FTC did not request ‘surveillance pricing’ information from Charlotte’s largest air carrier

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Federal Trade Commission did not request the same pricing information from American Airlines that it ordered from Delta, United Airlines and JetBlue as part of an inquiry into surveillance pricing.

The FTC ordered nine major airlines, ride-sharing companies and food delivery firms to turn over information related to how they set prices. The agency wants to determine how common “surveillance pricing” is.

“Consumers deserve to know whether companies use their web surfing habits or other personal data to estimate the highest price they can charge each consumer,” FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said.

What the FTC ordered

The FTC ordered Delta, United and JetBlue to turn over information to determine whether the airlines are using customer data and artificial intelligence to conduct surveillance pricing. American Airlines is the largest airline in Charlotte.

Charlotte fares

Of the 100 busiest airports in the country, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is the third most expensive to fly out of, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The average fare was $531.83 in the second quarter of 2026.

American Airlines operates roughly 90% of the flights out of Charlotte.

Why American was not included

A source with information about the FTC’s surveillance pricing inquiry told WBTV the agency is taking “a representative sample from companies in each of the industries” without trying to overload the amount of information it receives.

A spokesperson for American Airlines said: “American does not engage in surveillance pricing. We do not use personal information about a customer on an individualized basis to deliver a fare and we have shared that fact with Congressional leaders.”

Congressional scrutiny

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, has also requested this information from airlines, including American. Pallone has taken the lead in examining airlines and surveillance pricing and with Democrats taking control of Congress in 2027, it’s possible scrutiny of airline pricing could only increase.