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In this case, one isn't just the loneliest number, it's also apparently the most expensive when it comes to flight tickets
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The team at travel site Thrifty Traveler spotted something interesting. After searching hundreds of flight fares, they found that all three of the nation's largest airlines
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Delta, American, and United, were charging solo travelers more than groups for the exact same trips
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Take this example. A solo passenger flying United from Chicago O'Hare to Peoria, Illinois in June
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pays $269 for an economy ticket. But add another passenger or even a few and the fare drops to
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around $181 per person for the same flight. American Airlines showed a similar trend
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A flight from Charlotte to Fort Myers, Florida in the fall rang up at $422 for one person
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but only 231 each when booked for two. The reason for this discrepancy is still unclear
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and while some solo flyers are frustrated, others are actually okay with it
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One user on X said, Am I the only business traveler that prefers this
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I'm a UA flyer and the extra PQP helps, referring to United's Mileage Plus program
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Dynamic pricing algorithms could be to blame with software that automatically adjusts fares based on demand
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availability or booking patterns. So far, no airline has issued a public statement or responded
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to Thrifty Traveler's request for comment. But by Friday, Thrifty Traveler confirmed Delta
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quietly removed fares that appeared to penalize those solo travelers. With Straight Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more