We love a solo Disney trip. You get to eat where you want, ride what you want, and rope drop until your feet give out without having to wait on anyone else. But if you’re planning to take to the skies for your solo Disney adventure, there’s something happening in the airline world you’re going to want to know about — especially if you’ve been trying to save money on your flight.
Yep, it turns out flying solo might actually cost you more than flying with a friend.
What’s Going On?
A new report from Thrifty Traveler revealed a surprising (and kind of frustrating) trend: domestic airlines including Delta, United, and American have all been caught charging higher prices for solo flyers compared to those buying two tickets at once.
Wait, what? We know. That’s not how this is supposed to work.
According to the investigation, the pricing difference appeared when booking one ticket vs. two for the same flight — and the solo ticket was sometimes way more expensive.
Here’s one of the examples that really stood out: a one-way United Airlines flight from Chicago to Asheville was priced at $223 for a single traveler. But when two tickets were booked at the same time? The total dropped to $207 — for both people. That means the solo traveler would be paying more than two people flying together.
It sounds like a glitch, but it’s not. It’s been found across multiple airlines, and though it’s not happening on every route, it’s been consistent enough that travel experts are raising red flags.
What This Means for Disney Travelers
This is especially important if you’re headed to Walt Disney World or Disneyland by yourself — something more and more guests are doing these days. Whether you’re a Disney adult taking a solo weekend to Food & Wine, or just someone who enjoys the parks without the group chaos, this kind of travel trend directly affects you.
If you’re flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) or John Wayne Airport (SNA) for your next solo Disney getaway, you might be getting hit with these higher airfare prices without realizing it.
And here’s the catch — this trend is showing up most often on one-way domestic flights, which are popular among Disney fans who like to build flexible travel schedules around park reservations, special events, or Genie+ return times.
Airlines Are Being Quiet About It
The report points out that some of these pricing changes have been hidden in fare rules — meaning they’re baked into the system but not explained during checkout. So if you’ve ever thought your solo flight price seemed a little high, this might be why.
Kyle Potter, Executive Editor of Thrifty Traveler, said in an interview that this trend is unusual, explaining: “It’s usually the reverse. You expect discounts for groups or families, not penalizing people flying alone.”
Has It Been Fixed?
Kind of. Since the report was published, at least two of the airlines have walked back these pricing differences on certain flights. But that doesn’t mean it won’t continue to happen — especially if demand spikes for popular routes during Disney’s busiest seasons (looking at you, October through January).
The “solo flyer tax” isn’t showing up on international flights for now — it’s mostly a domestic issue. But if you’re flying in from another city in the U.S. to hit the parks, it’s a good idea to double-check your prices before hitting that “book now” button.
How to Protect Yourself (and Your Travel Budget)
If you’re planning a solo trip to Disney — and we highly recommend it, by the way — here are a few ways to avoid getting caught by this price gap:
-
Try booking for two passengers to compare pricing. You can cancel the second ticket if needed, but you’ll at least see if you’re being upcharged.
-
Stick with round-trip flights when possible. Most of the pricing weirdness showed up on one-way flights.
-
Use price comparison tools like Google Flights, Hopper, or Skyscanner to track what a fair price should be for your route.
-
Book during off-peak days and times when demand (and therefore algorithmic weirdness) is likely to be lower.
Traveling solo to Disney is one of our favorite ways to experience the parks — you’ll never feel alone with all that magic around you. But this recent airline pricing issue is something every solo flyer should know about.
You’ve got enough to plan between Lightning Lane Multi Passes, dining reservations, and which festival booth you’re eating from next. The last thing you need is to be surprised by a random fee for traveling alone.
We’ll keep an eye on this trend and let you know if it becomes a bigger problem. In the meantime, be smart about how you book your flights — because even a solo trip shouldn’t come with a penalty.
