Quantcast

Airlines' pricing shows mixed impact on solo passenger fares

Airport Workers Save the Day After Woman Loses Diamond from Her Engagement Ring in Baggage Carousel
I never talk to strangers on the plane. After my dad died, a passenger helped me talk about my grief.
American Airlines reveals new summer route: Miami → Rome
Budget UK airline launches huge sale with £29 flights to 475 holiday hotspots – but you’ll have to be quick
Delta Passengers Can Book a ‘Last Mile’ Private Jet Charter to Europe This Summer
Honeywell Runway Safety Technology Selected by Southwest Airlines for Fleetwide Installation
Southwest Airlines Adds Cockpit Alerts to Boost Runway Safety
This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
Summer of savings? New analysis shows airfare has dropped significantly - The Points Guy
Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Alaska Airlines' “Aviation Day” inspires future aviators
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
Airlines' pricing shows mixed impact on solo passenger fares
Research
Webp r50w15mrebstf1ofaqsexbv7njdo
Emily Thompson Credit cards editor | The Points Guy

Airlines are known for their complex pricing strategies aimed at maximizing profits. These include charging more for last-minute bookings and dynamically pricing seats based on demand. Historically, fares without a weekend or Saturday stopover were priced higher, but this trend has eased over time. Airlines continue to focus on extracting more money from business travelers who typically have larger budgets.

Leisure travelers are also spending more, particularly on premium products like extra-legroom or first-class seats. Delta Air Lines reports selling over three-quarters of its first-class seats.

A new trend has emerged where some airlines charge solo passengers more than those booking multiple seats. Thrifty Traveler discovered this trend last month, and further investigation revealed similar instances where one-way flights were priced higher for solo travelers compared to multipassenger bookings.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

To explore this issue further, Points Path and The Points Guy analyzed data from over 3,800 flights on a randomly selected day (July 18). They examined popular domestic routes in the U.S., including transcontinental routes such as New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as shorter routes like Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Airlines included in the study were Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

The analysis found that out of 3,817 route combinations, only 271 showed a price discrepancy where solo passengers paid more. For example, an American Airlines flight from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Charlotte Douglas International Airport cost $473 for one ticket versus $338 each when booked with another person.

Interestingly, in 235 cases, solo travelers paid less than two travelers booking together. On a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando International Airport with American Airlines, couples paid about $68 more per ticket than solo travelers.

Most searches indicated identical fares for solo travelers and couples. A trip from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Denver International Airport cost $216 per seat regardless of whether it was booked by a single traveler or a couple.

Delta informed TPG's Senior Aviation Reporter Sean Cudahy that such pricing tactics are not new but declined further comment. American and United were contacted for comments but have yet to respond.

In conclusion, while there is evidence that airlines sometimes charge solo passengers more than couples on certain flights, the opposite can also occur. In most cases, prices remain consistent between single and pair bookings. Travelers should compare prices for both scenarios when booking tickets as it may result in savings by making separate reservations for parties of two.

If faced with higher prices when booking alone, contacting the airline might yield a lower fare similar to what is offered for two-seat bookings.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

American Airlines, known for its extensive network of hub airports, once operated a significant hub at St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) in Missouri.

Jul 4, 2025

Qantas Airways has reported a cyber attack targeting one of its contact centers, leading to a potential data breach affecting up to six million customers.

Jul 4, 2025

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is experiencing a significant increase in airline travel.

Jul 4, 2025

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has reported continued interest in its E2 jet family, following a successful presentation at the Paris Air Show.

Jul 4, 2025

London Heathrow Airport is experiencing a busy schedule of Airbus A380 flights this July, with 21 daily departures on most days.

Jul 4, 2025

Earlier this year, an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Marrakesh diverted to Faro, Portugal, due to a passenger's disruptive behavior.

Jul 4, 2025