Woman is stunned when United Airlines changes fare after she enters her grandmother’s age. She calls it a ‘senior tax’: ‘what’s going on with that’
A small detail during a flight search can sometimes change the entire booking experience. One traveler says she was shocked when a booking for her grandmother appeared to become more expensive after entering her age.
TikTok creator @misstaliamia shared a video showing what she says happened while trying to book a United Airlines flight. She questioned why the fare seemed to change after she entered her grandmother’s birth year, leading viewers to discuss how airline pricing systems handle different types of passengers.
The video has gained attention after the creator described the price difference as a possible “senior tax.” She questioned why an older traveler would see a higher fare.
That’s when things got confusing
In the video, the creator says she was booking a flight for her grandmother and initially saw a fare of about $752 before entering passenger information. She then entered her grandmother’s birth year, 1949, to indicate that the traveler was a senior. After adding that information, she says the website showed a new price of about $1,000.
“Based on the traveler information provided, the price of your ticket has changed and is shown in your cart,” the message on the screen read, according to the creator’s video. The creator questioned whether the price increase was connected to her grandmother’s age. “So United, you’re charging people for being older? You’re charging a senior tax,” she said in the video.
To compare the prices, she says she entered her own information instead. She claims the fare remained at about $752 after using her own birth date, which she says did not classify her as a senior. She ended the video by criticizing the airline and saying she would not use United for the booking. She asked, “How does this make sense @United Airlines? You are overcharging senior citizens just because of their age? This is AGE DISCRIMINATION & predatory pricing tactics.”
However, the video does not show why the fare changed. The price difference alone does not confirm that the increase was caused by the traveler’s age.
Airline fares can change based on multiple factors, including available ticket categories, fare rules, and inventory at the time of booking. Some airlines also offer senior fares that may only apply to specific flights or fare types.
Airline pricing has continued to confuse travelers, especially when different booking options come with unexpected costs or restrictions. One United customer previously questioned the limits attached to a $631 Basic Economy fare, while another traveler’s experience showed how flight prices can also change depending on factors like timing and demand.
One commenter suggested that the system may have attempted to apply a senior fare, but if that fare category was unavailable, it could have displayed a more expensive option instead. That explanation has not been confirmed by United Airlines.
Many viewers said they were surprised by the price difference shown in the video. “This is age discrimination and also violates the ADA,” one commenter wrote. Another person questioned whether the situation could be legal, writing, “This has to be illegal.”
Some viewers said they expected the price to decrease after entering a senior passenger’s information. “NOT ME THINKING THE PRICE WAS GOING TO DROP,” one commenter wrote.
Others shared possible explanations rather than blaming the airline. Some suggested that senior discounts may work differently from regular fares and that cheaper senior tickets could be limited. “Apparently United offers reduced fare senior tickets,” one commenter wrote, adding that the system may have been showing a different fare category.
Some commenters encouraged the creator to report the issue to the Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. The creator’s video shows a price difference after entering passenger information, but it remains unclear whether the change was related to the traveler’s age, a fare category, or another booking factor.
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