What is skip legging?

What is skip legging? 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.

Does Southwest ban skiplagging?

Skiplagging is not illegal. But most major airlines, including American, Delta Southwest and United, don't allow it.

Can I skip my first connecting flight?

Can I skip the first leg of my flight? No, you cannot skip the first leg of any itinerary. As stated above, after you've skipped a flight, all remaining flight legs on your itinerary will be canceled by the airline. It may seem silly, but this is a common mistake many infrequent travelers make.

Why Do airlines Hate hidden city ticketing?

It makes sense, because the practice saps revenue from them on two fronts: Not only do passengers underpay — potentially by hundreds of dollars per ticket — but the seat on the tossed leg also could have been sold to someone else. Most contracts of carriage from major airlines expressly forbid skiplagging as a result.

How many times has Skiplagged been sued?

Over the past decade, Skiplagged has survived lawsuits from United Airlines, in 2014, and Southwest Airlines, in 2021. The United case was dismissed and the Southwest case settled after lengthy legal battles. American is hoping that the third time's the charm.

Can you get a refund on Skiplagged?

Certain flights are refundable within 24 hrs from the moment of booking and that is noted at checkout. If you are not sure a refund will be issued, please email us at [email protected] with your confirmation code and we can give you information on where you can check on the status of your flight refund.

How do airlines lose money on Skiplagged flights?

Airlines claim that this means they lose money when passengers don't continue to their final destination. Virtually all airlines explicitly prohibit skiplagging in their terms of service with varying degrees of consequences if you are caught.

What is skiplagging and why is it bad?

Skiplagging, also known as hidden city ticketing, is when a customer books a connecting flight, but actually gets off at the layover airport rather than their final destination. The hack can save customers hundreds of dollars on their ticket — but can come at a heavy price if airlines find out.

Why is Skiplagged illegal?

Is skiplagging illegal? No, but it's against most airlines' contracts of carriage or the rules people must follow to fly with the airline. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines both put skiplagging first on their lists of prohibited booking practices.

Can I intentionally miss my flight?

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.

Who owns Skiplagged?

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.

Do airlines get mad at Skiplagged?

But skiplagging is controversial, and many airlines frown upon it — so much that it can be punishable by miles or status cancellations and even a lifetime ban from the airline.

Can I get off at my layover instead of destination?

“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.

Is it illegal to buy a flight and get off at layover?

And though hidden city ticketing may seem like a savvy way to save a few bucks, the practice is against the law. That's because it breaches the contract you agree to when you purchase a flight ticket, Griff said.

What does skiplagged do?

A travel website called Skiplagged.com allows people to find and book tickets for flights with hidden city ticketing. The posted savings generally range from $20 to $60 each way, like a Phoenix-Honolulu flight on Jan. 24, 2024, for $146, advertised for $47 less than a direct ticket.

Does Skiplagged charge a fee?

Does Skiplagged charge a fee? There is a service fee with each standard booking completed through Skiplagged, starting around $8.

How do you not get caught skiplagging?

What happens if you get caught using Skiplagged?

The practice can even result in airline-enforced penalties, such as adding those passengers to no-fly lists, asking them to buy full priced tickets to their true destinations or even removing frequent flier miles from their accounts. Even if airlines suspect you're skiplagging, punishments could be on the way.