Instead of booking a direct flight to their destination, skiplagging travellers book cheaper flights on longer routes that include a layover at their desired airport. They then deplane during the connection without completing the full journey.

Skiplagging, or "hidden-city ticketing," is a high-value travel strategy where you book a flight with a layover at your actual destination and simply walk away at the connecting city. For example, if you want to go to City B but a direct flight is $400, while a flight to City C with a layover in City B is only $250, you book the latter and exit at City B. This works because airline pricing models prioritize destination demand over distance. In 2026, this remains a premier way to find high-quality savings, but it comes with strict "pro-rules": you must never check a bag (as it will go to the final destination), you should only book one-way (as missing a leg cancels the rest of the ticket), and you should avoid linking your frequent flyer number to prevent the airline from flagging your account or revoking your miles for violating their "Contract of Carriage."