Hopper to – Travel app Hopper has agreed to pay a $35 million settlement to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission after the agency alleged the company used dark patterns to mislead users about total costs. The FTC also said features such as “VIP Support,” “Price Freeze,” and
A traveler taps through Hopper expecting an easier checkout. Then the fees start showing up—only once the screen is scrolled far enough to reveal what looked, in the moment, like optional choices.
That mismatch between expectation and reality is at the heart of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s case against Hopper, the travel app known for AI-driven flight and hotel price predictions. Hopper has agreed to a $35 million settlement after a lawsuit accused the company of misleading users by imposing hidden fees and misrepresenting the total cost of its services.
The FTC’s complaint ties the dispute to “dark patterns”: interface designs that steer people into decisions they might not make if they clearly understood the price. The agency pointed to practices including hiding charges. pre-selecting add-ons. and making it difficult to see the true cost upfront—an enforcement theme it has used in other cases as well.
In Hopper’s case, the FTC alleged the company deceived consumers about the benefits of two services: “VIP Support” and “Price Freeze.” The agency said many users believed these features would improve their booking experience, only to run into extra charges and reduced access to customer support.
The FTC also alleged that users were charged “Tip” and VIP Support fees that were presented as optional. Yet the fees were often pre-selected inside the app, and the agency said they were effectively hidden within Hopper’s interface—visible only after users scrolled down on the app screen.
And then there was “Price Freeze. ” also described in the app as “Hold the Room.” Hopper’s pitch. according to the FTC. was that consumers could hold a travel booking price for a designated period. The agency said the app didn’t clearly communicate restrictions tied to that offer. Specifically. the Price Freeze would only secure the rate up to a specific limit and only if the booking remained available.
Under the settlement, the $35 million is set aside for “consumer redress.” Hopper is also prohibited from misrepresenting pricing structures. The company is required to clearly disclose all fees so users can understand the total cost before completing bookings.
Hopper. in a statement provided for the update to the case. said it chose to settle because it believes the claims are no longer relevant. “We decided to settle because the claims at issue are outdated and have no bearing on our business. ” a company spokesperson said. “Pursuing years of litigation over outdated. ticky-tacky issues would distract us from our current customers and partners… The settlement amount does not reflect the merit of the claims. It reflects our decision to move forward.”.
The spokesperson added that. after reviewing millions of company files dating back to 2021. the FTC’s allegations centered on “primarily outdated display practices implemented during the pandemic. limited to the Hopper app. and discontinued by Hopper in mid-2023. prior to the start of the FTC’s inquiry.”.
This isn’t Hopper’s first moment in the spotlight of the FTC’s broader campaign against junk fees. The agency’s most recent crackdown before this case included a dispute with StubHub. where the company agreed to pay $10 million to customers and change its ticket price displays. Booking Holdings settled for $9.5 million after a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that accused it of showing low room rates while hiding important fees until checkout.
Hopper launched its travel app in 2014, and the company surpassed 120 million lifetime downloads worldwide in 2024.
For users, the settlement lands in the same place where the friction first appeared: the final price. The FTC’s complaint suggests that, without clearer upfront disclosure, people can’t make an informed choice—even when the app is designed to help them move quickly toward the booking they want.
Hopper FTC settlement hidden fees dark patterns junk fees travel app VIP Support Price Freeze Price Freeze Hold the Room consumer redress Tip fees
So basically they trick you and then act surprised when the FTC knocks? lol.
I always thought those “optional” fees were a joke. Like you scroll and suddenly it’s $20 more. Glad someone’s finally doing something but also does this mean prices go down?
Wait, I didn’t know Hopper had “AI price predictions” AND still pulls this dark pattern stuff. Isn’t that the whole point—predict the best price, not hide the cost after you already tapped book? Also the “tip” thing sounds like they should be charging the customer service fee separately, not sneaking it in.
This is why I just book direct now. But I’m confused because every travel app does the same “you’ll see more later” thing, right? Like is the FTC even going after the airlines too or just the app company? $35M settlement seems huge, but they probably recoup it in like a day with “VIP support” charging you while you’re trying to freeze a price or whatever.