What is Skiplagging and Why is American Airlines Filing a Lawsuit?

With flights becoming increasingly expensive, it's no wonder that many people are continually searching for ways to find affordable flights. The cost of airfare can quickly add up, making it one of the most expensive aspects of travel. As a result, many travelers are looking for the best deals on flights. Some have even resorted to unconventional booking strategies like hidden-city ticketing or "skiplagging" to save money. However, these tactics have caught the attention of airlines, and they are cracking down on them to prevent travelers from exploiting their pricing models.

Hidden-city ticketing, or "skiplagging," is an unconventional booking strategy where travelers can save money by booking a trip with a layover in the city they actually want to visit. Then, instead of taking the second flight, they leave the airport with their carry-on bag. It's worth mentioning that this strategy won't work with checked luggage as those would be routed to your final destination.

American Airlines has taken action against "skiplagging," a popular airfare-saving tactic some travelers use. In August, the airline filed a lawsuit in federal court against Skiplagged, a company that helps customers buy tickets using "hidden-city booking." This strategy involves searching for flights with layovers in the passenger's desired final destination so that passengers can book cheaper fares by skipping the second leg of their trip. American Airlines accused Skiplagged of using "unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices" to sell its tickets to customers illegally.

A few weeks later, the airline made national headlines when it caught a teenager attempting to use the same tactic. The airline made the teen purchase a new direct flight and reportedly banned him for three years.

The problem with hidden-city ticketing is not that you can get into legal trouble but that it violates the airline's policies. American Airlines' conditions prohibit "purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city ticketing)." Most other major U.S. airlines have similar restrictions in place.

Suppose American Airlines catches travelers using prohibited practices like hidden-city booking. In that case, it warns of several steps it may take, including canceling the ticket, refusing to let the passenger fly, charging the customer for what the ticket would have cost if they "hadn’t booked it fraudulently," and even banning the customer from flying with the airline temporarily or permanently.

Thanksgiving travel is stressful. Here's a pro-tip: per CNN, flying out on Thanksgiving day is actually easier than flying on the days leading up to Thursday. Over the next few days, 54 million people will travel 50+ miles from Wednesday and Sunday this week. The worst day for traveling is the Sunday after Thanksgiving -- the single busiest travel day of the entire year.

The Monday before Thanksgiving, fares are 17% cheaper than flying out the Wednesday before, per Nerdwallet (via TikTok). By extending your trip one day and flying out Cyber Monday, you can save 15% on your flight as opposed to flying the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Airlines can allow passengers to track their checked luggage with an app, but TikTokers found a hack that's even better: take a tracker like an Apple AirTag and drop it in your luggage.

Most people will drive this holiday, which makes sense: the average airfare prices are up about 40% from 2021, with leisure travelers paying an average of $289 one way, according to CNN. AAA estimates that 49 million will travel by car over holidays, compared to 4.5 million who fly. And for those drivers, gas prices are a far bigger concern than airfares. See the best traveling hacks this Thanksgiving holiday below, and save yourself time and money: