Viral ‘skiplagging’ travel trend may have costly repercussions

Skiplagging is the hot travel hack of the moment. But while it might save you some money, there are risks associated with the practice.

Skiplagging, better known as “hidden city ticketing,” involves buying a cheaper ticket where your layover is secretly your actual destination. Suggestions about skiplagging began appearing on travel forums around 2013, and the practice takes advantage of the strange pricing models used by airlines.

“The reality is that the way airlines price their tickets, primarily with their hub and hub model, creates really challenging pricing for travelers who want to go to a specific hub city,” said Dan Gellert, COO of Skiplagged.com Good morning America.

Gellert’s site claims to help you find the best flight while exposing “airfare price loopholes to save you money.”

While going down your layover and canceling your last leg of travel may seem like a smart way to fight confusing airline pricing, it limits the way you travel. For starters, it won’t work if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage.

“After all, luggage is tagged to the final (ticketed) destination,” he said. simpleflying.com.

And while you may save money, the fine print on your ticket may include a clause that prohibits skipping the delay.

“The airlines can have some influence over you. This could include your hard-earned frequent flyer miles, elite status, and membership. The airlines might even ban you entirely,” SimpleFlying warned.

Traveler Jesse Collier spoke to INSIDER about her skiplaping experience, which she called a “nightmare” due to her anxiety and other hidden costs she faced.

“Sure, it can save you money, it saved me about $200, but there was an additional cost that I never accounted for: my time and peace of mind.”

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