In a recent incident, a North Carolina teen found himself in trouble at an airport for employing a popular travel hack known as “skip-lagging.”
The teen’s family shared their ordeal, shedding light on the practice and its consequences. With airlines growing increasingly vigilant, the controversial loophole is facing stricter scrutiny and potential repercussions.
According to WJZY-TV, the Parsons family’s son, Logan, was detained at an airport due to suspicions surrounding his use of skip-lagging. This method involves booking a flight with a layover at the desired destination and intentionally skipping the second leg of the journey.
Initially, a ticket was purchased for Logan’s flight from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, with a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, the plan was for Logan to disembark in Charlotte, his place of residence, and reunite with his family. This practice has become a way for passengers to secure cheaper fares while conveniently reaching their desired location.
Hunter Parsons, Logan’s father, shared that a gate agent in Florida became suspicious upon seeing Logan’s North Carolina driver’s license. It was Logan’s first time traveling alone, and the situation escalated quickly. Parsons explained that Logan was “interrogated a little bit” and subsequently taken to a security room, leaving his family anxious and concerned about their minor child’s wellbeing.
The Parsons family had used the travel service Skiplagged.com for several years, unaware that this travel hack was frowned upon by the airline industry. NPR previously reported a case in 2019 where Lufthansa Airlines sued a passenger for over $2,000, alleging that he had skipped a portion of his return flight.
After the incident, American Airlines canceled Logan’s ticket, forcing his family to purchase a new direct flight ticket. A representative from American Airlines explained that “purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city ticketing)” is a prohibited booking practice.
As the airline industry tightens its grip on travel hacks like skip-lagging, passengers need to be aware of the potential consequences. While it may seem like an ingenious way to save money and reach desired destinations conveniently, some travel hacks might end up causing more harm than help.
