Sometimes a ticket to Lisbon costs less than to Paris, even though the flight is longer. This is not a system error but a 'gap' in the algorithms used by passengers. They buy a ticket with a layover and get off in the intermediate city, saving hundreds of euros. This trick is called skiplagging, and it drives airlines crazy. About this tells iXBT.
How Skiplagging Works
The essence of the method is simple: a person buys not a direct ticket to the desired city, but a route further. For example, they fly from Warsaw to Paris to Lisbon, but get off in Paris. As a result, they pay less than for a regular flight to France.
The reason is illogical pricing. Airlines set fares not by distance but by demand. Paris is a popular destination, so tickets there are expensive. However, routes with layovers in less attractive cities often have discounts to fill the planes.
Why Skiplagging Attracts Passengers
- the price difference can reach hundreds of euros;
- the trick works even on domestic flights;
- there are special websites that find 'hidden routes.'
Who Invented Skiplagging
The idea belongs to student Aktarer Zaman, who noticed that a ticket from New York to Charlotte to Albany was cheaper than just New York to Charlotte. Thus the site Skiplagged was born, which collected a database of such routes. After launching, Zaman was sued by United Airlines and Orbitz, but lost the case. Since then, airlines have been hunting such passengers: they annul bonuses, block accounts, and sometimes even demand compensation.
What are the Risks of Skiplagging
However, skiplagging is not only a benefit but also a risk. If a passenger does not show up for one part of the route, the system cancels all subsequent flights. Besides, the baggage flies to the final destination, not to the place where the person decided to get off. Add to this the possibility of a route or flight change—and the 'clever trick' can turn into confusion and loss of money.
Therefore, experienced travelers use the scheme only for one-way tickets and without baggage. Others risk finding themselves in a situation where saving on the ticket costs them a spoiled trip.
Earlier, we wrote that the airline Wizz Air plans to restore air communication with Ukraine after the end of the war with the Russian Federation. The company’s CEO, József Váradi, stated that about 30 routes are planned to be restored within six weeks after the airspace reopens.