What do we mean by Hidden-City Ticketing?

Do you know what hidden city ticketing is? From its name, it might sound like discovering a hidden city in a far-off part of the world. However, it is an interesting ticket pricing quirk in the airline world. The main goal of this travel strategy is to use the system to obtain cheaper airline tickets. Though it's fully legal, there are many controversies surrounding it. We'll know its definition, operation, benefits, drawbacks, and if it's worthwhile to try in this blog. Stay till the end to be fully aware of this ticket trick.

What does Hidden City Ticketing entail?

Hidden city ticketing is a quirky way to save money on airfare. The trick is very simple- when a direct trip from one city to another (let's say A to B) is more expensive than a connecting flight that stops in the second city (B hidden city) on the way to a third city (C). In essence, by booking the A–B–C itinerary and omitting the second phase of the trip, travelers traveling from point A to point B can save a significant amount of money. This travel technique is also known as skiplagging, as you skip the last destination.

Why should one choose the Hidden City ticketing?

The pricing policies of airlines are complicated and often confusing to the common traveler. It's a general misconception that airfare is based on flight distance. The demand for flights between those two places and the quantity of flights actually decide it. The fare will increase if there is a large demand for flights, but it will be low if there are more flights on the same route. There are dozens of elements that affect the ultimate pricing, and sometimes one of them takes prominence over the others.

Booking connecting flights on a more competitive route can occasionally prove to be less expensive than booking a straight trip on a less competitive route. It is a bit similar to how the bundling option works.

For example, for hotel and airfare in a vacation package costs are typically lower than if they are purchased separately. Similarly, if the flight bundle (A to B and B to C) with HCT is in certain ways less expensive than the individual flights (A to B).

For greater clarity, let's use the example of flights. Consider flying from Chicago (A) to Washington, D.C. (B). The cost of the direct flight is $387. However, it only costs $178 if you reserve a connecting flight from Chicago to Boston (A to C) that makes a stop in D.C. That's a huge savings of $209! Therefore, you can reserve the Chicago-to-Boston flight, get off in D.C., and let go of the final destination to Boston if your ultimate destination is D.C.

When you need to make a last-minute flight booking, a hidden city ticket can be helpful. Last-minute flights are always expensive; so, using the hidden city pricing can reduce the total cost.

Steps to Book Hidden-city Ticket

Finding tickets for hidden city might be challenging because airlines do not like it when travelers miss part of their journeys. Fortunately, you may use these tools to determine whether or not this approach is worthwhile for your next journey.

Google Flights

Google Flights is an incredible resource if you want to search for hidden city flights by yourself. Start with knowing about the airports you'll be flying from and the airlines that fly on your itinerary. You can find out which airports are served by which airlines by using Wikipedia. Make a list of possible departure airports, then use Google Flights to search and compare them to see which ones are most convenient. If you need assistance using Google Flights, look at suggestions that describe how to locate cheap tickets. Use the "Connecting airports" filter to make sure that the flights you are looking for stop at your home airport.

Skiplagged

The purpose of Skiplagged is to make hidden city ticketing an easier process. Standard tickets and hidden city tickets, if they have competitive pricing are displayed when you search on Skiplagged. In addition to searching your planned schedule in real-time, it offers an archive of previous discounts it has discovered.

Although it's undoubtedly quicker and easier than getting all the research yourself, it will provide all of your itinerary's alternatives in order of lowest cost (not only tickets to hidden cities), including multi-stop journeys with long layovers.

Who should you book a hidden-city ticket?

Is purchasing a hidden city ticket is viable option for all? Not exactly, then who should book these tickets, and in what circumstances? Ask yourself these questions before opting for hidden city ticketing-

• Is the stopover where you're going?
• Does it cost less than a regular non-stop ticket?
• Is it easy and affordable to get to the departure city?
• Is it possible to travel without check-in baggage?

If your answer is "yes" to all of these questions, you can think about booking hidden-city tickets.

Potential Risk in Booking Hidden-city Ticket

There are a few drawbacks and potential risks involved in booking hidden city tickets, such as:

• Problems with babbage- The regulations regarding checked baggage are the primary drawback of hidden-city tickets. The bag will be checked the whole way and will not be handed over to you when you reach your stopover. Therefore, the baggage will go the entire distance without you if you intend to get off the plane at your stopover and not finish the last leg of your trip. As a result, if you want to depart before your final destination, DO NOT check a bag on the trip!
• You cannot skip the first part of your ticket- The airline will cancel the remaining flights if you miss any portion of your journey. You can only skip a leg if you're finished traveling after you start at the airport where you originally left. The final portion of a one-way or return trip is a good opportunity to use this strategy. The airline will cancel your return travel if you deboard at the layover airport.
• Check your travel visa criteria: If the final destination on your ticket is in a country where a visa is required, make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order before you can even board the plane. The airline won't let you start your trip even if you know you intend to deboard before you arrive at this final location.
• Risk of re-routing- You might have to make a layover in a city you weren't expecting if your flight was rerouted due to bad weather or other unforeseen reasons.

Is it ethical to book a hidden city ticket?

Hidden city ticketing is absolutely legal but airlines often disprove this travel hack. Here comes the moral debate in the discussion, is it ethical to skiplagging or not?

• Argument in Favor of Hidden City Ticketing: Customers are already overcharged by airlines. Simply put, travelers are taking advantage of the system. It's fair game as long as it's lawful.
• Argument against Hidden City Ticketing: The airline's terms of service have been violated and it is deceiving. If airlines change their pricing models, other passengers may have to pay more.

Although it technically violates the airline's contract of carriage, which allows them to penalize you by deducting your frequent flyer miles, all airline lawsuits involving concealed city ticketing have been dismissed thus far. It's totally a personal choice if travelers want to use hidden-city ticketing or not.

Conclusion

Travelers can use hidden city ticketing or skiplagging as a travel hack to cut down travel costs. It will require proper planning considering the potential risks. If you don't have check-in bags and need to book one-way flights, it would be beneficial to consider hidden-city ticketing.

FAQs

• Is hidden-city ticketing prohibited by laws?

  No, hidden-city ticketing is legal. Although airlines don't promote this, you can still use it to save money on flights.

• Can I use hidden-city ticketing on round-way flights?

  Yes, you can use hidden-city ticketing on round-way flights but you need to make sure the layover is your chosen destination. Once you deboard the tickets will be canceled for further journey.