![]() ![]() In a 2021 court filing, Southwest said skiplagging caused the airline problems when flight crews and operations staff tried to locate passengers booked for the flight who departed in the connecting airport.Īttempts to locate these passengers caused flight delays that affected other passengers and disrupted Southwest's flight schedule and on-time performance, according to the filing.īigger schedule: American Airlines is adding dozens of flights in Phoenix. The practice also can cause flight delays. Oh and Huh think skiplagging could have the unintended consequence of increasing airfares. Hidden city pricing reduces competition for routes by restricting an airline's ability to charge a low price for the flight in the connecting city, according to a 2022 study by business professors Jaelynn Oh of the University of Utah and Tim Huh of the University of British Columbia. Flights to and from smaller airports usually go through a hub airport before the final destination to fill their planes with as many passengers as possible. Many airlines operate on a "hub-and-spoke" system, where flights are routed from an airport that's a central point, or hub, which then connect with other airports within the region. When American Airlines canceling the North Carolina teen's plane ticket went viral after national media picked up the story on July 12, some social media users wondered: Why are airlines making a big deal about travelers skipping a leg of their flight if they're getting money from the ticket either way? 's FAQ page on skiplagging closes with these words: "You might upset the airline, so don't do it often." Why do airlines hate skiplagging? United Airlines and Delta Air Lines also prohibit skiplagging. The airlines define skiplagging, which they refer to in the contract as hidden city ticketing, as "purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares." No, but it's against most airlines' contracts of carriage, or the rules people must follow to fly with the airline.Īmerican Airlines and Southwest Airlines, which collectively operate more than 70% of the flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, both put skiplagging first on their lists of prohibited booking practices. ![]() View Gallery: 4th of July weekend travelers in Phoenix area in 2023: Photos Is skiplagging illegal? 24 for $124, a savings of more than half the cost of a $257 direct ticket. In one extreme case, Skiplagged advertised a Phoenix-Charlotte flight on Nov. 24, 2024, for $146, advertised for $47 less than a direct ticket. The posted savings generally range from $20 to $60 each way, like a Phoenix-Honolulu flight on Jan. Skiplagging, also known as hidden city ticketing, is when an air traveler buys a ticket for a flight with a layover before the final destination and departs at the layover airport.Ī travel website called allows people to find and book tickets for flights with hidden city ticketing. No illusion: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is busier than ever. Here's what travelers should know about skiplagging. Gate agents flagged him after noticing his North Carolina driver's license. According to a report from Queen City News in Charlotte, the teen was detained at the airport and questioned over his intentions to disembark in Charlotte. In one recent case, American Airlines canceled a Florida teen's ticket for a flight from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, with a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. Others use it to get to a destination where direct flights are sold out.īut skiplagging is controversial, and many airlines frown upon it - so much that it can be punishable by miles or status cancellations and even a lifetime ban from the airline. Some passengers use it to save money when the longer route is cheaper than the desired destination. You decide to book the flight and leave the plane in Atlanta instead of flying to Orlando. Then you see a Delta flight to Orlando, Florida, from Phoenix for $260 per passenger in basic economy with a layover in Atlanta. But the Phoenix-Atlanta flights on the day before the holiday are sold out. You search Delta Air Lines' website for a Thanksgiving flight to Atlanta. Watch Video: What is 'skiplagging' and how can it save money or cause trouble? ![]()
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