FTC’s $35 Million Hopper Settlement Signals Continued Crackdown on Hidden Fees — With Echoes in Auto Retail
The Federal Trade Commission announced on July 2, 2026, that travel-booking app Hopper has agreed to pay $35 million to resolve allegations that it charged consumers hidden fees despite marketing itself as a “no hidden fees” service. The settlement is the latest in a string of federal actions targeting so-called “junk fees” — charges that are omitted or buried until late in a transaction — and reinforces a regulatory throughline that now spans travel, ticketing, lodging, and auto sales.







