Can I ditch the last leg of my flight?

The airline will most likely cancel the remaining portion of your trip. So, if you have a return leg, it will be cancelled. If you're a frequent flier, and do this often, the airline could ban you, or take away your points. Your baggage is checked to the final destination.



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Skipping a connecting flight is generally not illegal, but it can have consequences. Airlines have rules that require passengers to follow the entire itinerary they've booked. If you skip a connecting flight, your remaining flights might be canceled, and you might not be eligible for a refund.

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No. According the fare rules of almost all airlines, they will cancel all subsequent legs if you miss the first one. You can do so, but you would have to call the airline to let them know or else they will cancel the entire flight.

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“Skiplagging — or 'hidden-city ticketing' — is booking a trip where you plan on getting off at a layover city and throwing away the last leg or legs of a flight,” explains Clint Henderson, an industry expert and a managing editor for the Points Guy.

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If you choose to miss your connection, let the airline know, as they will otherwise label you as a no-show and may cancel the rest of your itinerary.

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Airlines explicitly state what happens to no-shows in their contract of carriage, which is a legal document that explains the terms and conditions of the fare. In general, if you are a no-show for your flight, any subsequent flights on the same itinerary will be canceled without a refund.

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Airlines typically require that both legs of the journey be cancelled together in order to receive a refund or credit for future travel. However, if your plans have changed and you no longer need to take the return portion of your flight, some airlines may allow you to change it for a fee.

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To offer you the best price on your chosen route, we found that a round-trip ticket is actually cheaper than a one-way flight. However, the practice of “throwaway ticketing” — only using the first part of a round-trip ticket — is prohibited by a majority of airlines in their terms and conditions.

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Skiplagging is the practice of booking a connecting flight that is lower priced than a nonstop flight and not flying the final leg (or legs) of the flight. It is also known as hidden city ticketing, “Plain and simply, hidden city ticketing is a way to find a direct flight without the direct flight price tag.

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If you purposely choose to miss a connecting flight, or if you are otherwise responsible for missing it, the airline is under no obligation to pay you compensation or to rebook you. You can ask them to help you book a new flight, but this will have to come out of your own pocket.

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While, generally, the airline won't wait for connecting passengers, there might be some exceptions. If a flight is delayed, and there are many passengers who are connecting from this delayed flight onto the same connecting flight, the airline will hold the connecting flight for these passengers.

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“Hidden city ticketing,” or booking a flight with the intention of getting off at the layover city rather than the final destination, is perfectly legal, but there are some factors to consider before making it a habit.

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Skiplagging is not illegal. But most major airlines, including American, Delta Southwest and United, don't allow it. For one thing, airlines lose money on the practice, says Tim Huh, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business, who co-authored a study on skiplagging last year.

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While skiplagging can save travelers money, unless they're experienced — and bold — it may not be worth the trouble, according to Keyes. Downsides include: You can't check a bag. The airline can reroute your flight through a different city.

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It could even ban you from the airline. In short, skiplagging isn't breaking the law. However, if you're caught, airlines will not be happy that you are costing them money and could opt to try to penalize you or challenge you in court.

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How to Never Miss Your Connecting Flight: 6 Tips to Follow
  • Avoid Booking Several Different Airlines on One Itinerary. ...
  • Intentionally Book Long-ish Layovers. ...
  • Don't Forget About Customs. ...
  • Avoid the Final Flight of the Day. ...
  • Try to Book Seats in the Front of the Plane. ...
  • Download and Study a Map of the Airport.


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