Many travelers are aware of a travel hack that involves buying a flight with a layover in your intended destination that’s cheaper than a nonstop flight to your destination, then getting off without completing the second leg of the journey. Seems like a great idea, but of course the airlines hate it, and they’re now on the lookout for these so-called “skiplaggers.”
Not convinced? American Airlines recently canceled a teenager’s ticket after realizing that he didn’t plan on boarding his connecting flight to New York City. The teen’s parents had purchased a flight from Gainesville, FL to NYC, then instructed their son to get off in Charlotte, his actual final destination. While traveling alone for the first time, the teen spilled the beans when a gate agent suspected something was amiss after seeing his North Carolina driver's license. The agent canceled the teen’s ticket, and he was required to purchase a new, direct flight from Gainesville to Charlotte.
The parents—and most travelers who use this trick when booking flights—were unaware that skiplagging, also known as hidden city ticketing, is prohibited. American says that purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares is a violation of their terms and conditions, and is clearly stated in their Conditions of Carriage. The airline announced in a memo in January of 2021 that it would begin cracking down on this practice, and it seems like they are following through on that plan.