Posted on 05/31/2025 6:13:36 AM PDT by george76
Some of the biggest U.S. airlines are quietly charging solo travelers more than passengers who book as a pair..
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have added new fare rules that in some cases require passengers to book at least two tickets to access the cheapest fares. That means solo travelers could end up paying as much as 70 percent more for the same flight.
...
On a short United hop from Chicago O'Hare to Peoria, Illinois, a single ticket cost $269. But the same ticket dropped to $181 per person when booking two travelers. In some cases, basic economy options only appeared when searching for multiple passengers.
"Whether it's been just days, months, or even years, it's something that few everyday travelers may realize is happening ... or how much it might be costing them," wrote Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler.
...
This pricing tactic appears designed to target business travelers, who often book last-minute and travel alone. Airlines use different fare classes—sets of pricing rules—to sell the same seats at different prices. Now, some of those fare classes are limited to bookings with at least two passengers.
...
American Airlines was first to adopt the model, which it internally called "P2" for "passenger 2." Delta and United have now followed suit, according to Leff. In one example he highlighted, a solo ticket cost $422 for a one-way economy flight, while booking two tickets together dropped the per-person price to $210.
The rationale, according to airline analysts, is straightforward: solo travelers are more likely to be business travelers, who typically book flights with less concern about cost due to corporate budgets. Airlines are using fare rules to target those perceived as less price-sensitive.
It's just another way for airlines to continue segmenting their customers,
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
I see a business opportunity.
People can go to a website with their travel plans, and then they can find a partner to book the flight together.
Where’s Bernie & Pocahontas demanding fare justice?
Airlines are need of more regulation. Their customer service sucks, and consumers deserve more protection for basic things like standardizing baggage allowances and refunds. Air travel has become a nightmare.
Next they’ll start charging different rates depending upon skin color.
The argument that most solo travelers are businessmen seems ridiculous. And they book last-minute — don’t the airlines appreciate that?
Call it what it is: punishing successful people.
I don’t know anyone that would fly to O’Hare from Peoria as a final destination or even round trip. If you are an out of town business person, you just rent a car. If you are a local business person, you drive the company car...
Two can live as cheaply as one—and now fly as cheaply as one as well?
THE FRONT OF THE PLANE GETS THERE THE SAME TIME AS THE BACK OF THE PLANE.
EACH SEAT GETS THE SAME TRIP.
THIS IS PLAIN DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SINGLE PERSONS.
DISGUSTING
Nickel and Dime their customer to death or until they smarten up and refuse to fly
Back in the day I think this was referred to as a “volume discount”.
So, you can save a couple of bucks if you buy two seats and make sure no one is sitting next to you. Then if the flight is overbooked, surrender one of them for compensation and come out ahead.
Hubby is a seasoned air traveler, and he has gotten to the point where he hates traveling for business trips. People have no decorum anymore. They wear pajamas, don’t have earbuds or headphones so everyone nearby has to listen to whatever they’re listening to, try to squeeze an obviously oversized bag into the overhead compartment, etc. He schedules as few trips as he possibly can these days. If a video call can handle the situation, he prefers that anymore. Of course, sometimes it can’t, but that’s when he has to put up with air travel.
The best regulation you can give to the airline industry is to stop flying. The end.
Part of the deep state conspiracy to accept more government control. When Freepers are calling for increased regulation, the deep state's conspiracy is successful, and their boardroom puppets are delivering for them.
If there is an industry begging for re-regulation, it is the airlines. I'm old enough to remember when flights were comfortable, flights were affordable and not overtaxed, and the airlines made a profit from operations.
Or buy both tickets, but make sure that one is refundable, then cancel that one at the last minute.
It is always cheaper when you buy more than one.
Fake news with an agenda........................
The old Mistresses Fly Free! promotion.
Right now, I only fly for work, which I try to keep to a minimum.
At some point, we do want to fly to Europe to meet with our former foreign exchange student and her family.
Generally it is cheaper to fly overseas in the off season. The weather isn't all that bad in March and April depending upon where you are going.
In the 1970s, air travel was a luxury, with round-trip domestic flights like New York to Los Angeles costing upwards of $550 (around $3,500 today). International flights, such as New York to London, were even more expensive, often exceeding $300 (over $2,000 today) for a one-way ticket. These high prices were due to strict government regulations that limited competition among airlines.
I don’t know about affordable but definitely they were more pleasant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.