When skiplagging goes wrong, it can result in additional expenses on flights.

Travelers who use "skiplagging" to save money on flights may not be favored by airlines.

When a cheaper connecting flight is found, flyers buy it with no intention of taking the second leg of the journey.

In the past year, travelers who used Skiplagged.com saved an average of $180 per flight, totaling $54 million in savings.

Most airlines forbid skiplagging, also known as "hidden city ticketing."

It is forbidden to buy a ticket with the intention of not flying all flights in order to obtain lower fares, according to American Airlines' terms and conditions. Those who violate this rule may have their tickets canceled, be denied boarding, or not receive a refund, the airline specifies.

Aktarer Zaman, the founder of the company, stated that he does not believe skiplagging would result in a lifetime ban for a flyer from an airline.

Zaman stated that in the 11 years of the company's existence, he had never heard of anyone being banned for skiplagging. Any information online about someone being banned was just a rumor.

Why longer flights can be cheaper

Zaman explained why some connecting flights are cheaper than flying direct. He gave an example, stating that flying from London to Boston with a stop in New York can be cheaper than flying direct to New York.

Skiplagged finds deals on the London to New York route because it is more popular and therefore priced higher, he said.

Zaman stated that while his website is a great resource for "hidden city" deals, some travelers may also discover these flights through travel agents or by conducting their own extensive search.

Major airlines are targeting Zaman's website due to its success in booking 300,000 customers in the past year, he stated.

A trio of lawsuits

In August 2023, American Airlines sued Skiplagged for unfair competition, but later dropped its claim before the trial. In October 2024, Skiplagged was ordered to pay American Airlines $9.4 million for copyright infringement for using the American Airlines logo on its website without permission.

Zaman called this a win for his company.

"This victory proved that we are free to show skiplagging opportunities," said Zaman. "It's likely to discourage other airlines from challenging us, and we've established a foundation to continue."

Skiplagged has faced legal action from United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, with the suits either being dismissed or settled out of court. This is out of the 800 airlines listed on the Skiplagged platform, according to Zaman.

Zaman stated that during the trial, it was revealed that American Airlines does not maintain a no-fly list for skiplagging customers.

Clearer guidance on skiplagging

Skiplagged provided clearer guidance on how to safely skiplag after the American Airlines trial, emphasizing that it should be done sparingly and with a variety of carriers.

He advised against abusing the situation and being thankful for the money saved, but cautioned against constantly trying to do it.

According to Skiplagged.com's data, over 340 customers in the past year were charged a higher fare for a direct flight.

Airlines have the power to cancel frequent flyer points, so Skiplagged advises individuals not to link their frequent flyer account with their reservation.

To avoid customers' return journeys being canceled after incomplete outbound flights, Zaman stated that Skiplagged.com only books one-way tickets.

Skiplagged advises travelers to bring their passport for international flights, even if they plan to exit within their home country. This has affected 198 Skiplagged customers in the past 12 months, according to Zaman.

In the past 12 months, 22 Skiplagged.com customers encountered difficulties due to not having a visa for their flight.

The company recommends travelers to fly with a small bag that can fit under their seat. According to their data, 67 Skiplagged customers experienced an oversight when their checked bags were not sent to their final destination on their tickets in the past year.

Just 0.3% of Skiplagged's customers experienced these types of issues, Zaman stated.

Skiplagged's data comes from users that report problems back to the company.

"According to a company representative, people with travel issues are likely to complain at a high rate, and even if 50% of those encountering an issue don't report, the success rate would only decrease from 99.7% to 99.4%."

'Whether it makes sense'

Zaman stated that he doesn't "skiplag" frequently, but it's not because his name is on airlines' blacklists, he clarified.

"I have done it on several occasions, and it's just a matter of whether it makes sense," he said. "Every person has to evaluate it on their own. These days, I'm not able to travel as lightly as I used to, so it probably doesn't make sense for me to do it that much going forward."

Although the $9.4 million damage award to American Airlines represents a significant portion of the website's $20 million annual revenue, Zaman remains dedicated to assisting travelers in saving money, he stated.

Despite facing difficulties with these losses, I am determined to succeed because I am confident that we are making a positive impact here. One of the factors that drives me is learning about the positive effects of Skiplagged on individuals' lives, such as assisting those in long-distance relationships.

"American Airlines versus Skiplagged is not the only issue at hand," he stated. "Real people are also involved."