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US Airlines Start Quietly Charging More for Solo Travelers
Newsweek ^ | May 30, 2025 | Jesus Mesa

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airlines
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To: FamiliarFace

I had to travel a lot on business.

Since I retired I have not been near an airport.

If I want to remember what flying was like I open a sardine can—and then search the sardines for contraband!


21 posted on 05/31/2025 7:38:58 AM PDT by cgbg (It was not us. It was them--all along.)
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To: FamiliarFace

I had to travel a lot on business.

Since I retired I have not been near an airport.

If I want to remember what flying was like I open a sardine can—and then search the sardines for contraband!


22 posted on 05/31/2025 7:38:58 AM PDT by cgbg (It was not us. It was them--all along.)
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To: napscoordinator

Taxes alone can run $300 now. From American Airlines:

International Travel (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands)
Prices include:
Base Fare and Carrier imposed fees
September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 per one-way trip, per passenger
Airport passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to $18 roundtrip
Other government taxes and fees (including U.S. government excise tax) of up to $240 based on destination; total may vary slightly based upon currency exchange rate at time of purchase
U.S. government excise tax is a user tax to pay for airport construction and airway safety and operations.
https://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/disclaimers/taxfeedisclaima.jsp

Germany charges a €70.83 tax for international flights. You can avoid this by using Amsterdam or Brussels instead of Frankfurt or Munich (in addition to the US taxes listed above for flights to London.)

I know I’ve seen environmental taxes on flight between the EU and the US, but I can’t seem to run them down right now


23 posted on 05/31/2025 7:52:12 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: cgbg

During covid, my employer refused to allow any non vax employees to travel. I believe it was part of the methodology to fire unvaccinated workers. So after 2 years, I kept that policy. No more travel for me. I am going to keep that policy for the next 4-6 years until I retire.


24 posted on 05/31/2025 7:53:08 AM PDT by wgmalabama (For rent —)
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To: FamiliarFace

I remember the good ‘ole days when people dressed up to fly on a commercial airliner.

Now, what we have are flying Greyhound busses.


25 posted on 05/31/2025 7:53:40 AM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Russia? China? Democrats and RINOs are the biggest threat to the survival of America.)
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To: PeterPrinciple

Please don’t call it “news” its “fake agenda” or “manipulation agenda” ;)

Rename CNN as CMAN ;)


26 posted on 05/31/2025 7:59:36 AM PDT by Degaston
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To: PAR35
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.

It doesn't work that way. The empty seat will be counted as a "no-show" and the seat automatically assigned to one of the ones waiting. You won't have an empty seat to surrender if it's overbooked.

27 posted on 05/31/2025 8:01:19 AM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's called the "Statue of Liberty" and not the "Statue of Security." )
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To: dfwgator
solo ticket cost $422 for a one-way economy flight, while booking two tickets together dropped the per-person price to $210.

Book two seats, get extra room, no one sits beside you and save $2.

28 posted on 05/31/2025 8:03:45 AM PDT by bgill
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To: july4thfreedomfoundation
the good ‘ole days when people dressed up to fly

The other day a woman stripped down nekkid and ran down the aisle.

29 posted on 05/31/2025 8:09:00 AM PDT by bgill
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To: george76
I don't see the justification in this. It's not like on a cruise ship where solo travelers are charged for double occupancy because stocking the ship for dining and other services depend on the rooms being full.

-PJ

30 posted on 05/31/2025 8:10:05 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: george76

The heck with it, I’m just buying a private jet.


31 posted on 05/31/2025 8:13:28 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: PAR35

Yes. Re-regulate the airlines. For that industry, yes.


32 posted on 05/31/2025 8:19:39 AM PDT by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: july4thfreedomfoundation

Those aren’t buses.

They are flying cattle cars.

I’m not cattle.


33 posted on 05/31/2025 8:21:27 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: HombreSecreto

We don’t need more regulation.

If this really bugged people, they’d refuse to fly.

The people complaining need to put their money where their mouths are instead of expecting the government to fix this for them.

I practice what I preach, BTW.

I haven’t flown in two decades.


34 posted on 05/31/2025 8:23:58 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: PAR35

No doubt fees are a rip off. But I still think it pretty cheap to fly. I do think the airlines have gone too far in making it a miserable experience.


35 posted on 05/31/2025 8:35:04 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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To: FreedomCalls

Depends on how far you can carry things. You can check in online the night before or print your boarding passes at a kiosk. Stall until the last minute and board as late as possible just before they close the door so they don’t have time to re-assign the seat. First person you interact with is the person scanning boarding passes at the door. It might work.


36 posted on 05/31/2025 8:41:53 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: george76

The favoring of “buying in bulk” has long been a selling practice in many sectors of the economy.

However, with airline seats I do not see the advantage to the airline, because most persons travel plans are either made to travel with someone else, or not and regardless of the fares, People who for whatever reason of travel plans of their own are not going to convince someone to buy a ticket and travel with them so that jointly they get a better “bargain”. Their friend minus any travel plans to begin with are not going to think the cost of the unexpected trip is a bargain.


37 posted on 05/31/2025 8:44:04 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: bobcat62

“Where’s Bernie & Pocahontas demanding fare justice?”

why should they care: they travel solo on private jets anyway ... because climate change ...


38 posted on 05/31/2025 9:04:28 AM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: dfwgator

Are you kidding?

How about boycotting extremely greedy assed companies that are being subsidized by the taxpayers?


39 posted on 05/31/2025 9:10:30 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: EVO X

i used to have to travel between O’Hare and Champaign-Urbana ... my choices were to fly some broken down puddle jumper that was always broken down and several hours late on departure (both directions), or renting a car and driving through driving sleet across barren plains of corn stubble ... i tried it both ways: both were awful ...


40 posted on 05/31/2025 9:10:31 AM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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