You Get Caught on the Pass and It Won’t Be Pretty
With rising fuel and labor costs, coupled with unprecedented inflation, airfare prices this summer have been nothing short of astronomical. That is why people planning a vacation right now are looking for any way to save on air travel. A tactic that has become popular over the past few years to save on airfares is the practice of “skipping” when you book a route where the stopover is actually the traveler’s true and intended destination. The idea is that you can find a cheaper connecting flight to the midpoint of your true destination than if you just flew directly to that city. This is a smart idea; but unfortunately it’s not good.
To understand skiplug, you need to understand the most popular provider of this practice, the Skiplagged website. Founded in 2013, the site boasts the ability to save over $100 on flights using their practice. He also immediately found himself in a difficult position, facing legal action from United Airlines and Orbitz , who were unhappy with the practice, but the lawsuits were dismissed and the website was allowed to continue operating.
Even though the airlines did not win the legal battle, they still have the opportunity to punish those involved in missing flights. United Airlines will fine passengers who repeatedly participate in the exercise. American Airlines reportedly sent a $2,500 bill to a passenger in connection with the discovery of 52 misses. The former even went so far as to threaten to use an external collection agency , which at best will give you a huge headache and at worst negatively affect your creditworthiness. In addition, passengers may face a possible ban from the airline if they find such a practice to be contrary to their contract of carriage.
I’m a firm believer in going the unconventional route to save money, but only if it saves a few dollars without complicating your life. Skip the pass for now. Instead, save money by flying with an airline that lets you use Wi-Fi for free or change flights at no extra charge .