Skiplagging - great way to save money OR illegal booking technique?
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- Опубліковано 18 тра 2024
- There was a little confusion in a recent video I posted. Can you save money on a one-way flight by booking a cheaper round-trip flight? Yes. But is this illegal? A lot of you thought it might be. But what you're actually thinking of is skiplagging. Skiplagging is a booking technique used to save money on otherwise expensive routes. But is skiplagging illegal? We break down the skiplagging technique, the legalities, the risks, and the benefits.
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I didn’t know this had a name, but I did it once, almost on accident. I was trying to get from Amsterdam to Orlando. There used to be a Dutch airline that chartered planes. Their only flights were Amsterdam to Orlando/Sanford, or Amsterdam to Miami. The Miami flight was $200 cheaper, so I asked a friend to pick me up in Miami. I was surprised when our plane landed at Orlando Sanford. They said we had to deplane for customs, but we were required to re board. I told the flight attendant that I was trying to get to Orlando, and she said “legally” I have to get back on the plane. When I went through immigration I checked with the officer. He told me I did not have to re board, it might be their rule, but I was free to go. So I did.
Yeah that's an interesting situation because I suppose the airline would have been like "...where's Jimi?" but the immigration officer was right. Ahhh the complex beast that is Skiplagging.
Are these kinds of videos useful to you? What else would you like me to cover?
Yes please more useful videos like this
@@1shadkiller Thanks!
One of my favourite topics. How about something about status benefits (priority, lounge, upgrade options), and how to get status. Preferably not from a US standpoint (The whole credit card market there pretty much only applies to the US, and most tips&tricks posted nowadays are just hidden ways for the poster to get credit card signup referrals).
@Attaché - can you make a video and explain how a travel agency purchases seats/fares from the airlines?
This was very useful - I like that you took on a real myth shone light on it. For a future episode, how about covering the loaded question: Is airline loyalty worth it? Very interested in your take.
(my personal view is - no. And I'm saying that even though I have 'silver' status on about 5 different airlines... but I live in Australia and for all my flights to Europe or North America, I want guaranteed comfort at the lowest price, and there are always creative ways to do it, but loyalties only get in the way... which in case of business class can mean thousands of dollars each time)
No airline can sue a passenger for not completing a flight plan. This is insane. What’s next? A restaurant suing you for ordering the special meal and not finishing it or skipping the included desert?
To this day, I can't understand why A->B would cost more than A->B->C
Used to do that all the time.. worked in a building next to travel-agents that used to suggest this all the time.
One additional risk to keep in mind with skiplagging, is flight changes. If you are booked to fly (e.g.) FCO-AMS-DUS, planning to get off at AMS, there is always a risk of an airline schedule change beforehand, or a cancelled flight close to departure due to weather or other unforeseen event. In that case the airline may rebook you FCO-CDG-DUS, or potentially FCO-DUS direct. In those cases you won't be able to get off at AMS obviously.
Yes, agreed. While the risk is very slow, there's definitely been an uptick in scheduling issues with the major airlines lately.
Well it still baffles me that my ticket from a US city to Stockholm with a stop in London and a connecting flight is cheaper than a ticket on the same airline direct to :London.
Yeah that's really the lure of this for a lot of people.
I've skiplagged and on my return trip the airline (American) wouldn't let me do an eticket and made me come to the counter so they could aggressively confront me with both a regular ticketing agent and a manager. They told me I was in violation of the ticketing agreement and they could flag me so I couldn't fly with their airline in the future. This was the first and only time I have skiplagged so I did not have a history but they were full-on nasty!
Just out of interest, was the return trip on the same booking?
But they still got their money for the entire flight you booked and had one less passenger to serve on the last leg. Seems win-win to me.
