{"id":26318,"date":"2023-07-14T20:30:16","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T20:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/14\/skiplagging-why-this-travel-hack-comes-with-big-risks-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2023-07-14T20:30:16","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T20:30:16","slug":"skiplagging-why-this-travel-hack-comes-with-big-risks-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/14\/skiplagging-why-this-travel-hack-comes-with-big-risks-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Skiplagging: Why this travel hack comes with big risks – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\u201cSkiplagging\u201d is a hot topic in travel right now. So what exactly is this and is it worth the risk?<\/p>\n

This week, American Airlines temporarily detained<\/a> a U.S. teenager after he allegedly used a flight hacking technique known as skiplagging (also known as \u201chidden city ticketing\u201d) to book a cheaper flight to his destination.<\/p>\n

According to Carolina’s Queen City News<\/a>, the teenager was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, but he planned to disembark during a layover in Charlotte. His North Carolina driver’s license reportedly raised red flags for gate agents about his true final destination, so he was reportedly escorted to a secure area where he was questioned. His ticket was ultimately canceled, and his family was forced to pay for a new, more expensive flight for him to get home.<\/p>\n

With that cautionary tale in mind, here\u2019s a breakdown of what skiplagging is \u2014 and why the risks might not be worth the potential rewards.<\/p>\n

Related: Nonstop vs. direct flights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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What is skiplagging?<\/h2>\n

Broadly speaking, skiplagging is the art of exploiting certain flight routes by booking a multistop flight where one of the layovers is your intended destination rather than booking a more expensive ticket directly to that destination. Upon reaching the stopover airport, you end your trip there by just getting off the plane and walking away, skipping the following legs of the itinerary. You may have heard of the website Skiplagged.com which allows regular folks to book these tickets.<\/p>\n

For example, a passenger might book a flight between New York and Las Vegas with a layover in Dallas. In this instance, Dallas would be the intended destination and where the passenger would vacate, cutting the journey short and not continuing to Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

So, why would a passenger do this?<\/p>\n

It’s counterintuitive, but in certain instances, this controversial tactic can bring notable cash savings. This is because flight pricing doesn\u2019t always follow the logical assumption that a longer trip should be more expensive. Instead, the cost of a journey is often based on how popular the destination or route is \u2014 especially if it’s nonstop \u2014 and the price at which the airlines have decided people will buy tickets.<\/p>\n

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At face value, skiplagging also known as hidden city ticketing may seem like a smart strategy to save money while taking advantage of illogical airfare pricing, but it is not without risk.<\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve seen this week, the money saved might not be worth it if you get caught \u2014 a real risk as some airlines crack down on the practice as they increasingly employ technology to help identify suspicious itineraries.<\/p>\n

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Is skiplagging illegal?<\/h2>\n

Skiplagging is technically legal, but this doesn\u2019t mean it doesn’t bring potential risks.<\/p>\n

You may not face criminal charges for skiplagging or hidden city ticketing, but it’s a violation of most airline policies. If an airline catches you skiplagging, in most scenarios it will punish you as per the terms and conditions of the ticket you\u2019re flying on. The punishments could range from financial penalties to restrictions on future booked travel.<\/p>\n

In some instances, skiplagging passengers have been taken to court by the airline. In 2019, Lufthansa<\/a> sued a passenger after they paid 657 euros for a business-class ticket from Oslo to Seattle via Frankfurt.<\/p>\n

On the return flight, the passenger skipped the Oslo leg, flying on from Frankfurt to Berlin on a different ticket instead. Lufthansa claimed the ticket should have cost 2,769 euros and demanded a repayment of 2,112 euros plus interest.<\/p>\n

The court ultimately sided with the passenger but, notably, agreed the airline’s case for suing was valid. Lufthansa lost due to the technical details of the new price calculation, which the court viewed as lacking transparency. The case could have easily gone the other way. Courts in Spain have reached similar conclusions in cases involving Iberia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This current precedent puts the law in favor of the passenger. However, it\u2019s not clear cut, and court battles can see ramped-up legal fees that most passengers can\u2019t afford to challenge. Moreover, even if you aren’t breaking the law, the airline can decide it doesn’t wish to serve you as a passenger any longer, wipe out your frequent flyer accounts. You could forfeit all your hard-earned points.<\/p>\n

It could even ban you from the airline.<\/p>\n

In short, skiplagging isn\u2019t 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. Regardless of how you\u2019d fare in a court challenge, getting to that point could be both lengthy and costly.<\/p>\n

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Can you save money by skiplagging, and is it worth it?<\/h2>\n

In certain instances, you can save considerable amounts by skiplagging, but it won\u2019t be possible for all routes, and the amount you save depends on the flight.<\/p>\n

For example, TPG found you could save $659 by using skiplagging to fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK<\/a>) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In this example, booking a one-way flight from JFK with a final destination of London City Airport (LCY<\/a>) and a layover at AMS would cost $458.<\/p>\n

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