There is no claim form yet. The $35 million will fund consumer redress the FTC administers, so eligible Hopper users do not need to do anything right now — watch for an FTC refund notice.
What Is This About?
On July 2, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced that the companies behind the Hopper travel app agreed to pay $35 million to settle allegations that they unfairly charged consumers hidden fees and misrepresented the total prices consumers would pay. The FTC named Hopper Inc., the Canadian company that operates the app, and its Massachusetts-based subsidiary Hopper (USA) Inc. The Commission voted 2-0 to file the complaint and a stipulated proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.Hopper is a travel-booking app known for its price-prediction tools for flights and hotels. According to the FTC, when a consumer went to book, the app displayed a screen with a total price and a "Swipe to Book" button that did not adequately disclose that Hopper would add charges for "Tip" and "VIP Support" fees. The FTC alleges those "optional" fees were pre-selected and hidden on a portion of the screen that only appeared if the consumer scrolled down — so many users paid fees they never knowingly agreed to. Hopper resolved the matter through a stipulated order and the allegations were not decided by a court.
The "Tip" and "VIP Support" Fees
The FTC's complaint focuses on two charges Hopper described as optional. Until mid-2023, the agency says, a consumer ready to complete a booking saw a total price and a "Swipe to Book" button, but the app added "Tip" and "VIP Support" fees that were pre-checked and tucked below the fold — visible only if the user scrolled down. The result, according to the FTC, is that consumers were charged without meaningfully consenting to those add-ons.The complaint also alleges Hopper misrepresented what VIP Support actually delivered. Hopper told consumers that VIP Support would let them reach customer service "instantly" or within a few minutes, the FTC says, when that was not the experience many users received. Combining hidden, pre-selected charges with overstated benefits is the kind of "dark pattern" design regulators have increasingly targeted — interface choices that steer people into paying for things they did not intend to buy.
What the Proposed Order Requires
Under the proposed order, Hopper must pay $35 million, which the FTC says will be used for consumer redress. Beyond the money, the order prohibits Hopper from misrepresenting any fees and requires the company to clearly and conspicuously disclose fees and charges, the total price of any goods or services, and the final amount a consumer will pay before the transaction is completed.The FTC brought the case under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bars unfair or deceptive practices. For short-term lodging bookings made since May 12, 2025, the complaint also invokes the FTC's Unfair or Deceptive Fees Rule — the "junk fees" rule that requires businesses to show the true total price, including mandatory fees, up front. A federal court must still approve the stipulated order before it takes effect.
Is There Money for Consumers?
Eventually, possibly — but not through a claim form that exists today. The $35 million is earmarked for consumer redress, and the FTC decides how a redress program is structured and who qualifies. In past FTC cases, the agency has either mailed refund checks to identifiable consumers using company records or opened an online claim process, and it typically announces the details months after a settlement is finalized. No eligibility list, per-person amount, or filing deadline has been announced for Hopper.For now, the practical takeaway for Hopper users is simple: there is nothing to file and no deadline to meet. If the FTC opens a refund program, it will post the details on ftc.gov and, where it has contact information, reach out to eligible consumers directly. Be cautious of anyone who claims you must pay a fee or hand over bank details to "release" a Hopper refund — the FTC never charges to send refunds. We will update this page when a redress process is announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a claim form for the Hopper FTC settlement?
Not yet. Under the proposed order, Hopper will pay $35 million that the FTC says will be used for consumer redress, but the FTC has not announced a refund process, eligibility list, or claim form. Consumers do not need to do anything right now. If the FTC opens a refund program, it will contact eligible consumers or post details on ftc.gov.
What did the FTC accuse Hopper of doing?
The FTC alleges Hopper charged consumers "Tip" and "VIP Support" fees that it called optional but pre-selected and hid on a "Swipe to Book" screen that showed a total price — so many users paid fees they never agreed to. The complaint also alleges Hopper misrepresented VIP Support, telling consumers they could reach customer service "instantly" or within minutes. Hopper resolved the matter through a stipulated order; the allegations were not adjudicated.
How much is the settlement and who gets the money?
Hopper agreed to pay $35 million, which the FTC says will be used for consumer redress. How that money is distributed — and to which consumers — depends on a redress plan the FTC administers. No per-person amount has been announced.
Which company is affected by the settlement?
The FTC's action names Hopper Inc., the Canadian company that operates the Hopper travel app, and its Massachusetts-based subsidiary Hopper (USA) Inc. The Commission voted 2-0 to file the complaint and stipulated proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Sources
- FTC Press Release — Travel App Hopper to Pay $35 Million to Settle FTC Allegations (July 2, 2026)
- FTC Cases and Proceedings — Bureau of Consumer Protection
- FTC — Recent Cases Resulting in Refunds (how FTC redress works)
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