Quick Answer: The travel booking app Hopper has agreed to a $35 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, which alleged Hopper charged customers fees they never agreed to and misrepresented how its “Price Freeze” feature worked. The money is meant to go back to consumers as refunds — but there is no claim website yet. You don’t file today. Instead, dig up your old Hopper charges now, and watch for the FTC to contact affected customers directly.
A similar warning applies to payment apps: 46 states just settled with Cash App over fraud, and consumers there need to watch for legitimate notices too.
Expert Context: I’ve been helping people navigate settlements and refund claims since I launched GetOutOfDebt.org in 2008, and the single most common mistake I see is people missing money that was owed to them because they didn’t recognize the charge in the first place. A $15 “VIP support” fee buried in a travel booking two summers ago doesn’t stick in your memory — which is exactly why it’s worth going back to look now, before any refund process opens.
On July 2, 2026, the FTC announced that Hopper — the popular flight and hotel booking app — agreed to pay $35 million to settle allegations that it charged consumers fees without their consent and deceived them about its “Price Freeze” product. These are the FTC’s allegations, resolved by a settlement; Hopper agreed to the order to end the matter. What makes this one worth your attention isn’t outrage at one app — it’s that the fees the FTC describes are exactly the kind that slip onto a credit card statement and get paid without a second thought.
What the FTC Says Hopper Did
According to the FTC’s announcement, the complaint centered on two things:
- Fees that were pre-selected and hidden. The FTC alleged Hopper added “tip” and “VIP Support” charges that were already checked off and tucked behind a scroll on the checkout screen — even though the app promised “no hidden fees.” A charge you have to scroll to find and un-check isn’t one you meaningfully agreed to.
- A “Price Freeze” that didn’t work the way it was sold. Hopper’s Price Freeze let you pay a fee to lock in a fare. The FTC alleged Hopper failed to disclose the real restrictions: the freeze only protected the price up to a cap, only if the booking was still available, and — contrary to what customers expected — the freeze fee wasn’t applied toward the final booking cost.
To be precise about it: the FTC’s issue with Price Freeze wasn’t that the feature “broke.” It was that Hopper allegedly misrepresented the material limits on what the feature actually did. That’s a distinction that matters, and I’d rather be accurate than dramatic.
Here’s the Part That Trips People Up: You Can’t File Yet
This is where I need to slow you down. When you hear “$35 million settlement for consumers,” the instinct is to Google “Hopper settlement claim” and file. Don’t — and be careful what you click, because scam sites love the gap between a settlement announcement and an official claim process.
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As of early July 2026, the FTC has not opened a consumer claim portal for this settlement. The $35 million is intended for consumer redress, and the FTC typically administers these refunds directly — often mailing checks or issuing PayPal payments to people it can identify from company records, with no claim form required. You can track how the FTC handles refunds at its official refunds page.
Watch for this scam pattern: After any big settlement makes the news, fake “claim your refund” sites and emails appear within days, asking for your Social Security number, bank login, or a “processing fee.” The real FTC never charges you to get a refund and never asks for payment. If a site wants money or sensitive login details to “release” your Hopper refund, it’s a scam.
What To Actually Do This Week
You can’t file, but you’re not powerless. Here’s the useful work to do now:
- Search your records. Look through your email for “Hopper” receipts and scan your credit card and bank statements — especially around any flights or hotels you booked for summer 2025 or the 2025 holidays. Note the dates and amounts of any Hopper charges, particularly “tip,” “VIP Support,” or “Price Freeze” line items.
- Keep those records somewhere safe. If the FTC’s redress process ends up requiring any verification, or if you need to confirm a mailed check is legitimate, having your own transaction history ready makes it simple.
- Bookmark the official FTC refunds page — ftc.gov/refunds — and check back rather than trusting a link from an email or ad.
- Do nothing beyond that, for now. There’s no deadline pressure yet, no form to rush. This is a “get your file in order and wait for the real thing” situation, not an emergency.
The Bottom Line
If you booked travel through Hopper in the last couple of years, there may be money coming back to you — but the smartest thing you can do today isn’t to file, it’s to look. Find those old charges, write them down, and then be patient and skeptical while the real refund process takes shape. The money owed to you is worth five minutes in your email inbox. The scam sites hoping you’ll panic-click are worth nothing but your caution. You’ve got time on your side here — use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I claim my Hopper settlement refund?
As of early July 2026, there is no claim form to fill out — the FTC has not opened a consumer portal for this settlement yet. The FTC usually distributes refunds directly to identifiable customers, often without requiring a claim. Watch the official FTC refunds page for updates, and don’t trust any site charging a fee to “release” your refund.
Who is eligible for money from the Hopper settlement?
The settlement is intended to refund consumers the FTC says were charged undisclosed fees or misled about the Price Freeze feature. The exact eligibility and distribution details will be set by the FTC’s redress process, which hasn’t been published yet. Gathering your own Hopper transaction records now puts you in a good position.
How much money will I get from the Hopper settlement?
No per-person amount has been announced. The total pot is $35 million earmarked for consumer redress, but individual refunds depend on how many people are covered and how much each was allegedly overcharged. Don’t expect a specific figure until the FTC publishes its distribution plan.
Did Hopper admit wrongdoing?
Settlements like this typically resolve the FTC’s allegations without the company admitting the underlying claims. Hopper agreed to the $35 million order to end the matter. The conduct described is what the FTC alleged, not a court finding of fact.
How do I avoid Hopper refund scams?
The real FTC never charges a fee to send you a refund and never asks for your Social Security number or bank password to “process” it. If a website, email, or text asks for payment or sensitive login details to release your Hopper money, it’s a scam. Only trust ftc.gov/refunds.
The FTC keeps returning money to people who were shorted — the latest is $2.7 million going back to workers who used the Handy app, along with a warning about the refund scams that follow.
Dealing With Debt? Understanding your options is the first step. See how all your debt relief options compare — including ones most sites won’t tell you about. The Find Your Path quiz gives a recommendation based on your actual numbers, and the Scam-O-Meter checks any company’s complaint history before you sign. Federal Reserve research shows bankruptcy filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
Claiming money you are owed is one good day. What you do over the following year is what actually changes your position.
In the latest issue (Sep 4): You can stop an IRS interview cold — even after you’ve started answering
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — what I am watching in debt and money, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
