Hidden City Ticketing Risks

What Is Hidden City Ticketing?

Hidden city ticketing, often called “skiplagging,” is a travel hack that exploits airline pricing models. Airlines often price non-stop flights significantly higher than connecting flights due to demand. A flight from New York (JFK) to London (LHR) might cost $900, while a flight from New York to Oslo (OSL) with a layover in London might only cost $500.

The “hack” is simple: you book the $500 ticket to Oslo, carry no checked bags, fly the first leg to London, and simply walk out of the airport, skipping the second leg to Oslo. On paper, you save $400. In practice, you are violating the airline’s Contract of Carriage.

While this isn’t illegal in a criminal sense (you won’t go to jail), it is a breach of contract. In 2026, carriers like American Airlines, United, and Lufthansa have intensified their crackdown on this practice, moving from occasional warnings to automated account terminations.

The Consequences: Why Airlines Are Suing Passengers

The risks associated with hidden city ticketing have escalated significantly. Years ago, the worst outcome was a stern email. Today, airlines are aggressively protecting their revenue management systems. Here is what happens when you get caught.

1. Immediate Forfeiture of Frequent Flyer Miles

This is the most financially damaging consequence. Airlines have the right to close your frequent flyer account for violating their terms. If they terminate your account, every single mile you have accumulated is voided immediately.

Let’s look at the math. Suppose you have 80,000 AAdvantage miles. At a conservative valuation of 1.5 cents per mile, that balance is worth $1,200. If you save $400 on a hidden city ticket but lose your account, you have effectively paid an $800 penalty. It is a negative expected value decision for anyone with a points balance.

2. The “Walk-Up” Fare Bill

Some airlines, particularly in Europe (like Lufthansa), have historically attempted to recoup the price difference. If you skip the final leg, they may recalculate your fare as if you had booked the one-way flight you actually flew. They then charge your stored credit card for the difference, which can be thousands of dollars for a last-minute, one-way pricing adjustment.

In **December 2025**, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that airlines cannot retroactively bill passengers for skipped segments if the change in plans was “genuine” (e.g., illness or force majeure). However, the court maintained that airlines **can** still seek damages if they can prove a passenger intended to skiplag from the moment of booking—a threshold airlines are now using AI-driven booking logs to meet.

3. The Return Flight Cancellation

This is the most common rookie mistake. As soon as you miss a segment of your itinerary, the airline’s system automatically cancels all remaining segments on that ticket. If you booked a round-trip hidden city ticket (e.g., A→B→C outbound, and C→B→A return), your return flight is gone the moment you skip the B→C leg. You will be stranded with no ticket home.

Operational Risks: When Logistics Go Wrong

Beyond the administrative penalties, skiplagging introduces severe logistical risks that can ruin a trip instantly.

Mandatory Gate Checking

If you are flying on a basic economy ticket or a full flight, agents may force you to gate-check your carry-on bag to your final destination. If your bag is tagged to City C (your “fake” destination), it will fly there without you. You cannot convince an agent to short-check a bag to your layover city without raising immediate suspicion. Losing your luggage in a city you aren’t in is a nightmare scenario.

Irregular Operations (IROPS)

Weather delays and mechanical issues happen. When they do, airlines have a contract to get you to your final destination, not your connecting city. If you are flying New York → Chicago → Seattle, and you intend to get off in Chicago, a snowstorm in Chicago might cause the airline to re-route you through Denver or Dallas to get to Seattle.

You have no leverage to demand a flight to Chicago; legally, the airline’s only duty is to get you to Seattle. In an IROPS scenario, you could be re-routed on a direct flight to your “final” destination, leaving you stranded thousands of miles from the city you actually intended to visit.

Smart Alternatives to Skiplagging

You don’t need to break the rules to save money. There are legitimate “white hat” strategies that offer similar savings without the risk of being banned.

1. Positioning Flights

Instead of booking a fake connection, use Positioning Flights to access cheaper hubs. If a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo is $2,000, but a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo is $900, book a cheap $100 hop from LA to SF on a separate ticket. You save $1,000 legitimately.

This strategy allows you to protect your luggage (you pick it up in SF and re-check it) and keeps your frequent flyer account safe. It is the single most effective way to lower international travel costs in 2026.

2. Split Ticketing

Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets is cheaper than a round trip. Domestic US airlines rarely discount round-trips heavily anymore, so checking one-way pricing on different carriers (e.g., outbound on United, return on Southwest) can yield better results than a skiplagging itinerary.

3. Utilizing “Hack” Fares Legally

Tools like Google Flights now show “separate tickets” options automatically. These are legitimate itineraries where you change planes and airlines, often requiring a self-transfer, but they do not violate any contracts. You can find these deals in our 7 Travel Hacks to Save Money Instantly guide.

If You Must Do It: Risk Mitigation

If you have weighed the risks and still decide to book a hidden city ticket, you must follow strict protocols to minimize the chance of detection.

• Don’t Associate Your ID: Never enter your frequent flyer number or Known Traveler Number (TSA PreCheck) on the reservation. You will earn zero miles and get no status perks, but you make it harder for the airline to link the violation to your main account.
• One-Way Only: Never book a round-trip hidden city ticket. As mentioned, your return will be cancelled.
• Backpack Only: Do not bring a roller bag. If overhead bin space runs out and you are forced to gate check, your plan fails. Use a backpack that fits under the seat.
• Don’t Do It Often: Algorithms look for patterns. Doing this once a year might fly under the radar. Doing it three times a month will flag you.

Legal Stance: Can They Actually Sue You?

The legal landscape is shifting toward the consumer. In **October 2025**, the Council of the EU reached a political agreement to **ban “no-show” clauses** across the bloc. This means if the final version of the revised Regulation 261/2004 passes in 2026, airlines will be legally prohibited from canceling your return flight just because you missed a previous leg. However, this only protects your right to fly; it does not stop airlines from banning your account or suing for fare differences.

In the United States, the tide turned in **May 2025** when a federal court upheld a **$9.4 million judgment** against Skiplagged for copyright infringement. While the jury famously rejected the airline’s “fraud” claims, the multimillion-dollar penalty for using airline data without permission has caused many “hack” sites to add massive risk disclaimers or stop displaying certain carriers entirely.

While they rarely sue individual passengers for cash, they own the loyalty program, and the terms of service explicitly state they can revoke points for any reason. That is their primary weapon.

For a deeper look at airline contract law, you can review the US Department of Transportation’s Fly Rights or specific Contracts of Carriage from major carriers.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It in 2026?

In 2026, the era of easy skiplagging is over. The sophisticated data matching used by airlines makes it a high-risk activity for anyone who values their travel status. If you are a broke college student flying once a year with no miles to lose, the risk is minimal. But for the readers of this site—who likely hold valuable points balances and credit card perks—it is simply not worth the exposure.

Instead, focus on accumulating points through sign-up bonuses and using Positioning Flights to find legitimate sweet spots. Protecting your long-term ability to earn and redeem miles is worth far more than saving $400 on a single trip.

Don’t let a small saving wipe out your hard work. Use tools like the Pointalize App to track your rewards and ensure you are maximizing value without violating terms that could cost you your account.