Report: airlines are loading more for solo rates. What can customers do?

Could you fly like a solo traveler really cost him more than traveling with a friend, spouse or familiar?

In recent weeks, a report From the travel website, Thrifty Traveler found a handful of the main US airlines. Uu. They often charge a higher rate for passengers traveling alone than those flying in a group of two or more.

After executing hundreds of air rate searches, the investigation found that these price tactics were common (although not extended) in the unidirectional national reserves with the three largest US companies: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and ,,, In particular, American Airlines.

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Although TPG has not independently verified the reports, we have found similar examples of unidirectional flights that have a higher price for solo travelers than reserves that include multiple passengers.

Here is an example: a Julio flight in American from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (Lit).

A reserve of two people would cost $ 236 per person for a flight without stopping.

But if you travel alone, prices begin at $ 260, and that is for a nine -hour itinerary that includes a scale.

To fly without stopping, I would have to pay for $ 382, ​​a 61% premium for the solo traveler.

What do airlines say?

Until now, airlines have remained in the subject.

American and United have not commented.

Delta told TPG that such price tactics are not new in the airline or industry, but refused to make more comments.

What is really happening?

So what is really happening?

I took that question for the best aerial ticket experts, who offered some theories.

The ‘Costco’ theory

One takes the logic of bulk prices, directly from the costco shelves.

“If I’m going to, let’s say, for example, Buffalo Wild Wings, I am paying less for wing if I buy 18 wings instead of whether I am buying a dozen wings,” said Kerry Tan, economics professor at the Sellinger Business and Management School of the University of Loyola, whose research focuses on planes and income management. “Then it could be a quantity discount story.”

In a nutshell: buying two tickets is even more expensive than buying one, but the cost per ticket is lower.

Aimed at possible business travelers

However, most likely, the experts we talk to agree, is that carriers are apparently blocking the discounts of travelers that could possibly fly in the penny of their company.

“This is the work of the airline: try to [see] How much is willing to pay for the ticket, “said Ahmed Abdelghany, associate dean of the Embry-Riddle University, previously from United.” Is it a guy sensitive to the prices he pays from his own pocket, who is an leisure traveler, or, no, he is a corporate traveler? “

Former American Airlines CEO, Doug Parker, who retired in 2022He pointed out that reserving a trip that included a “Saturday stay” used to be a way of obtaining a lower rate, separating the probable vacationist from the road warrior, a rule that was once a hard and fast truism of the prices of air tickets.

“I could sit next to someone who paid $ 1,000 for a ticket could be sitting right next to someone who paid $ 200 for a ticket,” Parker said, speaking this week in the confidential podcast of the airlines. “What you are seeing now is the new way in which airlines have discovered to address this problem.”

Quick reaction

Of course, not all who fly alone are a business traveler.

There are several reasons why a passenger could fly only beyond a work trip, whether they visit the family or meet with a friend somewhere. And they would probably not be delighted with the perspective of paying a higher rate.

In fact, the discovery of these apparent price tactics has fed a violent reaction in recent weeks.

“Stop these nonsense, because you are going to force regulation”, TPG founder Brian Kelly He urged airlines in a shared video on social networks.

He joined a choir of other voices that react in the same way and questioned the transparency of prices of airlines.

Airline technology becomes more sophisticated

But there are few reasons to think that the most elaborate price tactics will end soon.

While rates cubes and prices driven by the algorithm have existed for decades, airlines invested historical sums of money in improving their technology in recent years and their systems are much more sophisticated today than ever.

Delta, for example, recently announced that it is Expanding your tariff type menu To include almost a dozen options, each with its own combination of bags, seats and services that are included (or not) depending on what you choose.

Atlanta -based carrier in November also revealed that he began using artificial intelligence for prices of a small portion of his rates.

“With a more advanced technology, and with more passenger history, I think the airlines are becoming better to estimate the disposition of passengers to pay,” he said so. “I am sure you have heard of the idea of ​​the dynamic price. This may be another aspect of how airlines have a more successful price from a dynamic point of view.”

What can travelers do solo to save money?

So what should travelers do solo?

To start, see several airlines before booking.

Buys

While the highest prices for solo travelers are certainly outside, it is far from a lock that you will find when you seek to book.

We always suggest using a comparison site as Google flights To verify the rates in a wide range of airlines before booking directly with its choice bearer.

Verify the prices of the 1 and 2 passengers

That said, it can be advisable to execute searches on your favorite itinerary to ensure that you are not paying a higher price as an individual traveler than in a group. If you find this tactic, you may want to try another airline.

Reserve a round trip (or use points!)

The Thrifty Traveler report found that round trip reserves generally did not see the same price fluctuations between one and multiple passenger reserves. The same was true with awards reserves, so using your miles is always an option (just consult our monthly assessments to ensure the highest value of your points won with so much effort).

Read more: Starting with points, miles and credit cards to travel

Be flexible

One of the main rules of Find cheap flights It is being as flexible as I can.

While work, school and life schedules can make this easier to say it than to do it, more airlines, airports, travel dates and starting times to which it is open, more possibilities will have to obtain the lowest rate.

Reserve a changing rate

Many of the US airlines have reduced change rates in complete economy economy tickets, so if you cannot avoid a higher rate as a solo traveler, you can try to reserve an itinerary that can then change, or cancel and reserve again, if the price decreases later.

You may not get a complete refund, but you can generally make the difference in rates for a future trip.

Just keep in mind that this tactic will generally not work with basic economic rates, and it can be more complicated (although not impossible, these days) with economic airlines.

What is to book a trip for two and then cancel?

Finally, what to book a trip for two travelers and then cancel your partner’s reservation?

Take care with care.

Historically, the airlines have not taken kindly tactics cunning that surround the flight segments of the reserve that does not intend to fly, as recent controversies about the so -called “jumper” They have shown.

At least, I would not use this tactic frequently.

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