What is skiplagging?
Skiplagging is a money-saving hack popular with travel aficionados.
Skiplagging might promise significant savings, but it comes with a catch – and it’s a big one! By booking flights with layovers and ditching the final leg of the journey, you might think you’re gaming the system, but airlines aren’t too happy about it.
Although technically, it does work, and if you can get away with it, you will save money; some airlines are cracking down on the practice and penalizing travellers.
At first glance, the idea of jetting off to dream destinations for less seems like a dream come true. This practice can lead to potential penalties, including cancelled return flights, blacklisting, or revoking your rewards accounts.
How does skiplagging work?
Imagine that you want to travel from Halifax to Calgary, for example. While a similar journey from Halifax to Vancouver with a stopover in Calgary costs $550, a direct flight may cost $500. To save $50 on the cost, a hidden-city traveller would choose the later route but omit the final leg from Calgary to Vancouver.
Therefore, depending on the route, a “hidden-city” ticket that eliminates the final leg of your schedule may still be less expensive than taking a trip that takes you directly to your destination.
Do airlines allow this practice?
The technique is prohibited by several airlines’ terms and conditions of carriage. Despite being challenging to police, some carriers have gone so far as to harshly penalize skiplaggers. One such traveller, Cassie Aran, purchased a ticket from a website specializing in these specific fares. Her airline ticket was flagged, and she was threatened with being banned from ever flying on American Airlines again.
Air Canada expressly forbids hidden city/point-beyond ticketing. WestJet states that a ticket is invalid if used for travel to a destination other than that specified on the ticket.
Precautions if you book a skiplag ticket
If you attempt this money-saving hack, only bring a carry-on since all checked bags will arrive at the last location listed on the itinerary.
Because you won’t be able to board your return flight midway through your return route, you can only skiplag on a one-way ticket. Your return flight will be invalid if you don’t board the last leg of your departure flight.
So, before you get lured by the tempting promises of Skiplagging, do your homework, and make an informed decision. Remember, cheap flights might be tempting, but they could come at a much higher cost in the end.
