TikTokers have been warning people not to try 'skiplagging' for years. Now some travelers are paying the price.

21.07.2023 - 13:15 / insider.com / Gilbert Ott

"Skiplagging," a risky budget travel hack, is having a viral moment on social media, but some creators have long been warning people against trying it.

The term "skiplagging" — also known as "hidden city" or "throwaway" ticketing — refers to the controversial cost-saving strategy where passengers book cheaper tickets that have a layover with the intention of skipping the second leg of the flight. While the hack can help travelers save money on airfares, it also results in lost revenue for airlines.

Skiplagging gained a wave of new attention online this week after news broke that American Airlines canceled a 17-year-old boy's ticket after realizing that he wasn't planning on boarding his connecting flight. On Monday, the teenager's parents told Insider that the airline has barred him from flying with them for three years as punishment.

On TikTok, a number of creators have been reacting to this story with shock, saying they think it is unfair that the airline is coming down this harshly on skiplagging. Many commenters said this is the first time they'd heard of the hack at all.

But several creators who post travel and budgeting tips have actually been warning users against skiplagging for years.

Since at least 2021, TikTokers have posted videos urging passengers not to try skiplagging due to the exact risk of receiving a ban from airlines. Many conducted their own research to find that airlines have written policies against the practice. A few TikTokers specifically warned travelers not to use the popular search engine, Skiplagged, which helps users find tickets with a layover at their desired destination. 

NEVER Use Skiplagged!

"I'm all for saving money, especially at the expense of major corporations who are keen on charging ridiculous prices, but saving a couple bucks at the risk of being banned from a service for the rest of my life is not worth it," the finance content creator @seth.godwin said in a TikTok from June 2022. 

It is worth noting that while some passengers have reported being billed, sued or temporarily banned by airlines for skiplagging, it doesn't appear that anyone has yet claimed they were banned for life by an airline.

Still, amid these rising concerns, TikTokers have also been sharing their positive experiences with skiplagging and using the Skiplagged platform for comparing price options. When reached, a representative for Skiplagged told Insider he believes that sentiment towards the platform on TikTok is "overwhelmingly positive" despite some negative reviews. 

But experts still want travelers to heed caution with skiplagging. Gilbert Ott, the founder of the travel website God Save The Points, told Insider last week that there are several other disadvantages associated with the