@@sgtelias2258the whole system is weird, as I swear the airline over book the flights so there are not missing out
They are dim wits in all honesty
I once had a slightly different form of the skip-lag that worked out better in all the ways. I live in CLT, a.k.a. an AA fortress hub with outrageous prices. Flying to Orlando over the holidays to visit family, it was something like $700 round trip from CLT-MCO… or $325 from GSP-CLT-MCO-CLT-GSP. (Greenville-Spartanburg is maybe an 80 minute drive from Charlotte.)
I book the longer cheaper trip and resign myself to a little driving. Then, a few hours before I needed to leave, AA warned me that my GSP-CLT leg was delayed and I would miss my connection. I called and “offered” to originate out of CLT instead, though of course I’d need to terminate there since my car would be there. Granted! Ended up with the flight I originally wanted for half the cost.
See it's fine when THEY do it!
I've never skiplagged on purpose, but I have by accident. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, demand was nuts. Not a flight, bus or rental car to be had within hundreds of miles. I was scheduled to go from Calgary to Kelowna and bus from there to Vancouver, which was all that was available. Our flight from Calgary was delayed, and delayed, and I knew I wasn't going to make my bus and was pretty much screwed. Then the airline asked if anyone wanted to make room for a delayed family, and would go Calgary-Vancouver-Kelowna instead. I practically vaulted the airline counter and mugged the announcer. The airline was a little confused that I wanted to get off in Van, but when I explained they readily agreed, pulled my checked bag and sprinted me to the flight. I got to Vancouver hours ahead of schedule and it was a good time! #skiplagforthewin
(And luckily, because it was done with the airline's blessing, the return flights were fine too.)
Ah see, there's always an upside! Great story, glad it all worked out.
I learnt about the risk of having a whole itinerary of flights cancelled if you miss a single flight midway through, whilst midway through of a whole itinerary of flights spanning 18 months. So glad I discovered it before personally electing to extend a section of my trip 😅
I’ve definitely changed my approach to booking now and actually do separate bookings for everyone on the trip, knowing there’s a chance one of us may have to reschedule at short notice jeopardising the whole booking. Not sure if all airlines do it, but I’ve definitely been quoted the return booking cancels for everyone if not all members are on the outbound.
Yeah it's definitely a risk that not many people are aware of. A frustrating one, too. And I've also taken to booking separate itineraries but airlines SHOULD issue a separate e-ticket for every passenger on a booking to prevent such issues. But they don't always do that.
More Videos like this its really useful
You got it!
I did it once with lufthansa and I told someone I would not do the second leg of my outgoing trip.
They canceled it but kept my back trip intact so I guess I was lucky
Tbh it should work even if you have checked baggage because they’ll have to offload it if you don’t board. Security risks.
Yeah which highlights why this is something that requires a lot of consideration before attempting.
I haven't done this once flying back from Japan, 100% did not do that, just missed my connection to Seattle.
Oh yeah, darnit, those missed connections. *shakes fist*
Can you do a video about interrailing throughout Europe. Pros and cons, pricing and best time of the year to go?
Oh wow, that's a good call. I haven't interrailed since I was in my 20s but it's a great idea.
that is an amazing trip. I have never thought of doing that =)
Thanks! Glad you found it useful. How'd you find this video btw?
@ I have been a follower for quite some time 😬
Perfect!
Thanks!
Very useful
Glad you think so!
I tried it on a flight from Aruba to NYC and it worked. But, I had a mini panick attack when they almost cancelled the flight due to faulty equipment and they were going to rebook me on a nonstop flight to Miami when I was actually trying to get to NYC. I also got held up by customs in Aruba because of all the one way tickets 😂 (The officer specially told me that was the reason why)
hahahaha this is gold!
I will never understand how this is a problem lol. If the person pays for the ticket, why can't they choose to use all or a pay off it? It's paid for. Goodness lol.
I've done this a few times travelling internationally. Airlines like Emirates that have reasonable rebooking fees make it painless
Yeah, I think in 2023 and beyond airlines realise that flexible booking = happy customers.
Great little video as always! On a side note, finding cheaper fares using a VPN, is it really a thing?
