New research and analysis from Thrifty Traveler shows that the largest U.S. airlines have resumed charging higher fares for most one-way domestic flights than on roundtrip bookings.
Thrifty Traveler searched and analyzed 2,000 domestic flights, comparing prices for 1,000 one-way flights against 1,000 with a return added. That analysis found that the nation’s five largest airlines, namely Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United, were charging higher fares on more than 50 percent of one-way domestic flights—not half the cost of a roundtrip, which had been the norm for years. The higher fares on one-way bookings ranged from just a few dollars more each way to charging two to three times more for a one-way ticket than the total cost of a roundtrip.
These findings signal a stark change in how airlines set prices. Higher one-way fares largely disappeared from domestic flights years ago, leading more and more travelers to book flights separately for greater flexibility.
“Higher one-way fares for long international flights have been the norm forever, but that practice vanished from domestic flights long ago: You could almost always book a one-way flight within the U.S. for half the price of a roundtrip. Not anymore,” said Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler. “While the return to charging pricier one-way fares is likely designed to punish business travelers, this should serve as a warning to all American travelers: Booking your domestic flights separately may now be costing you dearly.”
While major U.S. airlines are now penalizing more than half of domestic one-way flights, the findings of this research go even deeper:
- Delta Air Lines has gone further than any U.S. carrier, charging higher fares on more than 66 percent of its domestic one-way flights, according to Thrifty Traveler’s analysis. No other airline charged higher one-way fares on more than 51 percent of flights.
- One-way domestic flights booked close to departure are far more likely to incur higher fares. One-way flights booked 60-plus days before departure were more expensive than the per-segment roundtrip cost in 47 percent of cases. Within 30 days of departure, that increased to 75 percent. And within the last two weeks, airlines were charging higher one-way fares on 91.1 percent of flights.
- Weekdays are critical. Frequent business travel days like Sundays, Thursdays and especially Fridays were the most likely to see one-way penalties, while flights departing Tuesdays and Wednesdays were the least likely to be penalized, at 35 percent or less.
Source: Thrifty Traveler
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