Solo Flyers Hit with 70% Higher Fares; Airlines Respond

Sonali Tiwari

Major airlines caught charging solo travelers MORE for the same flights than people traveling in pairs - but there's a breaking update! 

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The price gap was HUGE! A United flight from Chicago to Asheville: $223 for ONE person vs. less than HALF that cost per ticket when booking for TWO.

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How was this secret pricing exposed? Kyle Potter of Thrifty Traveler noticed while booking his own trip: $206 for solo fare dropped to $156 when searching for two passengers.

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It wasn't just one airline! American, Delta, and United were ALL found using this hidden pricing strategy on certain routes.

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Industry insiders believe this targeted business travelers who fly alone and aren't as price-sensitive since companies foot the bill.

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"This is a penalty for booking just one ticket," says Potter. "Airlines are doing this to squeeze more money out of people booking just one passenger."

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BREAKING: After nationwide backlash, Delta and United have now REMOVED the higher solo traveler fares! American Airlines is the only major carrier still using this pricing strategy.

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Delta's fare rules that required at least two adults to get lower prices have now disappeared, according to searches of publicly available rules.

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Whether this is a temporary pause due to bad press or a permanent change remains unclear - none of the airlines have officially commented on their pricing tactics.

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Consumer advocates continue demanding more transparency: "Airlines shouldn't be penalizing travelers for flying solo, especially when this pricing practice is hidden."

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