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FAQ: Skipping Segment, Hidden City / Point Beyond / Throw Away Ticketing (master thd)
5 Attachment(s)
[deleted..already answered]
================= MODERATOR NOTE==================== Skipping an intermediate or end segment is referred to as "Hidden City / Point Beyond Ticketing" by American Airlines, “skiplagging” is another commonly used term. Doing so invalidates the contract you have with AA regarding your ticket. AA will generally cancel the remaining segments, and if it is dropping the last segment to save money on a more expensive ticket to the intermediate destination, it is called the "Hidden City" ticket. The entire Conditions of Carriage, the contract that governs your ticket (in additon to the Detailed Fare Rules attached to your fare class and readable prior to purchase), are here: CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE. The specific language regarding Hidden City and Point Beyond Ticketing is in the graphic below. Sample letter from American Airlines on Hidden City Ticketing: Dear , Let me take the opportunity to clarify American Airlines position on hidden city or point beyond ticketing. Purchasing a ticket to a point beyond the actual destination and getting off the aircraft at the connecting point is unethical. It is tantamount to switching price tags to obtain a lower price on goods sold at department stores. Passengers who attempt to use hidden city tickets may be denied boarding, have the remainder of their ticket confiscated and may be assessed the difference between the fare paid and the lowest applicable fare. Because we compete with other airlines with different route structures, we sometimes find it necessary to give a traveler who is traveling beyond a connecting point a better price than travelers who are just traveling to the connecting point. For example, a passenger who is traveling to Austin, Texas from Los Angeles can go on one airline via Phoenix for a price that is lower than the cost of traveling on American between Los Angeles and Dallas. If we want to offer the same price to Austin as the other airline, but the only way we can get travelers there is via Dallas, we find ourselves charging the Austin passengers less than the Dallas passengers. Although the issuance and usage of hidden city tickets is not illegal in the sense that one could be fined or sent to jail by the government, it is unethical and a breach of a passengers (sic) contract with AA. Both tariff rule 100AA and American's Condition of Carriage, which are incorporated into every ticket sold by American as part of our agreement to carry the passenger named on the ticket, bar hidden city ticketing. In addition, it violates the agencies' contract to act as an agent for American Airlines. If American Airlines continues to lose revenue as a result of hidden city transactions, the fares we charge must inevitably rise. Sincerely, Ticket validity link to these Conditions of Carriage Tickets are valid for travel only when used with all terms and conditions of sale. Your ticket is valid only when: Travel is to/from the cities on your ticket and in your trip record You meet all the fare requirements Fare requirements, like dates, special purpose or status, may include:
Your ticket is not valid when:
Exploiting fare rules Reservations made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules are strictly prohibited. Examples include (but are not limited to):
If we find evidence that you or your agent are using an exploitive practice, we reserve the right to:
Fare errors If we sell a fare in error, we have the right to cancel the ticket. This includes fare errors, computer errors and third party errors (human or computer). We make every effort to prevent, detect and correct errors as soon as possible. When we issue a mistaken fare, we'll void the ticket, give a full refund and notify you within:
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Could I get some feedback on whether this scenario would cause any issues?
I have an award reservation for a return leg, C > A. I was waiting to see if an award seat opened for outbound A > B. Note, this is an open-jaw. Now, an excellent r/t fare has become available from A > B. Can I book it, discard the return portion and still use the award travel seat from C > A. Not sure if this is a problem since this scenario seems a little different with the award seat mixed in. Thanks! |
Originally Posted by AnthonyGT
(Post 27756054)
Could I get some feedback on whether this scenario would cause any issues?
I have an award reservation for a return leg, C > A. I was waiting to see if an award seat opened for outbound A > B. Note, this is an open-jaw. Now, an excellent r/t fare has become available from A > B. Can I book it, discard the return portion and still use the award travel seat from C > A. Not sure if this is a problem since this scenario seems a little different with the award seat mixed in. Thanks! |
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
(Post 27756112)
Won't be an issue. Just make sure the date for the return portion of the roundtrip B>A isn't the same as your award ticket C>A. I'd put it at a date way off in the future, you never know if you may need it.
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Originally Posted by weezl
(Post 27756300)
Assuming you if you book 1-way, the fare is higher (as in most cases on this thread), otherwise just book 1-way. Just reality check...
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
(Post 27756112)
Won't be an issue. Just make sure the date for the return portion of the roundtrip B>A isn't the same as your award ticket C>A. I'd put it at a date way off in the future, you never know if you may need it.
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Originally Posted by JJeffrey
(Post 27756112)
Won't be an issue. Just make sure the date for the return portion of the roundtrip B>A isn't the same as your award ticket C>A. I'd put it at a date way off in the future, you never know if you may need it.
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Reason not to provide frequent flyer number before the flight?
Hello guys,
I have thought about one scenario and I just want to validate it with you. Suppose you book a flight with the intention to do possible throw away ticketing. For example, the odds of me taking the last return leg of the itinerary is 50%. If that happens I am guessing it might be a good idea not to reveal myself to the airline through my frequent flyer identifier. In such a case, could be a good idea to provide the number after all the flights have been taken? Can you think of any other scenario when it's beneficial NOT to provide your frequent flyer number before the flight? |
So you're afraid of telling them before, doing a throw away then telling them after you did the throw away? I think they will know who you are either way.
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They don't care if you throw away a return. Maybe if you make a habit of it in ways that are obviously designed to game the system, but 99% of the time they don't care.
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Originally Posted by lobo411
(Post 27772276)
They don't care if you throw away a return. Maybe if you make a habit of it in ways that are obviously designed to game the system, but 99% of the time they don't care.
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People do throw-aways for legit reasons all of the time. I've had a number of cases where plans changed and it was cheaper to blow off the return and buy a new one-way ticket. Not all of those new tickets were on AA. I have never had any repercussions.
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Well, the ticket does have your name on it. The number just makes it easier to track if you're a serial abuser.
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I thought the days of the sat night stayover were gone
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Originally Posted by parnass1
(Post 27772144)
Hello guys,
I have thought about one scenario and I just want to validate it with you. Suppose you book a flight with the intention to do possible throw away ticketing. For example, the odds of me taking the last return leg of the itinerary is 50%. If that happens I am guessing it might be a good idea not to reveal myself to the airline through my frequent flyer identifier. In such a case, could be a good idea to provide the number after all the flights have been taken? Can you think of any other scenario when it's beneficial NOT to provide your frequent flyer number before the flight? |
A friend and his girlfriend (no FF status with AA) have booked a RT NYC-OMA-NYC (via ORD both directions). He just found out that for business reasons, he needs to stay in ORD for a day more so he wants to skip the final ORD-NYC segment, but his girlfriend would fly as ticketed. The fee to change the return for him is $200 plus fare difference, but he says he can buy a OW ORD-NYC the next day for less than $100.
He asked my advice, ordinarily, I would just say skip the final segment just this one time (he doesn't even have an AA FF flyer number), but he and his girlfriend are on the same rec locator. My guess is that the gate agent would notice his no-show but his companion boarding and come on board as a courtesy and ask where he is. He'd rather not put her is this position. If they were on separate reservations, this would not happen. Is there some way that he could split them into 2 record locators in advance so this would not be an issue? Any other advice? |
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