NationStates

"Hidden city ticketing" can offer steep discounts on airfare. Basically, you book a flight past your destination, with your target destination as a stop on the route, and save more than if on the direct route. Skiplagged is one site that shows you these hidden deals.

For example, a direct flight from Milwaukee to Detroit on December 11 costs $407, but Skiplagged shows there are flights from Milwaukee to St. Louis stopping in Detroit for $104—$303 less. You'd book the MKE to STL flight and just not get on the connecting flight after it lands in DTW.

United Airlines and Orbitz are actually suing a website, Skiplagged.com, that helps passengers search for and book hidden city plane tickets. According to their federal lawsuit, United and Orbitz claim the site’s owner, Aktarer Zaman, “has used his website to intentionally and maliciously interfere with Plaintiffs’ contracts and business relations in the airline industry.”

Hidden city ticketing isn’t illegal. But as the lawsuit says, it’s “strictly prohibited by most commercial airlines because of logistical and public safety concerns.”

Pope Joan wrote:What's bad is the way the airlines gouge for nearby flights. I appreciate this response to that abuse.

Merizoc wrote:I see nothing wrong with it. (this method, I mean, not the suit.) But how do you get your luggage?

The Grim Reaper wrote:On the one hand, fuck trying to fuck over consumers like that.

On the other hand, flying with empty seats is genuinely a serious concern - weight loads are everything in aviation.

I'm torn here. There just has to be a better way!

Rhodisia wrote:

"Hidden city ticketing" can offer steep discounts on airfare. Basically, you book a flight past your destination, with your target destination as a stop on the route, and save more than if on the direct route. Skiplagged is one site that shows you these hidden deals.

For example, a direct flight from Milwaukee to Detroit on December 11 costs $407, but Skiplagged shows there are flights from Milwaukee to St. Louis stopping in Detroit for $104—$303 less. You'd book the MKE to STL flight and just not get on the connecting flight after it lands in DTW.

Original article here.

United Airlines and Orbitz are actually suing a website, Skiplagged.com, that helps passengers search for and book hidden city plane tickets. According to their federal lawsuit, United and Orbitz claim the site’s owner, Aktarer Zaman, “has used his website to intentionally and maliciously interfere with Plaintiffs’ contracts and business relations in the airline industry.”

Hidden city ticketing isn’t illegal. But as the lawsuit says, it’s “strictly prohibited by most commercial airlines because of logistical and public safety concerns.”

Original article here.

I think that someone using a hidden-city ticketing scheme is not breaking the law or doing really anything wrong.

What say you, NSG?

The Nihilistic view wrote:

Merizoc wrote:I see nothing wrong with it. (this method, I mean, not the suit.) But how do you get your luggage?

Fly with just hand luggage. It's what most people do on shorthall and short trips even up to a week. If i'm going to a hot place I can fit a weeks worth of stuff in my small case that can qualify as hand luggage.

Sdaeriji wrote:

The Nihilistic view wrote:
Fly with just hand luggage. It's what most people do on shorthall and short trips even up to a week. If i'm going to a hot place I can fit a weeks worth of stuff in my small case that can qualify as hand luggage.

A lot of our sales guys ship their luggage if they're going on extended visits somewhere. It often can be cheaper than bag fees.

The Nihilistic view wrote:

Merizoc wrote:I see nothing wrong with it. (this method, I mean, not the suit.) But how do you get your luggage?

Fly with just hand luggage. It's what most people do on shorthall and short trips even up to a week. If i'm going to a hot place I can fit a weeks worth of stuff in my small case that can qualify as hand luggage.