Solo travelers booking economy flights on major US airlines are often charged more than group bookings, according to a recent report by Thrifty Traveler. The airline analysts analyzed hundreds of daily routes and found that American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines are charging solo travelers higher fares.
The issue mainly pertains to one-way domestic fares, where customers booking alone pay more than those in groups. For example, a one-way United flight from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Peoria next month costs $269 for a single passenger, but drops to $181 per person when booked with multiple passengers.
Similarly, on American Airlines, a one-way flight from Charlotte to Fort Myers in October cost at least $422 for a solo traveler, while the same fare for two passengers would be just $266 per person. This trend is not seen on carriers such as Alaska, JetBlue, or Southwest, and is mainly limited to one-way domestic fares.
The Consumer Federation of America’s CEO, Susan Weinstock, expressed concern over this pricing practice, stating that “airlines shouldn’t be penalizing travelers for flying solo, especially when this pricing practice is hidden from the public view.”
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/solo-travelers-pay-more-than-groups-economy-flights-major-us-airlines