Originally Posted by sadiqhassan

The conventional FT widsom is that they will not short-check your bags. However, I am interested in seeing what would happen in the situation where you checked them through and got off anyway. Suppose the pax checks in a bag and then in CLE tells the ground agent that he/she does not wish to continue. I am guessing one of 3 things may occur

1. Sorry your bag is going to Erie. [Doubtful, with "security" risk.]
2. Sorry your bag will be pulled off the flight but you are trying hidden city ticketing. Ergo we are holding your bag hostage until you pay the $x fare difference.
3. OK, no problem. We'll pull the bag off your flight.

I am tempted to try this when the fare difference isn't much just to see what happens. I guess 2 is theoretically possible but in my humble opinion, 3 is far more likely.

Another variation of this, is you could stall (... for example: I was in the bathroom because the last flight gave me food poisoning...) and show up at the gate once the flight is closed and they've pulled off your bags. Then instead of going to the agent for rebooking you head home. This is rather selfish though because it will delay the flight for everyone else.

Note: I am not condoning hidden city ticketing, just fascinated by it.