Hidden City Ticketing: Benefits and Risks

What is Hidden City Ticketing?

Hidden city ticketing, or skiplagging, is when you buy a ticket to the stopover place and then skip the final destination. This option may be tempting as it enables saving money.

For example, you may plan to go to Beijing from London. However, instead of direct flights, which can be costly, you decide to search for another city in Europe that offers a better deal. Then, instead of going directly to Beijing, you travel to, e.g., Warsaw, as from there the flight is less expensive, and you reach your final destination later. While returning home, your stopover is in London, so you skip one of the return leg in Barcelona. You can investigate online which option is the cheapest and adjust your travel plans accordingly.

It’s good to know that this solution is not perfect. You can visit more places for a better price, but sometimes a direct flight is better for convenience and saving money.

Besides, hidden city ticketing can be limited to certain dates when you don’t want to travel. You might also have problems with the bag, as you may not be able to check luggage on the return route.

Why Travelers Use Hidden City Ticketing?

Hidden city tickets are tempting for travelers, as they enable cheap flights. You can go to your desired destination and don’t pay an arm and a leg. As the prices of all the flights have risen drastically recently, a hidden city ticket strategy may unlock significant savings.

What is more, the best opportunities are most beneficial when you book a last-minute flight. Then, airline tickets can be bought for reasonable prices.

How to Find and Book Hidden City Tickets

Hidden city flights, as the name suggests, may not be so visible; that’s why you need to search for them. You can use many resources to figure out how to plan your journey efficiently.

• Google Flights

Google Flight is a recommended tool for anyone interested in affordable flights. Remember to research airlines and airports before you decide to book tickets. If you know departure airports, you can find and compare them on Google Flights.

• Skiplagged

Skiplagged offers potential deals and upcoming itineraries in real-time. It’s more convenient than searching for a connecting flight by yourself. Also, you can read an archive of past deals and see what you can expect for the specific prices.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Generally, hidden city ticketing is not illegal, but it may violate the carriage contract concluded between a traveler and an airline. This practice is hated by air companies, and some people were actually sued due to it. Even though, in many cases, airlines lost their legal battles, you still need to be careful when using it. Sometimes, it’s not so easy to find a satisfying offer, as companies do much to prevent skiplagging.

The Risks: What Could Go Wrong?

A hidden city ticket may be a perfect solution at first sight, but it’s also risky and may have potential consequences. For example, if you skip any booked airport on the way, you won’t be able to reach the final leg of your journey, as the rest of it will be canceled.

Also, unexpected reasons, such as re-routing due to the poor weather conditions, may force you to stop in a city you were not expecting. This means you won’t be able to complete your hidden city ticketing as you planned.

Besides, you may be unable to check your bag on the return route, so you will only have carry-on luggage. Sometimes, dates may be the problem as well. If you wish to air travel during a specific period and are not flexible, you may be unable to use hidden city ticketing.

Alternatives to Hidden City Ticketing

If you are interested in a cheaper flight, you can try to find a suitable offer online. Check the dates and avoid peak seasons. Besides, book tickets within 21 to 74 days before your trip on mid-week days.

Taking part in some loyalty programs may also help you get the best deals. What is more, you can try to purchase round-trip tickets to have a discount.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is hidden city ticketing?

Hidden city ticketing is an option for a cheap flight. You choose a connecting flight to the intended destination and complete your journey at a layover point. However, hidden city ticketing has a lot of pitfalls as well, so be careful.

Is hidden city ticketing legal?

Generally, hidden city routes are not illegal, but they are not appreciated by the airlines. Remember not to overuse those practices, as you may be fined for doing so many times on the same route.

Why do people choose hidden city ticketing?

People choose hidden city ticketing because it can save a lot of money. Besides, it’s possible to visit several places during one trip, as you may go not only to the final destination but also to someplace in between.

What happens if I get caught skiplagging?

If you get caught skiplagging, your ticket may be canceled, and thus, your journey will be interrupted. You should limit interactions with employees of the airline, not use your membership program, and not check in your bags to prevent such situations.