Layovers are the bane of any traveller's existence, a waste of time (and money if you can't resist an overpriced airport meal.) But some savvy travellers use layovers to score cheaper airfare through "skip-lagging."
How it works: When scouting flights, skip laggers look for "hidden city" or "throwaway tickets" where their final destination is a layover en route to another place. If the airfare is cheaper than a direct flight, they book that and only fly the first leg of the journey.
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Because of how airlines price tickets, operate out of different hubs and provide additional routes, skip-lagging takes advantage of the complicated pricing dynamics between companies and destinations.
Yes, but: Some airlines are cracking down on the totally legal practice, even going so far as to sue a website owner for "unfair competition."
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Many carriers have taken steps to create policies that prohibit skip-lagging. Your ticket can be cancelled if you're caught violating the carriage contract, and you could be banned from booking with that airline in the future.
If you're willing to take a risk for cheaper airfare, keep these skip-lagging tips in mind:
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Carry on only. Checked luggage is forwarded to your itinerary's final destination, so if you skip the last leg of your journey, your luggage continues on.
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Buy one-way tickets. Airlines could cancel your return ticket if you don't complete the journey, so booking two one-way tickets guarantees you can get home.
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Check visa requirements. Ensure you have the correct documentation for both the final destination of your booking and your "hidden city" destination, or you may not be able to board the flight or leave the airport.
- Collect rewards cautiously. Some airlines are suspending mileage accounts of passengers who skip lag—but you miss out on the perks like access to airport lounges and priority boarding. Is a cheaper ticket worth giving up the points? That's up to you.