Airlines have intensified efforts to target travelers using the controversial money-saving travel hack known as skiplagging.
Key Takeaways
- Airlines are taking action against skiplagging due to its violation of terms and conditions.
- Skiplagging allows travelers to save up to 50% by skipping the final leg of a flight.
- Consequences for skiplagging include potential bans, no-fly list placements, and lawsuits.
- Airlines view skiplagging as a contract breach that can lead to operational challenges like empty seats and baggage issues.
- American Airlines and others are employing analytics to monitor and curb this practice.
Understanding Skiplagging
Skiplagging, or hidden city ticketing, involves booking a journey with a layover where the traveler intends to actually disembark, avoiding the final leg of the trip. While travelers might delight in saving costs—sometimes up to 50%—airlines are taking a tougher stance against this strategy. Carriers argue it’s a breach of contract and blocks seats for honest, fare-paying passengers.
The method complicates luggage logistics because checked bags go to the ticketed endpoint, not the layover spot. This can result in inconveniences, noting that many travelers prefer to carry only hand luggage to bypass this issue. This very method remains alluring, especially amid rising flight costs.
How Skiplagging Works And Why It Is Frustrating Airlines via @forbes https://t.co/F4OqVa8JuJ
— Skiplagged | Travel ✈️ (@Skiplagged) November 28, 2024
Airlines’ Response and Traveler Warnings
Airlines, including American Airlines, are using advanced analytics to detect and prevent skiplagging. They’ve outlined serious consequences—violators could find themselves banned, on no-fly lists, and even facing lawsuits. Liv Kelly notes that ‘guilty’ travelers might be met with legal action from airlines.
A flight attendant identified only as Tori, has taken to TikTok to dissuade travelers from using skiplagging as a cost-saving tool. She shared instances of passengers who faced dire consequences for dodging the second leg of their flights, emphasizing the risk of heavier repercussions for repeat offenders. One of her videos recounted the story of a friend who had been banned from a major US airline after abandoning the second half of her trip
Alternative Cost-Saving Strategies
Given the risks, travel experts suggest alternative strategies. Booking flights well in advance, using flight comparison tools, and setting notifications for fare changes remain effective means of saving money without skiplagging’s potential drawbacks. In essence, these alternatives align with ethical travel practices while still offering monetary benefits.
As travelers continue to seek budget-friendly options, understanding the balance between innovation and compliance becomes key. While skiplagging offers savings, the associated risks prompt a reevaluation of its viability in the long term.
