Buying A-B-C and getting off at the middle hub is legal in the US, violates almost every airline's contract, and can save 30-50% on one-way flights. The catch: round-trip is certain death, checked baggage makes it unfeasible, and Lufthansa sued a German passenger for EUR 2,000 in 2019.
Buying A-B-C and getting off at the middle hub is legal in the US, violates almost every airline's contract, and can save 30-50% on one-way flights. The catch: round-trip is certain death, checked baggage makes it unfeasible, and Lufthansa sued a German passenger for EUR 2,000 in 2019.
**Hidden city ticketing** (or **skiplagging**) involves buying an A-B-C ticket, getting off at the intermediate hub B, and skipping the final leg. Airlines' hub-and-spoke pricing makes connecting flights cheaper than direct flights to the hub.
The practice is **legal in the United States**. United sued Skiplagged in 2014 and lost. An October 2025 decision in Texas reinforced the argument: the airline cannot claim damage without proving concrete loss.
Almost every airline contract (American, United, Delta, Lufthansa, IAG, Air France-KLM, LATAM) **prohibits the practice**. Typical sanctions include canceling the return leg, confiscating miles, and banning the loyalty account.
Use **only for one-way**. In round-trip, the airline detects the no-show on the final leg and automatically cancels the return. You're stuck at the destination.
**Never check baggage**: the bag goes to the final destination C, not B. You lose the bag and reveal the scheme at the connection.
Buying A-B-C and getting off at the middle hub is legal in the US, violates almost every airline's contract, and can save 30-50% on one-way flights. The catch: round-trip is certain death, checked baggage makes it unfeasible, and Lufthansa sued a German passenger for EUR 2,000 in 2019.
