Airfares often defy logic.
Why is a ticket from Washington DC to Salt Lake City more expensive than a ticket from Washington, DC to Las Vegas — with a stop in Salt Lake City?
How can you search for so-called “hidden city” or “throwaway”tickets?
Well, there’s an app for that!
SKIPlagged Finds Cheapest Airfares via Throwaway Ticketing
Skiplagged, available for free in the iTunes store (and also available for Android phones), identifies the lowest available fares for a route.
It takes the guess work out of what city you should use as the final destination when searching for throwaway fares.
Here’s an example, illustrated by screen shots from the Skiplagged app.
Lets say you wanted to fly one-way from Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX) on October 14.
There is a nonstop flight on Delta Airlines for $394.
If you run the search on Skiplagged, you see that the same flight continues on to Oakland (OAK) for a total fare of just $207.
That’s quite a difference!
Of course, you will have to search for a return ticket, and compare the results with the cost of a round-trip ticket.
Travel Hacking 101: The Do’s and Don’ts of Throwaway Tickets
Be aware that throwaway ticketing violates most airlines’ Terms of Service (except perhaps Southwest Airlines).
You risk being kicked out of the frequent flyer program, having your miles confiscated, and even being banned from the airline.
It’s not against the law, but it is a very risky practice.
Some experts offer these cautionary notes:
- Good for one-way tickets only
- Don’t check bags
- Don’t use your frequent flyer number
The makers of the Skiplagged app suggest several sources for more information:
- Wikipedia — Airline booking ploys
- New York Times –How to Beat High Airfares by Nate Silver
- Portland Travel Tips blog — Save Money On Airfare With Throwaway Ticketing
I’ve never tried throwaway ticketing and don’t recommend it. But it is fun to play around with the Skiplagged app!
If you have experience with the Skiplagged app, good or bad, please share in the comments.