“No one from American, Delta, or United responded to requests for comment from Thrifty Traveler on this pricing strategy.”
United charges $269 for one passenger from O’Hare to Peoria and $181 each for two. American wants $422 solo and $266 each for a pair on the same flight. The cheaper fares require a second adult traveling with you. The target is business travelers on corporate cards, and the person flying alone to a family emergency pays the same penalty.