A flight attendant has warned passengers against "skiplagging," the act of purchasing a multi-city plane ticket to save on airfares but failing to complete all legs of the journey.
A clip posted on TikTok by @traveling.mermaidd, who did not share her name or the airline she works for with Newsweek, has garnered over 20,000 views since it was first posted back in June.
A caption shared with the post reads: "how you can get banned from the airlines... #airlines #aviation #flighthacks #americanairlines #cheapflights #banned."
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In the video, the flight attendant shares a cautionary tale about how one of her friends "got banned from American Airlines" after an alleged attempt to skiplag.
She told Newsweek of her friend: "She didn't do it often, it was a one-time thing."
She explains in the video: "There are some sites that let you buy flights, let's say to New York, and there is a connection in Washington, D.C. And it's cheaper to do the connection to Washington, D.C., and then to go to New York, right?
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"But let's say your actual destination is Washington, D.C. If they catch you not going on that flight to New York, you're going to get banned from the airline. This is like a serious thing, 'cause they flag you."
In July 2023, American Airlines reportedly banned a 17-year-old for three years after he allegedly planned to end his journey in Charlotte, North Carolina, instead of New York City, his final stop, using a $150 skiplagging ticket, his father told Business Insider at the time.
A month after that incident, American Airlines sued Skiplagged, a travel website that shows customers "the cheapest regular flights and skiplagging flights faster than any other site," according to the website.
The airline accused Skiplagged of "unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices" and claimed that the company "entices customers to participate in those deceptive practices by promising savings...," according to the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Fort Worth, Texas.
Dean Van Es, the founder and CEO of Fast Cover Travel Insurance, told Newsweek: "Though it might seem like a clever trick and tempting to save money this way, most airlines strictly prohibit this practice. Passengers caught skiplagging can face serious consequences, including being banned by the airline.
"The length of the ban can vary, but it could potentially be permanent. Additionally, passengers may be required to pay the difference in fare or other penalties, and frequent flyer accounts can be suspended or terminated."
Is Skiplagging Illegal?
The controversial practice of skiplagging—also known as "hidden city" or "point beyond" ticketing—is not illegal but is strictly prohibited by most, if not all, airlines. This is typically outlined in the "conditions of carriage" section on an airline's website.
For example, American Airlines says: "Reservations made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules are prohibited."
The company notes that examples of this include but are not limited to "purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city ticketing)" and "buying a ticket without intending to travel, including to gain access to our airport lounges or other facilities."
If evidence is found that a traveler or agent is using a prohibited practice, the airline reserves the right to:
- Cancel any unused part of the ticket.
- Refuse to let the passenger fly and check bags.
- Not refund an otherwise refundable ticket.
- Charge you for what the ticket would have cost if you hadn't booked it fraudulently.
- Require you refund to us any compensation we provided like bag delivery costs, and reimbursement for clothes or toiletries because of late or lost bags.
Skiplagging is also prohibited under the conditions of carriage of several other major airlines including Delta, United and Southwest Airlines.
Jesse Neugarten, the founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club, a subscription service that alerts travelers about "the world's cheapest flight deals leaving their home airports," told Newsweek that while skiplagging can "certainly save you money," it's important to note that "airlines are ready to take action, as they look at this strategy as taking advantage of them."
Neugarten explained: "At Dollar Flight Club, we tell our members to be cautious if you consider skiplagging. Airlines can cancel your return ticket, loose your checked luggage, or even ban you from their flights for years. It's a risky move, and while it can save money, there are safer alternatives to saving money on flights like setting up flight alerts or being flexible with your travel plans."
The Skiplagged website also notes: "You might upset the airline, so don't do this [skiplagging] often."
Newsweek has contacted American Airlines, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Skiplagged for comment.
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