American Airlines Canceling Passenger's Skiplag Ticket Offers a Stark Warning for Travel Hackers This Summer

You might want to think twice before booking a so-called skiplag ticket this summer, especially if you're traveling on American. The conglomerate announced in January 2021 that it would start cracking down on hidden city ticketing, commonly known as skiplagging. Since then, customers have been dealt fines or been kicked out of American's frequent flyer program for engaging in the popular money-saving tactic. In the latest instance, one passenger had his ticket canceled entirely.

Earlier this month, North Carolina teenager Logan Parsons was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, FL to New York City with a stop in Charlotte, NC. He planned to disembark in Charlotte and go home rather than continue on to New York. It was his first time flying by himself, and the teen found himself in a sticky situation when he was detained by airport authorities who suspected him of skiplagging.

The gate agent at Gainesville Regional Airport was skeptical of Logan's final destination after seeing his North Carolina driver's license. According to his father Hunter Parsons, his son was “interrogated a little bit [and] ultimately taken to a security room" where they discovered his plan. "They kind of got out of him that he was planning to disboard in Charlotte and not going to make the connecting flight," Hunter told Queen City News of the experience.

The family used the popular booking site Skiplagged to secure the hidden city ticket. Hunter admitted they'd been using the site for the past five to eight years but it wasn't until now that they've finally gotten caught.

American, for their part, reiterated their policy in a statement to Queen City News. "Purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city ticketing) is a violation of American Airlines terms and conditions and is outlined in our Conditions of Carriage online," the airline said. They also noted they were in contact with the Parsons.

Skiplagging isn't illegal, but it can definitely limit your travel options if you repeatedly break airlines' rules and end up on a no-fly list. Better to be safe than sorry, especially if you have somewhere to be this summer and can't afford a forced cancelation or detainment.