# Singles $X, Couples $(2X-Y) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586 "2011-01-22T18:16:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/1 "2011-01-22T18:16:35Z")
where Y is a discount most likely less than half of X. What is the rationale behind charging couples less than they would pay if they came separately? It’s definitely not a ladies’ night type of thing. It just seems to punish the singleton. (Next time have a girlfriend, loser.) Are the couples not going to come if they charge full price? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/2 "2011-01-22T18:24:49Z")
Because the place (bar/restaurant) will ultimately make more money on the extra quantity. It’s no different then going into a store and seeing something that says $5 each or 2/$9. And it’s not that the couples won’t come, it’s that if there’s no incentive to go, they might go somewhere else instead. But now, they might think “Hey, we should go there since we can get two martinis for $8 instead of $5 each.” ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/3 "2011-01-22T18:25:04Z")
Uh… for rooms? Dinner? WOW? Admission to the swinger’s club? ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/4 "2011-01-22T18:26:38Z")
If you’re talking about things that involve a hotel room, like vacation packages or cruise packages a couple doesn’t create twice as much expense as a single. The whole room has to be cleaned either way so it makes sense to give a cheaper rate than twice the single rate. I don’t know what else costs less than 2X for 2 people. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/5 "2011-01-22T19:01:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Uh… for rooms? Dinner? WOW? Admission to the swinger’s club? I’ve been to a few private parties where this was the case. Rented hall. BYOB. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/6 "2011-01-22T19:03:43Z")
I think it’s the opposite. Usually “rates are based on double occupancy” apply to cruises and resort hotels, because, well, usually it’s couples that do these things. Recognizing that there are occasional singles, and that these singles do consume a little bit less (but still occupy the same room), they’re given a discount off the couples price. It just looks like they’re being charged more when you consider the per person price. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/7 "2011-01-22T19:52:55Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > I’ve been to a few private parties where this was the case. Rented hall. BYOB. Here’s a helpful hint for life: If you have to pay to get in, it’s not a party. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/8 "2011-01-22T19:58:14Z")
The answer to this seems pretty simple: Two customers are better than one. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/9 "2011-01-22T21:24:53Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I think it’s the opposite. Usually “rates are based on double occupancy” apply to cruises and resort hotels, because, well, usually it’s couples that do these things. Recognizing that there are occasional singles, and that these singles do consume a little bit less (but still occupy the same room), they’re given a discount off the couples price. It just looks like they’re being charged more when you consider the per person price. This is especially a big deal on cruises since it’s the on-board spending and side trips that make the cruise lines profitable. Not the fares. One person to a cabin means half the revenue which is why surcharges for singles can be up to 100% of the double occupancy rate. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/10 "2011-01-22T22:15:10Z")
One person comes into a restaurant: 1 drink, 1 entree, no dessert, 1 table You have ten people at ten tables. Now have ten couples: 2 (or more) drinks, an appetizer, two entrees, a shared dessert…one table. The dessert and appetizer are nearly 100% profit, and you have double the entrees per 10 tables. It’s the though that your cramming twice the people in one space, they linger, and are more likely to buy more high profit items than a bookworm, there by himself. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-x-couples-2x-y/568586/11 "2011-01-22T22:54:34Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > The answer to this seems pretty simple: Two customers are better than one. Even more true for a bar or restaurant when a single customer driving herself won’t drink much, but a couple with one drinker and one designated driver will spend more money.