“Hidden city ticketing” (sometimes called skiplagging) is one of the most controversial tricks in the world of cheap flights. In some cases, it can save money—but it also goes against many airlines’ rules and can lead to serious consequences.
This guide explains what hidden city ticketing is, why it sometimes appears cheaper, and what risks you should be aware of before even considering it.
What Is Hidden City Ticketing?
Hidden city ticketing is when you book a flight with a layover city that is actually your real destination. Instead of flying the full route, you:
- Book a ticket from City A → City B → City C
- Get off the plane at City B (the layover) and do not continue to City C
For example, you want to fly to City B, but a ticket from City A to City C (via B) is cheaper than a direct ticket from A to B. So you buy the A–C ticket and “skip” the last segment.
Why Can Hidden City Tickets Be Cheaper?
Airline pricing is based on demand, competition, and route popularity. Sometimes:
- A direct route is priced higher because it’s popular with business travelers.
- A connecting ticket that passes through the same city is cheaper because airlines are competing on the full route (A → C), not just the middle segment (A → B).
Hidden city ticketing tries to take advantage of these pricing differences by using the cheaper connecting ticket and ignoring the final leg.
Important: Airlines Generally Prohibit This
Most airlines explicitly ban hidden city ticketing in their Contract of Carriage or terms and conditions. By buying a ticket, you agree to those rules, even if you don’t read all the small print.
Because of this, airlines may react strongly if they believe a passenger is repeatedly using this tactic.
Pros of Hidden City Ticketing (From a Traveler’s Perspective)
Some travelers are attracted to hidden city ticketing because of potential benefits such as:
- Lower prices on certain routes: Occasionally, hidden city tickets can be significantly cheaper than regular one-way fares to the same city.
- Access to busy hubs: For some hub airports, it can be cheaper to fly through them than to them.
However, these potential savings come with major caveats and risks.
Major Risks and Downsides
1. Checked Bags Are a Big Problem
If you check luggage, it is usually tagged to your final destination (City C in our example). That means your bags will travel to the city you are not planning to visit, while you get off earlier.
Because of this, hidden city ticketing is typically only even possible with:
- Carry-on bags only
- No gate checks that send your bag to the final destination
Even then, last-minute aircraft changes, full overhead bins, or staff-enforced gate checking can disrupt your plans.
2. Airlines May Penalize You
If an airline suspects you are using hidden city ticketing (especially repeatedly), possible consequences can include:
- Cancellation of your remaining itinerary (including return flights)
- Loss of miles or points in their frequent flyer program
- Closing of your loyalty account
- In rare cases, billing you for the fare difference or restricting future travel
These actions depend on the airline’s policies and how aggressively they enforce them, but they are risks you should not ignore.
3. You Can’t Use It for Return Trips Easily
If you skip a leg on a round-trip ticket (for example, you don’t take the last segment of the outbound journey), the airline’s system may automatically cancel all remaining flights on your booking, including your return.
Because of this, most people who attempt hidden city ticketing do so with one-way tickets only—which can limit savings and add complexity.
4. Re-Routing and Schedule Changes Break the Plan
Airlines sometimes change flight times, routes, or aircraft types due to weather, operational issues, or other reasons. If:
- Your flight gets rerouted through a different airport, or
- You are rebooked on a nonstop flight instead of via your planned hidden city
your entire strategy fails. You may end up:
- Landing in a different city than planned
- Needing to explain to staff why you insist on keeping a specific routing
- Scrambling to adjust your plans or buy a new ticket
5. Legal and Ethical Gray Areas
Hidden city ticketing is usually a contractual issue rather than a criminal one—that is, it violates airline terms, not general law. Still, airlines argue that it’s unfair to exploit pricing structures they design for certain markets.
Some travelers feel comfortable with the tactic; others prefer to avoid anything that goes against the terms they’ve agreed to.
When People Consider Hidden City Ticketing
Some travelers talk about hidden city ticketing when:
- A direct one-way ticket is extremely expensive
- A connecting ticket via their real destination is significantly cheaper
- They are traveling with only a small backpack or carry-on
- They are willing to accept the risks of itinerary changes and airline reaction
Even then, experts usually recommend treating it as an edge-case tactic, not a standard booking strategy.
Practical Considerations If You Read About It
This guide is for information, not encouragement. But if you see people discussing hidden city ticketing, you’ll often see the following advice mentioned:
- Only travel with carry-on luggage.
- Do not attach your frequent flyer number to the booking if you worry about account penalties.
- Be prepared for the possibility of re-routing or cancellations.
- Don’t expect customer service to support your plans if something goes wrong.
Again, these points exist because hidden city ticketing is against most airline rules.
Safer Alternatives for Cheaper Flights
If your goal is simply to save money on flights, there are safer and more sustainable strategies than hidden city ticketing, such as:
- Booking in the right window: Use realistic timeframes for domestic and international trips.
- Using price alerts: Let alerts track fares and notify you of real drops.
- Flexibility: Adjusting your dates, times, or departure/arrival airports.
- Considering nearby airports or alternative routes: Sometimes flying into a different city and taking ground transport is both allowed and cheaper.
- Watching for sales and promotions: Airlines and agencies regularly publish limited-time offers.
These methods stay within airline rules and avoid the risk of account issues or itinerary disruptions.
Summary: Should You Use Hidden City Ticketing?
Hidden city ticketing can sometimes reduce the price of certain routes, which is why it attracts attention in travel forums and social media. However, it also:
- Violates most airlines’ contracts of carriage
- Creates baggage and re-routing problems
- Can lead to loyalty account penalties or itinerary cancellations
- Is difficult or impossible when traveling with checked luggage or on round-trip tickets
For most travelers, focusing on flexible dates, smart booking windows, and good use of search tools is a safer and more reliable way to keep flight costs down.
Tip: Instead of relying on aggressive tricks, use transparent tools and strategies to compare routes and airlines. You’ll often find great deals without putting your future travel options at risk.
When you’re ready to look for flights, you can use BookingBe to compare prices across airlines and agencies in one search and build an itinerary that fits both your budget and your comfort level with airline rules.