Mmmm not really, no. In the past, absolutely, but the practice has pretty much died out.
Skiplagging is risky if you are taking a carry-on and the plane is full. They will have people check their carry-ons at the gate and if you are skiplagging, it means you also got the cheapest fare you could find and hence will be the last group to board the plane and the last group to board has to check their carry-on. And they'll send your checked luggage to the final destination.
On a recent flight to London from my home city, i had a stop in Boston, i had to check my carry-on at the gate of my home city and it slated to be sent to London. Had i wanted to skiplag in Boston, my carry-on was going to end up London.
Here’s an idea, lower the crazy ticket price and skiplagging ends.
I did it on purpose coming from London but I didn’t know if had a name
This may not work because I don't want to board at the original airport but on the first stop. Example: Mia to Atl to Souel. I want to board in ATL....is that possible with skiplagging? I do want a round trip and on the return, I get off in ATL
Skiplagging is not illegal. It is like card counting in a casino. It will get you barred from the premises.
Can somebody explain how this works? Because you buy a ticket and still pay several hundred dollars- how is this saving??
if you are wanting to Skiplag but don't want to take a hit to your airline status, what if you go to the counter and make up and excuse as to why u can't fly? Would they cancel the next segment without penalty?
I think the risk to your FF account is really low unless you're doing this all the time. As I mentioned, people's plans change all the time and that's ok. Abusing this "loophole" is what will earn you the hit on your account.
If you go to the counter they will likely (try to) charge you a fee, or reprice the itinerary on the spot. Don't give them the chance to hand you the bill!
Right now I’m looking at a flight to AMS from LAX. Nonstop it’s $1300. But LAX- AMS- TRF is $702 round trip. Do I have to book separately to avoid getting my return trip cancelled if I get off in AMS?
Also wouldn’t my return flight back home from TRF- AMS technically cancel my entire flight to LAX because I didn’t show up in Norway?
Usually not
I was on my way to Dallas but fell sick in Phoenix and could not continue the flight... are they now going to BAN me?
Right, exactly. The risk is low UNLESS you abuse it.
Airlines soon will ofer cheaper options if you stay the duration of your flight
Attaché, how I can be a patreon?
I am a subscriber from Bangladesh and iPhone doesn’t allow me to make any payment from here. Can you please advice?
That's kind, Farhana. If Patreon isn't working then you can use the "Thanks" button on UA-cam.
Farhan...you have the money?
sucks when it delays all the other passengers but i guess if you don't care about them then go for it.
These days that doesn't happen but your point stands.
As some one who works in revenue management at an airline, nice food for thought. ;)
Ha! Well there you go.
Yeah, but the bean counters will not go for anything that costs the airlines 0.2c
The airline is okay with u doing that. But the fare prices will just keep going up higher for others.
In my honest opinion, skiplagging is not worth the risk.
so i am basically kidnapped till the end?
Not "ILLEGAL"
I've never seen a round-trip ticket cheaper than a one-way. It's sometimes cheaper than booking two, one-ways.
Did not get sued however I got Banned for doing this ... Please don't. Not worth it.
Old news! The airlines have caught on to this already.
Policy doesnt trump law
I could not do it for moral reasons. Maybe I am not understanding this right, but to me it sounds like I'd be booking seats I won't be using. These are additional seats being booked on top of regular demand. Airplanes will compensate for this increased demand either by overbooking more than they already do and/or by increasing their capacities for those connections (and thus negatively affecting the climate).
and what moral theory are you basing your decision off?
This was not helpful because when I go to the website it works like any other travel website.
You talk like you drink 🍻
I choose to take that as a compliment.
This guy is totally downplaying the risks of skiplagging since airplaine carriers can and have banned passengers for life for just one offense. It is not worth it nor should be promoted by any means.
Oh, grow a hairy sac mate
This is a completely forfeit concept to me.
How so?
You are screwed if you board and the overheads are full and they make you check your luggage.