Flying alone? You could be paying more per ticket than group flyers: Report
Solo travelers may be paying a premium compared to passengers booking in pairs or groups. A new report reveals that the largest U.S. airlines are charging higher fares for solo travelers.
Travel site Thrifty Traveler analyzed hundreds of fares from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. In their findings, solo bookings often resulted in noticeably higher prices per ticket for the exact same flights compared to a single ticket that’s booked with others.
Price comparisons show steep differences
In one example, a solo passenger flying United from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Peoria, Illinois, in June paid $269 for an economy ticket. But when another traveler was added, the cost dropped to around $181 per person for the same flight.
Thrifty Traveler also examined an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Fort Myers, Florida. In that case, the fare dropped from $422 for a single ticket to $231 per person when two seats were booked.
Some travelers say they don’t mind
While the pricing discrepancy left many solo travelers frustrated, some found a silver lining.
One user on X commented, “Am I the only business traveler that preferred this? I’m a UA flyer and the extra PQP helps!” The user referred to United Airlines’ MileagePlus program, where higher fares can translate to more reward points.
Airline algorithms may be to blame
Dynamic pricing systems could be behind the fare differences. Airlines use algorithms to automatically adjust prices based on demand, booking habits and even passenger data.
Thrifty Travelers also mentions airlines try to cater to their customers. However, subtle changes like these are often at the expense of fairness.
Business class was first introduced in the 1970s as a middle ground for travelers between luxury and economy. It was designed for corporate travelers who didn’t need first class, but wanted more comfort than coach.
Economy class also used to be more generous. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 allowed airlines to set their own fares and routes. In exchange, passengers have had to sacrifice things like seat size.
Over the past 30 years, economy seats have become less comfortable. According to USA Today, legroom has decreased by 2 to 5 inches, and seat width has shrunk by 2 inches.
Over time, the airline industry has become more optimized for revenue than comfort. Now, that same logic is showing up in fare disparities, with solo travelers being penalized.
Delta quietly removes affected fares
Thrifty Traveler reports that none of the airlines responded to requests for comment. However, by Friday, May 30, Delta had quietly removed the fares that penalized solo travelers.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
