Skiplagging, also known as hidden city ticketing, is a travel technique where passengers book flights with layovers and disembark at intermediate destinations to save money. This practice involves purchasing a cheaper multi-leg flight instead of a direct route, then abandoning the remaining portion of the journey. While not illegal, major airlines like American, Delta, and United prohibit this method and may cancel tickets or ban repeat offenders. Airlines dislike skiplagging because it reduces their revenue by leaving seats unsold on return legs and complicating operations at gates. Websites promoting this tactic have faced lawsuits from carriers who claim the practice is deceptive and abusive to airline business models. Travelers attempting skiplagging risk having their checked baggage delivered to the final destination rather than their intended stop. The strategy often works only one-way, as airlines frequently cancel return trips once they detect that passengers did not reach their ticketed endpoints.
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