How airlines price fares is complicated. Gone are the days of regulation and fixed prices. Now, fares fluctuate based on many factors, including demand, routing and booking window.
There have long been instances where, if buying two tickets, the cost is more than double the price of a single ticket. For example, one of those tickets may be the last one available in the cheapest fare bucket.
But until recently, travelers didn’t have to worry about one ticket costing more than half the cost of two. That changed in late May as reports emerged that some U.S. airlines were charging higher fares for solo passengers on some itineraries.
Just how often — and by how much — are solo travelers paying a premium?
To answer this question, we partnered with Points Path to analyze data from more than 3,800 flights. The takeaway: Yes, solo travelers are sometimes paying more, but not nearly as much (or as often) as you might fear.
Still, the optics aren’t great. And while it may seem unfair, there are reasons airlines might price fares this way. Solo travelers, on average, may be more price-tolerant and less likely to pay for add-ons like seat selection or checked bags. That makes them less profitable per ticket — and potentially a target for higher base fares.
Whether you’re a frequent solo traveler or are just considering your first solo trip, here are some resources to help ensure a fun trip that you (hopefully) aren’t paying too much for:
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