Looking to bag a cheaper fight? Of course you are.
A long time hack is now doing the rounds, and it can save you money – much to the annoyance of airlines.
Called ‘skiplagging’, ‘hidden city’ or ‘throwaway ticketing’, it involves booking a cheaper flight with a layover.
The idea is that the layover is actually your planned destination, so you never fly the entire route.
It’s often cheaper to book a layover flight than a direct one, which is why many seasoned travellers use it.
It’s so popular, there’s even a website dedicated to it, called Skiplagged.com, which alerts users to deals. They say they’re ‘exposing loopholes in airfare pricing to save you money’.
There’s been some controversy though, as United Airlines and Orbitz tried to sue Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman – but he stands by his company being legal.
Another instance saw Lufthansa attempt to sue a passenger who skiplagged, after paying £600 for flights that he didn’t board the final leg of. The airline claimed he should have paid £2,769, but the court ruled in the passenger’s favour.
As a result, it can be a risky practice as airlines have tried to avoid customers doing this in recent years, as they get stricter and more aware of skiplagging – passengers caught could be fined or have loyalty air miles removed.
One thing to keep in mind, is this only works if you don’t have checked baggage – as bags will end up in the final destination.
Speaking to Insider, a woman claimed she has ‘no remorse and no angst about using hidden-city tickets’, and when she’s questioned about whether she will reach her final destination, she lies and says she will.
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