As the world becomes more interconnected, air travel has gradually become an essential part of our lives. Be it for business or leisure, millions of individuals are continuously searching for methods to save on flight costs. One unconventional strategy that has gained attention is ´skiplagging´. This controversial yet intriguing practice may enable savvy travelers to minimize their flight expenses, but it´s not without risks. In this article, we will delve into the world of skiplagging, elucidating how it works, the pros and cons, and more.
The term ´skiplagging´ or ´hidden city ticketing´ refers to a tactic where a passenger purchases a ticket for a flight route with at least one stop, yet they intend to disembark at the layover city, which is their actual destination.
For example, imagine you wish to travel from San Francisco to Dallas, but direct flight prices are high. By skiplagging, you might book a flight from San Francisco to Miami, with a stop in Dallas, which may be surprisingly cheaper. Upon landing in Dallas, you simply leave the airport, skipping the final leg of the journey to Miami.
Skiplagging is fundamentally a loophole, exploiting the complex pricing algorithms of airlines. Flight prices aren´t solely determined by distance, but also by market demand, competition, operating costs, and other economic factors. Airlines often reduce fares on multi-stop flights to compete with direct routes offered by other carriers. Therefore, paradoxically, flights with additional stops (and inherently more cost for the airline) can be cheaper than direct flights.
