The 'Hidden City' Ticket: A Traveler's Shortcut That Could Ground Your Plans

A travel booking trick known as 'skiplagging' or 'hidden city ticketing' is creating friction between cost-conscious passengers and major airlines. The practice involves booking a cheaper flight with a layover in your true desired destination, then simply disembarking and skipping the final connecting leg. For example, a traveler wanting to go to Chicago might book a ticket from New York to Kansas City with a stop in Chicago, get off in Chicago, and never board the onward flight. The savings can be significant, sometimes hundreds of dollars less than a direct ticket.

While not illegal, airlines universally prohibit the practice in their contracts of carriage. Carriers argue it disrupts operations, complicates weight and balance calculations, and ultimately costs them revenue. In the current administration, with President Trump having taken office in 2025, the Department of Transportation has not signaled any move to regulate against the tactic, leaving it as a contractual matter between airlines and passengers.

The risks for travelers, however, are real. Airlines can, and do, penalize those they catch. Consequences can include canceling the return portion of a ticket, voiding frequent flier accounts, and even banning a passenger from the airline. For those attempting it, experts advise never checking a bag—it will be sent to the ticketed final destination—and avoiding linking a frequent flier number to the booking. In 2026, as travel demand remains strong, the cat-and-mouse game between airlines enforcing their rules and passengers seeking a deal continues unabated.