Sklamping: how to save hundreds of dollars on airline tickets

Skiplagging - from the English skiplagging (skipping the last segment of a flight on connecting flights) has become a popular way to save on air travel in recent years. You take an inexpensive ticket with a transfer, but do not fly all the way, but remain at the intermediate point where you needed to go. This can be significantly cheaper than buying a ticket directly to this point on the map.

Фото: Depositphotos

This trick is also called buying a ticket to the “hidden city”, because most often skipluggers book a ticket to an unpopular place with a stop and transfer in a popular one, where they safely remain until the next plane flies to its destination, writes Insider. The sklamping method was originally proposed by the young founder of the website. Skiplagged.

Skiplagged

Let's look at the example of New York. Typically, flights to popular destinations like New York City cost more than less popular destinations like Hoboken, New Jersey. By purchasing a ticket to Hoboken with a connection in New York, you can pay less and get to the Big Apple just as well. And here's another thing: a direct flight from Atlanta to Orlando costs $250, and a connecting flight from Atlanta to Dallas with a transfer in Orlando costs $130. For many, the choice is obvious, and intermediary companies diligently encourage it.

Photos: Screenshot Skiplagged

It is important to know: American and European airlines have already sued skiplaggerov and Skiplagged site to help such passengers. A recent example was the German airline Lufthansa, which Demands compensation in the amount of 2 112 Euro (about $ 2 385) for the flight missed by the passenger from the transfer point to the final destination. In 2014, United Airlines and Orbitz sued Skiplagged for helping customers find loopholes in airline prices. In all cases, the lawsuits were canceled and the cases were closed.

However, using tickets to fly to "hidden cities" is technically illegal, and you could still face consequences if you're caught abusing a major airline's one-time tickets. You will avoid fraud charges, but may "receive a written warning" or a fine for the difference between your charge and the "lowest applicable rate."

Helpful advice: When planning skiplugging, make sure you don't book round-trip flights. When you miss even one leg of a round-trip itinerary, the airline cancels the rest of the trip.

What's wrong with skiplagging

Although the search for cheap tickets can be attractive, this method has several disadvantages for both travelers and airlines, writes Skycanner (by the way, this is one of the resources that allows you to search for legitimate cheap air tickets).

• 1. Sklamping worsens conditions for other people.

Buying tickets to "hidden cities" creates difficulties for other consumers: passengers who need to get to their destinations find that the cost of their tickets increases because there are too few seats left. Skipluggers essentially use other people's seats on flights from transfers to the final destination, leaving other travelers without the opportunity to fly. Over time, this behavior will also cause the cost of all fares to rise due to airlines losing money on empty seats.

• 2. Inconvenience for other travelers

When a group of skipluggers disembark from a flight at an intermediate destination, the rest - those flying further - may be delayed. You will understand how it is if you have flown on long-haul flights, squeezed between uncomfortable armrests and dreaming of getting to your seat as quickly as possible, and the pilot suddenly announced that the plane would wait another 30 minutes for latecomers. They will not come - these are the same skipluggers who have already flown to their “hidden” cities.

• 3. Forget about luggage

Checked baggage is sent directly to your final destination. If you don't bring the minimum carry-on luggage, disembarking at the "hidden city" won't be as pleasant as expected. You can either pay a hefty fee to have your bag shipped to your destination some other way (assuming you have the time) or kiss your belongings goodbye as they go to the final destination where you purchased your tickets.

• 4. Unexpected changes to plans

Flight plans change regularly due to bad weather and many other factors. If you book a flight with a stop in the same city, but your final destination changes, your entire trip will not make sense.

How else to look for cheap flights

ITA Matrix

Try ITA Matrix is a simple yet powerful search engine that will help you find the cheapest flights. ITA Matrix, developed by a group of computer scientists at MIT and acquired by Google in 2010, is the same software that search engines use - Google Flights and KAYAK.

Photo: ITA Matrix Screenshot

To search for flights, enter your origin, destination and desired length of stay. Make sure you select “See calendar of lowest fares” instead of “Search exact dates” to easily view and compare routes. For example, if your trip has some wiggle room with dates, you can save a ton of money by simply flying on a Wednesday rather than a Friday.

When you find the price you like, just click on it and they will provide you with detailed information. Using it, you can book a flight through an airline, travel agent or other service.

Useful tips: If you have time on your hands and are looking for the cheapest flight, try playing around with routing codes and ITA Matrix extensions. These codes will help narrow your search and make it easier to find cheap but challenging routes. Click "Advanced controls" and then the blue icon with a question mark. A yellow glossary appears, showing examples of routing codes and extensions that you can use to filter your search. For example, if you enter X: NYC, the search results will only show flights that connect in New York City.

Photo: ITA Matrix Screenshot

Since booking multiple flights in one direction can be cheaper than booking a return ticket, do not forget to use the search in several cities. Click the tab labeled “Multi-city” at the top of the page and enter your travel details.

The flight deal

The flight deal is a collection of the best offers currently available. The project team only publishes fares priced at $0,06 per mile or less, meaning that “a nonstop flight from New York to Barcelona will never cost more than $425. Browse the site and click on the appropriate offer. You will also see detailed instructions on how to find this flight on the ITA Matrix.

Photo: The Flight Deal Screenshot

Helpful tip: Flight Deal also specializes in finding erroneous fares or price failures, which you can book for a short time before airlines fix the error. Ideal for adventurers, these rates allow you to see the world and much cheaper to make spontaneous trips. Make sure you subscribe to The Flight Deal to Facebook и Twitter, to immediately learn about such errors.

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