Why is Skiplagged banned?

Skiplagging is not illegal, but major airlines are trying to crack down on the practice. Last month, American Airlines filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged, a website that offers cheaper airfares for passengers, claiming their practices are “deceptive and abusive,” NPR reported.



People Also Ask

The teenager's father, Hunter Parsons, told Insider that the airline barred his son from flying with them for three years because he was planning to use a $150 skiplagging ticket — a practice prohibited by many airlines, including American.

MORE DETAILS

American Airlines accuses the company Skiplagged of illegally selling its tickets to customers and using “unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices” in the process. The lawsuit comes just a few weeks after American Airlines made national headlines when it caught a teen apparently planning to use the tactic.

MORE DETAILS

She continued: “While a one-off occurrence could go unnoticed, any travelers that are repeat offenders run the risk of being flagged in the airline's system and potentially banned from flying with the airline in the future.”

MORE DETAILS

Even though the airlines didn't win their legal battle, they can still punish those who engage (or perceive to engage) in skiplagging—and they will.

MORE DETAILS

You won't get arrested or face legal action from authorities for using this strategy. But, most airlines ban the practice in their terms and conditions, which everyone agrees to when they purchase a ticket. And they have consequences for passengers who engage in skiplagging.

MORE DETAILS

The good news is that hidden city ticketing isn't illegal. The bad news is that you can get in trouble with airlines for hidden city ticketing, as it does violate the contract of carriage you agree to when booking a ticket.

MORE DETAILS

Skiplagging or hidden-city flying is where you get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Orlando might be $250, but a similar flight from New York to Dallas with a layover in Orlando might be $130.

MORE DETAILS

Skiplagged founder Aktarer Zaman identified a problem -- the seeming arbitrary nature of airfares -- and attacked it. Now United and Orbitz may eat him for lunch. Aktarer Zaman, the 22-year-old Skiplagged founder who got sued by Orbitz and United, has a B.S.

MORE DETAILS

To do this, he advises checking in online or via an app, instead of going to a kiosk at the airport. Then, unless it is something urgent, it's better to 'avoid speaking to airline staff' for the entirety of the journey.

MORE DETAILS

While not illegal, intentionally skipping segments on an itinerary does almost always violates airlines' contracts of carriage. For example, American's contract of carriage says this: Reservations made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules are prohibited.

MORE DETAILS

Hidden-city ticketing can be harmful to other travelers… Over time, airlines may need to further increase prices. Because airlines often wait for passengers who are late for connecting flights, travelers who use hidden-city ticketing can even cause flight delays and muddle the travel plans of others.

MORE DETAILS

No, you cannot board the flight from a stopover instead of from your departure airport. Once you don't show up on time to board at the departure airport, you would be declared a no-show. A better option would be to call up the airline and get your ticket changed to reflect your new desired flight plan.

MORE DETAILS

If you want to fly for free ... First, consider where you'll travel and on what airlines. Next, sign up for loyalty programs, then look at credit card welcome bonuses and other ways to earn miles. Even if you don't make a lot of credit card charges, you can slowly work toward low-cost or nearly free airline tickets.

MORE DETAILS

Skiplagged searches for the route you want to take and then looks to see if there are cheaper options on the same route by booking an onward flight. The example Skiplagged uses is a flight from Atlanta to Orlando costing $250, but a flight from Atlanta through Orlando to Dallas costing $130.

MORE DETAILS

A dummy ticket looks like a regular airline ticket with valid PNR/ booking code or booking reference number.

MORE DETAILS

“They may flag your name in their reservation system,” Harteveldt said. “And they may — silently — monitor your future bookings.” Skiplagging isn't illegal, but it is banned by most major airlines.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS