EVERYONE wants to save money when it comes to flights, but there are some corners that shouldn’t be cut.
Airlines are cracking down on something called skiplagging, and there can be big consequences for anyone caught doing it, including being banned and put on the no-fly list.
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For anyone who isn’t familiar with the term skiplagging, or hidden city ticketing, it’s a travel ‘hack’ where you book a flight with a connection at your intended destination.
Instead of carrying on with the second leg of the journey, you stop and stay at the layover destination to save money.
It might seem like a good tactic with a non-direct flight often being cheaper with savings up to 50 per cent.
But it does violate airline terms and conditions and can lead to travellers being denied boarding and other penalties.
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Another reason airlines don’t like this is not just for losing money, it can lead to operational issues on their side.
It can lead to empty seats on the second leg of the flight and problems managing checked baggage.
American Airlines, one of the biggest airlines in the United States, is stepping up its fight against skiplagging.
After discovering how passengers were going about skiplagging, they are using analytical tools to track passenger behaviours and whether or not you continue on the second flight.
In a previous situation reported by The Pinnacle Gazette, American Airlines discovered a passenger was skiplagging.
They were then warned that skipping the second flight would place them on the airline’s ‘do not fly’ list.
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Don’t just take the airline’s warning, a flight attendant, Tori, who documents her travels on TikTok, has told people not to risk skiplagging.
Explaining more about it, Tori used an example of a passenger booking a flight to New York, with a connection in Washington DC.
So travellers looking to make it to DC might be able to get a cheaper ticket by also booking the connection to New York then deliberately missing the connecting flight.
In one of her videos, Tori revealed that a friend of hers had been banned from a major US airline after abandoning the second leg of her journey.
Tori warned that airlines will regularly check whether passengers have made their connecting flight.
Too many flags can eventually lead to bans – which let’s face it, nobody wants.
Plus, another travel warning after hand luggage passengers were stopped from boarding an hour before their flight.
And another hack that could get you free check luggage – but it comes with risks.
How To Stay Stress Free When Flying This Easter
Travel expert reveals ‘getaway hacks’ to take stress out of the pre-holiday week this Easter…
Travel blogger Vicky Flip Flop, from Southsea, suggests getting into the right mindset before a long journey by doing a short stretching session, having some herbal tea, or by lighting a soothing candle.
Finishing a book you’ve been meaning to read or learning basic phrases in the local language of your destination can also take the stress out of travel, according to the expert.
And book airport transfers as early as possible, not only to get the best deals but so you can just forget about it before your trip.
It comes after research found Brits need a holiday – just to get over the stress of preparing for their dream break.
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