Traveling Solo Can Cost $90 More Than Traveling in Pairs

A year after passengers complained about it, some airlines are still charging solo flyers more than people traveling together. Thrifty Traveler published an analysis on October 30 of 5,000 nonstop domestic one-way flights, 1,000 for each of the five largest U.S. airlines, collected over 11 months. American charged a higher fare to a single passenger on 33.5 percent of its sampled flights, by an average of more than $90.

United did so on 10.6 percent of its sampled flights, by an average of just over $64. Delta, Alaska and Southwest showed no solo penalty on any of their sampled flights. Delta briefly tried the practice on some routes last year and then reversed course. The gaps can be large: one American flight from Miami to Charlotte cost $496 for a single traveler but $155 each when two or three people searched together.

The analysis points to fare rules that require a traveler to be accompanied by another adult in the same cabin, which means a solo search may never display the cheaper fare. The pattern was more common on routes where the airline faces little competition, and American’s share rose to nearly 60 percent of flights to and from Philadelphia and 65 percent to and from Charlotte.

Neither airline explained the practice. American did not respond to the outlet’s questions and United declined to comment. Travelers flying alone can compare fares by searching with two passengers, checking competing carriers, and looking at nearby airports. The cheaper group fare may carry restrictions, so read the fare rules before trying to book around it.

Sources: Thrifty Traveler