The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights
The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - What is Skiplagging and How Does it Work?
Skiplagging, also known as hidden-city ticketing, is a travel hacking technique that allows savvy travelers to save money on airfare. The concept is fairly straightforward - instead of booking a direct flight to your final destination, you book a connecting flight where your actual destination is the stopover city. The reason this can lead to significant savings is that airlines often charge more for a direct flight versus a connecting flight, even if the connecting flight is going to your intended destination.
Here's how it works in practice: Let's say you want to fly from New York to San Francisco. The direct flight may cost $500, but a connecting flight through Chicago could be $300. By booking the connecting flight and simply getting off at the Chicago airport (your actual destination), you can save $200 on the airfare. Of course, you'll need to travel with just a carry-on bag, as checking luggage would require you to claim it in San Francisco, thus revealing your "hidden city" strategy.
The key to successful skiplagging is finding the right routes where the savings are significant enough to justify the inconvenience. Not all connecting flights will be dramatically cheaper than the direct option, so some research is required. Travelers also need to be cautious about airline policies, as some may blacklist or penalize passengers who engage in hidden-city ticketing.
What else is in this post?
- The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - What is Skiplagging and How Does it Work?
- The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - Calculating if a Hidden City Flight Makes Sense
- The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - Picking the Right Routes for Hidden City Ticketing
- The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - Minimizing Risks When Booking Hidden City Flights
The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - Calculating if a Hidden City Flight Makes Sense
When considering a hidden city flight, it's crucial to carefully evaluate the potential savings against the potential risks and inconveniences. The key is to find routes where the savings are substantial enough to justify the extra effort.
Start by comparing the price of the direct flight to your final destination against the price of the connecting flight where your actual destination is the stopover city. The greater the price difference, the more potential savings you stand to gain. However, be mindful that the savings may vary depending on factors like the airlines involved, the dates of travel, and the route.
Next, consider the logistical implications. Will you be able to travel with just a carry-on bag to avoid the need to claim checked luggage at your final destination? Checking bags would likely expose your hidden city strategy and could lead to penalties from the airline. Additionally, think about whether the extra time and effort required to manage a hidden city booking is worth the savings to you.
It's also important to research the airline's policies on hidden city ticketing. Some may blacklist or penalize passengers who engage in this practice, potentially leading to difficulties booking future flights or even facing financial penalties. While the policies aren't always clearly communicated, it's crucial to understand the risks before proceeding.
To calculate the potential savings, start by pricing out the direct flight and the connecting flight separately. Be sure to account for any additional fees, such as baggage charges, that may apply. Then, compare the total cost of the two options to determine the potential savings.
Keep in mind that the savings may not always be as significant as you might hope. Airlines are aware of the hidden city strategy and have taken steps to narrow the price differences between direct and connecting flights. In some cases, the savings may be negligible, making the inconvenience and potential risks not worth the effort.
The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - Picking the Right Routes for Hidden City Ticketing
When it comes to hidden city ticketing, picking the right routes is crucial for maximizing your savings. The key is to identify flights where there is a large fare difference between the direct route and a connecting route to the same destination.
Focus your search on hub cities of major airlines like Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Philadelphia. Major hubs often have a wide range of connecting flights, increasing your chances of finding discrepancies in fares. For example, a New York to Miami flight may be $400 while a New York to Miami connection through Dallas may be $200.
It also helps to be flexible with your origin and destination cities. Include nearby airports in your search to expand your options. Flying out of New York-JFK versus New York-LGA could reveal different hidden city opportunities.
Use online tools like Google Flights and Momondo to easily search and compare fares across different routes. Set alerts and watch for sales to destinations with consistently high price differentials. Sign up for travel deal newsletters to stay on top of the latest hot hidden city deals.
Be willing to connect through cities you may not otherwise consider. Don't limit yourself to obvious hubs. A route through Salt Lake City or Cincinnati could unlock low fares you won't find elsewhere.
Stay up-to-date on major airline mergers, as consolidated routes can eliminate fare discrepancies that previously offered good hidden city potential. For example, the American Airlines and US Airways merger resulted in fewer arbitrage opportunities.
The Art of Skiplagging: Tips for Booking Hidden City Flights - Minimizing Risks When Booking Hidden City Flights
First, be discreet when boarding your flight. Avoid mentioning your plans to stop in the connection city to airline staff, as this could clue them into your hidden city strategy. Act like any other passenger continuing on to the ticketed final destination.
It's also crucial to travel with only a carry-on bag. Checking luggage would require you to collect it upon official arrival, clearly signaling that you deplaned earlier. Stick to a small carry-on to avoid issues.
Research the airline's policies before booking. While hidden city ticketing violates most airlines' fare rules, some carriers take harder stances by enforcing penalties. Know the potential consequences to make an informed decision.
Maintain a flexible schedule in case there are unexpected flight delays or changes. You don't want to miss your deplaning opportunity due to an itinerary change. Leave a buffer window around your targeted arrival time.