via TechCrunch
Travel App Hopper to Pay $35 Million in FTC Settlement Over ‘Unfair’ Hidden Fees
Hopper, the travel app renowned for its AI-driven flight and hotel price predictions, has agreed to a $35 million settlement following a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in July 2026. The lawsuit accused the company of misleading users by imposing hidden fees and misrepresenting the total costs of its services.
## Allegations of Deceptive Practices
The FTC alleged that Hopper deceived consumers regarding the benefits of its “VIP Support” and “Price Freeze” services. Many users were led to believe that these features would enhance their booking experience, only to encounter additional costs and limited access to customer support.
Additionally, the FTC found that users were charged for optional “Tip” and VIP Support fees, which were often pre-selected and hidden within the app’s interface. These charges typically became visible only when users scrolled down on the app screen, leading many to believe they had not consented to them.
## Dark Patterns and Junk Fees
This case highlights regulators’ increasing focus on “dark patterns”—interface designs that manipulate users into making choices they might not otherwise make. Dark patterns can hide charges, pre-select optional add-ons, or obscure the true cost of a service. The Hopper settlement follows similar FTC actions against companies like Match ($14 million settlement in 2025), StubHub ($10 million settlement in April 2026), neobank Dave, Fortnite, and Amazon.
## Price Freeze Misrepresentations
The allegations also extend to Hopper’s “Price Freeze” or “Hold the Room” offerings. While Hopper claimed these services would allow consumers to hold a travel booking price for a designated period, the FTC noted that the app failed to clearly communicate restrictions. For instance, the Price Freeze only secures the rate up to a specific limit and only if the booking remains available.
## Settlement Terms and Impact
The $35 million settlement is designated for “consumer redress,” with Hopper now prohibited from misrepresenting any pricing structures. The company must clearly disclose all fees, ensuring that users are fully aware of the total cost of any transaction before completing their bookings.
## Broader Regulatory Context
Before the Hopper case, the FTC’s most recent crackdown on “junk fees” was its 2026 settlement with StubHub, which paid $10 million to customers and changed its ticket price displays. Similarly, Booking Holdings settled for $9.5 million after a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which claimed it misled customers by showing low room rates while hiding fees until checkout.
Hopper launched its travel app in 2014 and has since surpassed 120 million downloads.