Beware! These airlines may be overcharging solo travelers in US. See when it happens and how
These airlines have been overcharging solo travelers in the US for sometime, media reports said. Two major US airlines, American and United, are facing criticism for charging higher ticket prices to passengers flying alone. A recent analysis highlights how solo travelers often pay more than those booking as a group. The pricing controversy first came to light in May when Kyle Potter, executive editor at Thrifty Traveler, discovered that solo travelers were consistently being charged more than groups. His research covered Delta, United and American Airlines.
Data revealed a pattern in which individuals booking flights alone faced higher ticket prices. This was especially true on weekday flights, while group travelers received better deals.
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Delta Airlines responded to the report by stopping the practice. United briefly followed suit but has now reportedly returned to charging solo passengers more, media reports said.
According to The Economist, American Airlines has continued with the pricing model. The data suggests American Airlines is more aggressive in targeting solo weekday travelers with higher prices.Also Read: What to Watch This Weekend: New movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Apple TV, HBO Max and more
The analysis shows American Airlines applied higher fares to solo weekday passengers on 57 percent of its routes. These increases were more common on short-haul flights and where there was no competition from budget airlines such as Southwest. In comparison, United Airlines used similar pricing tactics on only 8 percent of its routes.
Why are solo passengers being charged more by American and United Airlines?
Airlines like American and United have applied higher fares to solo travelers, especially on weekday flights, as part of dynamic pricing strategies that favor group bookings.
Which airline is most aggressive in charging solo travelers more?
American Airlines leads in applying higher fares to solo weekday flyers, using the pricing strategy on 57 percent of its routes, mostly short-haul routes without budget airline competition.
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