In a subtle yet controversial shift in pricing strategy, major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, have begun charging solo travelers significantly higher fares than those booking for groups of two or more on select domestic routes. This practice, which can see solo passengers paying up to 70% more per ticket, has ignited a firestorm of criticism among travelers and industry watchers alike. First brought to light by Thrifty Traveler on May 28, 2025, the strategy has since been corroborated by multiple outlets, revealing a calculated move by airlines to maximize revenue in a competitive market.

Specific examples highlight the stark disparity in pricing. On a United Airlines flight from Chicago O’Hare to Peoria, a solo ticket costs $269, but the price drops to $181 per person when booked for two. Similarly, an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Fort Myers is priced at $422 for one passenger, but only $266 per person for a pair, as reported by Thrifty Traveler. These discrepancies are not mere glitches but are tied to internal fare rules, such as American’s “P2” designation, which explicitly requires a second passenger to access the lowest economy fares, according to Frequent Miler.

Unpacking the Airline Strategy

The rationale behind this pricing model appears to target business travelers, who often fly solo and rely on corporate budgets, allowing airlines to charge premium rates. Leisure travelers, presumed to book in groups, are offered lower per-person fares as an incentive, a tactic detailed by One Mile at a Time. This segmentation strategy is not applied universally, however. Reports from Simple Flying note that the practice is limited to specific domestic one-way routes, with no evidence of similar pricing on international flights or round-trip tickets.

Moreover, not all U.S. carriers are engaging in this approach. Airlines like Alaska, JetBlue, and Southwest have not been linked to such pricing tactics, suggesting a divergence in how carriers balance revenue goals with customer perception, as noted by View from the Wing. The selective implementation raises questions about how airlines determine which routes warrant this surcharge and whether it could expand in scope if left unchecked.

Public Backlash and Industry Response

The public reaction has been swift and critical, with many solo travelers—both business and leisure—feeling unfairly penalized. Social media platforms and forums like Reddit’s TravelHacks community have buzzed with frustration over what some call an “anti-consumer” practice. Travel experts, cited by CBS News, advise solo flyers to compare fares by inputting multiple passengers during booking or to set price alerts on tools like Google Flights to snag better deals.

In response to the backlash, Delta Air Lines appears to have begun rolling back this pricing strategy on some routes, though American and United continue to apply it, per updates from Thrifty Traveler. This partial retreat suggests airlines are sensitive to public perception, yet the lack of official statements from any carrier, as highlighted by Travel and Tour World, leaves the future of this policy uncertain.

Navigating the New Normal

For now, solo travelers face a tricky landscape. Some have floated workarounds like booking two tickets to secure the lower rate and forfeiting the second, but fare rules often prohibit refunds if the additional passenger doesn’t travel, making this a risky gamble, according to Frequent Miler. Beyond individual tactics, the broader concern is transparency—how can consumers trust pricing models that seem to exploit specific demographics?

As this story develops, industry insiders are watching closely. The balance between revenue optimization and customer fairness hangs in the balance, and whether regulatory scrutiny or further public outcry will force a broader reversal remains to be seen. For solo travelers, staying informed through travel news and fare comparison tools is the best defense against these hidden surcharges.