A flight attendant has issued a warning against trying out the money-saving “hack” that can get you banned for airlines.
Tor, who chose not to share her surname of the airline she works for, shared a cautionary tale of a friend allegedly getting banned from flying with American Airlines after using the controversial tip.
The trick is called ‘skiplagging’ and involves booking a multi-city flight to an unintended destination, because one of the layovers is in your actual destination – which can be cheaper than purchasing a direct flight.
READ MORE: Plus size traveller hits back at trolls who say she should pay for two plane seats
Airlines are cracking down on the practice, leading to Tor sharing a cautionary tale, reports Luxury Travel Daily.
Sharing the warning in a TikTok, which garnered 27,000 views, Tor says: “There are some sites that let you buy flights – let’s say to New York, and there’s a connection in Washington DC, and it’s cheaper to do the connection to Washington DC and then go to New York.
“But let’s say your actual destination is Washington DC.
“If they catch you not going on that next flight to New York, you’re going to get banned from the airline.
“This is a very serious thing, because they flag you.”
Tor said it was her friend’s first time skiplagging, and said suspicions had somehow been raised, with the gate agent on her first flight warning her she needed to board the final flight.
The flight attendant guessed that her friend was caught due to having a Washington DC address.
Either way, she says the friend is now “100% banned”.
Tor added: “Definitely would not recommend doing.”
The TikTok post garnered hundreds of likes and comments.
One user wrote: “Omg I didn’t know that they actually ban you for this.”
“Some people make it so obvious and come check in a bag and ask to short check their bag to pick up at the connecting flight destination. We know and the red flags go up…,” another person commented.
Someone else shared: “Skiplagging is definitely a no no. If you do it once a year with some normal flights in between you will be okay. But yea lifetime ban and it usually carries over to any airline that codeshares.”
“Hidden city’s are not allowed. Most people don’t read the fine print where it says don’t have a carryon, backpack only because when they check your bag it’s a [red flag]” another user wrote.
Someone else commented: “I have always wondered about this, now I know.”
“I don’t see why they care. if you don’t show, they can just sell your seat to someone on standby,” one person suggested.
Another viewer wrote: “And yet airlines make people miss their connections all the time. It’s not like they can’t give someone else your seat.”
“This is so fking stupid. What difference does it make if you don’t finish your trip?” someone else wondered.“I don’t see anything wrong with this,” another user agreed.
