A save money A loophole known as “skiplagging,” the dark art of sneaking out of an airport before your ticketed trip is complete, is on the rise.

The hack has gained traction on social media sites, where travel bloggers boast about doing big savings by exploiting the flaw. There are even websites dedicated to skiplagging, helping travelers who want to bend the rules to save money on their flights.

However, airlines are unhappy with the practice, which contravenes their contractual terms and can lead to empty seats on flights.

Here’s everything you need to know about skiplagging, also known as “hidden city ticketing,” and whether or not it’s advisable.

What is skiplagging?

Skiplagging is a loophole to save money where air passengers leave an airport at their layover (their actual final destination) rather than completing their ticketed journey. They do this because booking a flight with a stopover can be cheaper than flying non-stop.

For example, a non-stop flight from London to Atlanta might cost £700, but a flight from London to Los Angeles with a stopover in Atlanta might cost £600. A skiplagger would book the cheapest stopover ticket and end their trip in Atlanta.

How do people find these flights?

With a little time and determination, and plenty of tabs open on your desktop, you’ll be able to find your own skip-delay routes on flight comparison sites. However, when The Telegraph tried to find examples, we only found savings of £20 or less. There are also sites dedicated to finding even bigger savings.

For example, one site lists a Delta flight from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta on December 5 for £96, if you book a ticket to Boston with a layover in Atlanta. The non-stop Delta ticket from Chattanooga to Hartsfield is listed at £222, meaning by skipping you’ll save £126.

It would be wrong to suggest that skiplagging is a consistent, surefire way to save money on flights. For the vast majority of itineraries, an alternative to skiplagging will not be possible or the savings are so small that it would be pointless to worry about it.

Is skiplagging legal?

Skiplagging is not illegal in the sense of violating government laws, but it does violate the conditions of carriage of many airlines, including British Airways, United and Emirates. Airlines often describe skiplagging as “hidden city ticketing” in their terms and conditions, and some claim that if a passenger breaks the contract by disembarking early from a trip, it can result in voided loyalty points or an outright ban.

Passengers may also be asked to pay the price quoted for the journey they ultimately took. If the passenger refuses, airlines have sometimes taken them to court. In 2016, Lufthansa took legal action against a customer who did not travel on the last leg of his flight. A first trial ruled in favor of the passenger in December of the same year, and Lufthansa tried (and failed) to appeal the decision in 2019.

United Airlines sued the website Skiplagged.com in 2014, claiming $75,000 in lost revenue and saying the website violated fare rules. However, the lawsuit was dismissed due to jurisdictional issues. On the Skiplagged site it says: “Our flights are so cheap that United took us to court…but we won. »

In 2018, Spanish carrier Iberia attempted (and failed) to penalize its customers for “skiplagging”. The Spanish Supreme Court ruled that this practice was legal.

What are the other pitfalls of skiplagging?

Even if you violate the airline’s terms of contract (see above), skiplagging has some practical pitfalls. The first is that as soon as you end your A–B–C journey at point B, your entire ticket will be automatically canceled, including your return journey. Skiplagging therefore does not work for return tickets.

Another common mistake is that passengers may book a ticket from A to B and attempt to board at B. Missing their departure at A would automatically result in the ticket being canceled and the customer having to purchase a new ticket.

Another consideration is that skiplagging does not allow baggage to be checked. As far as your airline is concerned, your bag goes from A to B to C. There will be no one to quietly take your suitcase out to destination B, even if you have a well-rehearsed story about why you had to end your trip. There is an additional risk of your hand luggage being placed in the hold if there is no space in the overhead bins, in which case it could also end up at its final destination.

Why don’t airlines like “skiplagging”?

Airlines hate skiplagging because it costs them money as seats are filled for less than market value. Skiplagging also means airlines have empty seats that otherwise could have been sold – and of course, planes flying with empty seats aren’t good for the environment either. Additionally, skiplagging can cause delays and stress for staff, as it can delay closing their doors if a passenger is absent during a layover.

Why are flights priced differently?

Airlines operate on low profit margins and consider many factors when pricing their tickets. Non-stop commercial routes between major hubs, for example, are often more expensive than leisure routes. Whether or not an airline has a monopoly on a route, or whether there is competition with other airlines, is another factor. The bottom line is that flights with a stopover are less desirable than nonstop flights, so they are naturally priced lower.

Should I try skiplagging?

Skiplaggers will say that they are simply playing with a system that is there to be played. Some will say that it is very unlikely that you will get caught. And if you do, they would say, a simple explanation of why you had to end your trip should get you out of any trouble. They could cite the Iberia and Lufthansa cases as precedent, demonstrating that airlines have little power to pursue passengers for regulatory violations.

Airlines, on the other hand, will claim that skiplaggers are not respecting the terms of the contract. They might point out that – given that skiplagging has been around for over a decade now – they are becoming more travel savvy. Unusual routes can raise red flags, meaning you could be monitored during your trip. Ultimately, airlines may be forced to increase ticket prices to compensate for lost revenue due to skiplagging, punishing those who play by the rules.