A traveller at the airport looking at an information board on flights. Picture: Unsplash
TRAVELLERS around the world are always looking for ways to save on travel and digital technology is making it easier for travellers to bypass booking systems.
With the high cost of air travel and holidays, some of these travellers are turning to “skiplagging”.
While it is not a new phenomenon, skiplagging has been steadily gaining momentum and popularity among travellers looking to bag cheaper flights since 2022 and has resurfaced once again on TikTok.
@usatoday Skiplagging, or hidden city ticketing, is the latest travel hack for fliers, but there are risks. Here’s why.
♬ original sound - USA TODAY
So how does it work?
Skiplagging, also known as hidden city or throwaway ticketing, involves booking a cheap flight with a layover.
Courageous and daring travellers book a cheaper flight ticket with a layover but instead of using the layover airport as a connection stop, it’s actually their planned destination and they don’t fly the entire route.
Since a layover flight further afield is often cheaper than a direct one closer to home, many seasoned travellers use this method to bag a bargain.
@skiplagged #question from @skiplagged how to skiplag without getting caught 🚷![CDATA[]]>💡#traveltips #skiplagged #skiplag #skiptips #hiddencityticketing #airlinetiktok #travelcheap #traveltips ♬ Countless - BCD Studio
What’s the catch?
While this trend may be gaining momentum, some airlines aren’t too pleased about this.
According to USA Today, though the act isn’t illegal some airlines prohibit this act and may institute a travel ban on passengers caught using this hack.
These airlines claim that they lose revenue while skiplagging can also cause flight delays as crews attempt to find a missing passenger.
Despite the risks associated with this travel trend, passengers are still daring enough to attempt this.
There is a website called Skiplagged.com dedicated to helping these travellers find loopholes in airfare pricing to save them money. This website even goes as far as looking for cheaper hotel rates for travellers claiming to save travellers up to 50% on a “skiplagged rate”.
There is also an account on TikTok, @skiplagged, dedictated to helping travellers fight the power and find better deals by offering more travel hacks and how not to get caught when attempting this travel hack.