Travel App Hopper to Pay $35M FTC Settlement for Hidden Booking Fees
STUB•Hopper will pay a $35M FTC settlement over allegations of charging hidden booking fees on millions of transactions. The agreement mandates full upfront disclosure of service fees and subjects Hopper to two years of regulatory monitoring for deceptive practices.
1. Settlement Agreement
On July 2, 2026, Hopper agreed to pay a $35 million civil penalty to the FTC to resolve allegations it charged undisclosed service fees to customers booking travel through its app. The settlement prohibits the company from adding fees without clear, upfront disclosure during the checkout process.
2. Hidden Fees Period and Scope
The FTC investigation found Hopper levied service fees ranging from $2 to $30 on hotel and flight bookings between 2019 and 2025 without adequate visibility to users. These hidden fees affected millions of transactions and only appeared at the final payment stage.
3. Compliance and Monitoring Requirements
Under the settlement terms, Hopper must implement enhanced fee-disclosure protocols across its app and website interfaces. The company will undergo two years of FTC compliance monitoring and must submit periodic reports detailing its fee practices.
4. Business Implications
The $35 million outlay and heightened regulatory scrutiny could pressure Hopper’s margins and customer trust in the near term. Observers will watch whether transparent pricing improves long-term loyalty or depresses short-term booking volumes.
