### Report Finds Solo Flyers Paying Significantly More on Domestic Routes

Recent findings by Thrifty Traveler reveal that solo travelers may be spending considerably more on domestic flights with airlines such as American, Delta, and United when compared to those flying in groups. This trend has captured attention due to significant price discrepancies ranging from 40% to almost double the cost for lone passengers on select routes.

The phenomenon is not completely new; it's widely known that airlines have a complex fare structure. Once a certain fare class is sold out, ticket prices move to a higher fare class. This is often why searching for multiple tickets can sometimes actually yield a lower per-ticket price compared to a single ticket. However, the current trend shows unprecedented levels of price disparity.

Thrifty Traveler's investigation began with Delta Airlines, where a single economy ticket from Minneapolis to Miami cost about 45% more than the price for two tickets on the same flight. Surprisingly, the fare rules for the lower-priced seats stipulated that at least two passengers must be traveling to qualify for the reduced rate.

United Airlines exhibited similar pricing behaviors. A solo ticket on a flight between Chicago and Peoria, Illinois, was about 40% more expensive than the same seat for two or more travelers. Interestingly, adding more passengers also unlocked cheaper basic economy fares that were not available for single-seat searches.

American Airlines displayed the most notable differences. On a route between Charlotte and Fort Myers, Florida, two passengers were charged nearly half the ticket price per person when compared to a solo traveler. Similar to United, American Airlines' fare for two or more passengers included lower prices for basic economy fares that weren't accessible to individuals traveling alone.

In an effort to verify these findings, searches were conducted using Google Flights on different domestic routes outlined by Thrifty Traveler. For example, on a route from Chicago to Lexington, Kentucky, the data showed that solo travelers were charged over 50% more than group travelers for more than 60 surveyed dates.

It's important to note that this fare discrepancy appears to affect only certain domestic routes and does not extend to international flights or award ticket pricing. Furthermore, the per-passenger cost in miles remains consistent regardless of the number of tickets booked.

The implications of these findings suggest that airlines are fine-tuning their pricing models to maximize revenue by potentially charging business travelers—who often travel solo and are less price-sensitive—more for their tickets. As these practices draw more scrutiny, it will be interesting to observe whether such significant price spreads will continue to increase or remain isolated incidents.