UK travellers issued warning over hidden tax on flights that could mean you pay MORE

Daily Mail​

12-06-2025

Tourists heading on an adventure across the Pond this summer are being warned over a hidden flight tax that can leave those travelling solo out of pocket.
Research by Thrifty Traveler Premium 's flight deal analysts found that at least three major US airlines - American, Delta and United - were found to charge more for single flights than they did for two or more seats.
The website claims that, on certain one-way US domestic flights, tourists will face higher premiums if they are buying one ticket as opposed to two or more.
Thrifty Traveler Premium also found that single travellers were not always shown the lowest price brackets, with 'basic economy' - usually travelling with just one handbag or rucksack - only appearing if two or more flight tickets were being booked.
The small print beneath flights being sold will often specify that different fares depend on how many tickets are being booked per reservation.
The website found, for example, one person flying from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to the nearby US airport of Peoria (PIA) in June costs $269 (£198) for a one-way ticket.
However, if you're flying in a pair or more, then the price is much more competitive, down to $181 (£133) per person - a saving of £65.
Travel expert Sanjib Adhikari, Executive Director of the Everest trekking company Heaven Himalaya, told MailOnline that he has seen this firsthand in his clients' bookings.
'Our clients have increasingly been seeing an increase in airline fares on the American domestic legs of their flights and didn't even know until comparing notes with other people on our treks who had also traveled there solo,' he said.
So what's happening exactly? According to Adhikari, it's all about market segmentation.
'The airlines are trying to segment out business travelers, who often fly alone and aren't cost-sensitive, versus vacationers, who are more cost-sensitive and are likelier to fly in groups or pairs,' he explained.
In other words, airlines are betting that solo travelers - especially those using a corporate card - aren't as worried about price, so they can charge more.
And it's not just limited to airlines.
Increasing to two or more passengers slashes the price by one-third
One passenger flying United from its Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) airport to Peoria (PIA) in June results in a $269 one-way fare
'Unfortunately, the singles tax isn't unique to airlines, as solo travelers frequently pay more for cruises, accommodations, and holiday packages,' Adhikari adds.
It seems that this 'singles tax' spills into every area of your life, especially if you live alone.
Think about all of the money you pay when grocery shopping (rather than buying food in bulk) and especially for housing.
And while a lot of this is systemic, there are some things you can do to avoid this singles tax, at least while flying.
If you're a solo traveler who's over paying more just because you didn't come with a plus-one, Adhikari has a tip.
'I recommend solo travelers start doing price searches for group bookings to see if they can reduce their price.
'It's also a good idea to read the fare rules.
'It's a lot of fine print, but you can use an AI to summarize it for you so you at least have an idea of whether the fare has a singles tax or not.'