Last updated on August 8, 2023
The practice of skiplagging, or hidden-city ticketing, has been around for decades. It involves booking a plane ticket to one destination but getting off at the layover city. This strategy has become popular because it can often be cheaper than direct or layover flights to the desired destination.
Airlines have set their routes to distribute traffic at airports and minimize half-full flights. As a result, skiplagged fares can offer significant savings. However, airlines have strict policies against this practice because it disrupts planned routes and leads to unfilled flights. Major airlines like American Airlines, United, and Delta have explicit prohibitions against skiplagging in their policies.
Despite being frowned upon by airlines, skiplagged fares have become too tempting for many travelers due to the substantial cost savings. In a recent financial disclosure form, it was revealed that the campaign team of former President Donald Trump used skiplagging by paying fees to Skiplagged, a travel website specializing in finding these types of fares. It is worth noting that this expenditure is insignificant compared to the millions of dollars spent by Trump’s Save America PAC on legal fees in the first half of 2023.
Airlines have become increasingly crackdown on skiplagging in recent years. In a high-profile incident, American Airlines prevented a passenger from boarding a flight after suspecting that he intended to use his ticket between two destinations to get off at the layover city. The airline justified its action by stating that purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights is a violation of its terms and conditions. In response to similar incidents, most major airlines have independently introduced bans on booking without the intent to fly in their contract of carriage.
American Airlines, in particular, has gained a reputation for being the strictest in enforcing this policy. They have even removed a passenger from their frequent flyer program for skiplagging multiple flights. However, the financial forms submitted by Trump’s Save America PAC do not indicate which types of flights the former President’s team skiplagged.
Overall, skiplagging continues to be a controversial practice, with airlines cracking down on it while travelers are lured by the potential cost savings.
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