More travelers are flying than ever — and getting much more creative with money-saving airline hacks
AAA projects that 4.69 million people will travel by plane this Thanksgiving week — a 2.5% increase from pre-Covid numbers in 2019.
A few of those individuals are finding loopholes to get lower-priced flights, and airlines are cracking down on it.
Skiplagging, also often known as hidden-city ticketing or throwaway ticketing, is a booking workaround that saves customers money by issuing tickets with a final destination that they don’t have any intention of visiting. Why? Since it’s cheaper.
For a wide range of reasons, some destination cities have higher airfare than others. As a substitute, skiplaggers will reap the benefits of a lower-priced flight to a different far-flung city, but their intended destination is one in all the connecting cities, not the plane’s final destination.
Airlines aren’t too comfortable about that.
“For instance, say you desired to fly from Orlando to Recent York. You realize, see the town, but the worth tag is a bit bit out of budget. Perhaps it’s $150,” Katy Nastro from Going.com explained to The National Desk. “Nonetheless, you found a flight from Orlando to Richmond via Recent York and that’s only $88, which is a fairly nice savings.”
On this scenario, the passenger is speculated to stay on that flight path and proceed on to Richmond — but they never complete the trip.
“Nonetheless you bought off in Recent York and also you paid a fraction of the worth for that direct flight price, but you obtain a connecting flight,” Nastro said. “So, in essence, it’s principally like you obtain a direct flight without the direct flight cost.”
An increasing number of people have change into aware of the tactic due to the web site skiplagged.com — which has the tagline, “Our flights are so low cost, United sued us … but we won.”
It’d seem to be a great idea on the surface, but flyers face penalties for beating the airlines and saving money this manner.
Some airlines have reportedly been punishing passengers for skiplagging by canceling flights and depleting their loyalty points and miles.
“Airlines don’t like skiplagging since it costs them money. Flights with connections are generally cheaper than nonstop flights because airlines have a lower price ceiling for them,” Phil Dengler, co-founder of travel advice site The Vacationer, told CNN.
He added, “Moreover, your airline knows you were on the primary flight and are on the airport. The gate agents may call your name out or barely delay closing the doors. Besides losing money, it creates additional stress for airline staff.”
While it isn’t technically illegal, Nastro said that the wonderful print of an airline ticket forbids it.
Skiplagging also wouldn’t work for everybody. Nastro said the passenger would should travel with only a carry-on since checked bags will go to the ultimate destination of the flight.
She also suggested that it will only work for one-way flights, since not boarding the second flight would mark the passenger as a no-show with the airline.
More travelers are flying than ever — and getting much more creative with money-saving airline hacks
AAA projects that 4.69 million people will travel by plane this Thanksgiving week — a 2.5% increase from pre-Covid numbers in 2019.
A few of those individuals are finding loopholes to get lower-priced flights, and airlines are cracking down on it.
Skiplagging, also often known as hidden-city ticketing or throwaway ticketing, is a booking workaround that saves customers money by issuing tickets with a final destination that they don’t have any intention of visiting. Why? Since it’s cheaper.
For a wide range of reasons, some destination cities have higher airfare than others. As a substitute, skiplaggers will reap the benefits of a lower-priced flight to a different far-flung city, but their intended destination is one in all the connecting cities, not the plane’s final destination.
Airlines aren’t too comfortable about that.
“For instance, say you desired to fly from Orlando to Recent York. You realize, see the town, but the worth tag is a bit bit out of budget. Perhaps it’s $150,” Katy Nastro from Going.com explained to The National Desk. “Nonetheless, you found a flight from Orlando to Richmond via Recent York and that’s only $88, which is a fairly nice savings.”
On this scenario, the passenger is speculated to stay on that flight path and proceed on to Richmond — but they never complete the trip.
“Nonetheless you bought off in Recent York and also you paid a fraction of the worth for that direct flight price, but you obtain a connecting flight,” Nastro said. “So, in essence, it’s principally like you obtain a direct flight without the direct flight cost.”
An increasing number of people have change into aware of the tactic due to the web site skiplagged.com — which has the tagline, “Our flights are so low cost, United sued us … but we won.”
It’d seem to be a great idea on the surface, but flyers face penalties for beating the airlines and saving money this manner.
Some airlines have reportedly been punishing passengers for skiplagging by canceling flights and depleting their loyalty points and miles.
“Airlines don’t like skiplagging since it costs them money. Flights with connections are generally cheaper than nonstop flights because airlines have a lower price ceiling for them,” Phil Dengler, co-founder of travel advice site The Vacationer, told CNN.
He added, “Moreover, your airline knows you were on the primary flight and are on the airport. The gate agents may call your name out or barely delay closing the doors. Besides losing money, it creates additional stress for airline staff.”
While it isn’t technically illegal, Nastro said that the wonderful print of an airline ticket forbids it.
Skiplagging also wouldn’t work for everybody. Nastro said the passenger would should travel with only a carry-on since checked bags will go to the ultimate destination of the flight.
She also suggested that it will only work for one-way flights, since not boarding the second flight would mark the passenger as a no-show with the airline.
