, arrival!.code, date!, returnDate, tripType, { adults, children, infants }, cabinClass)
@@ -192,6 +228,11 @@ export const RouteFilter: React.FC<RouteFilterProps> = ({
             {departure.code}
           </div>
         )}
+        {departureError && (
+          <div data-testid="departure-error" className="route-filter__error">
+            {departureError}
+          </div>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       <Button
@@ -214,6 +255,16 @@ export const RouteFilter: React.FC<RouteFilterProps> = ({
             {arrival.code}
           </div>
         )}
+        {sameAirportError && (
+          <div data-testid="same-city-error" className="route-filter__error">
+            Departure and arrival cities must be different
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {arrivalError && (
+          <div data-testid="arrival-error" className="route-filter__error">
+            {arrivalError}
+          </div>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       <div className="route-filter__trip-type">
@@ -458,6 +509,11 @@ export const RouteFilter: React.FC<RouteFilterProps> = ({
           data-testid="clear-filters-button"
         />
       </div>
+      {searchValidationError && (
+        <div data-testid="validation-error" className="route-filter__error">
+          {searchValidationError}
+        </div>
+      )}
     </div>
   )
 }