UA has a form letter they send out along with a payment demand to those who do chronic hidden city ticketing.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28912152-post224.html

https://nomascoach.boardingarea.com/...h-collections/

I believe there have been a few of stories about AA doing it as well. Have not heard of any stories involving DL demanding payment.

The OP of this thread's "friend" is a 6-8 times/year hidden city user. As such, certainly they know not to check a bag.

I get that. My post was a reply to the user's post I quoted.

The presumption that everyone who gets caught out in a fraud by an air carrier comes to FT to moan about it is misplaced. My guess is that the vast majority of people who do get bagged don't brag about it. The few who have posted here recently have been UA & AA experiences (in the US).

To me, the easiest approach is not to sue the passenger, but presuming that they have status or a significant balance in their FFP, just close it out. That may sting more than writing a check.

It really depends on who you are.

If you fly hidden city without FFP involvement, the chance is not only DL, but most airlines won't lay a finger on you. While each airlines has massive data, it just takes too many works to sort out who's who. In many cases, it is not worth spending the resources to go after these people.

However, if you use FFP in anyway with hidden city, things will be easier for airlines, as they can trace back your flight history. Lawsuit or not, the very first thing the airlines can do is to revoke the membership and forfeit all miles/points.

Of course, people may say this may not even occur. But based on the news, airlines had sued. Airlines had revoked membership before.

Is it a risk you are willing to take? Not me for sure.

My 2 cents.

Bingo.
And also how to not get in a situation where forced to gate check.
Thanks for this! Will go read it all. .
Definitely - which is why I'm asking directly... maybe someone who has will see the thread and respond though.

Is this speculation? or based on any experience?

And don't be late because something else happened...which is admittedly easier to control for Hidden City since presumably you are not making a connection that becomes "at risk." My gate checks always happen when a 45 min connection delays into a 20 min connection. I have turned to traveling backpack only in some situations to avoid this.

Lufthansa sued a passenger.

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2...city-ticketing

Flying an RJ isn't the issue because when you "valet" check on an RJ (when it's "pink tagged"), you get your bag back on the jetway following that particular flight. When you're on a mainline aircraft and your bag is gate-checked by the GA, it is checked to the final destination.

BA charged a travel agent for this when passengers the TA booked dropped the last leg of a trip a little too often.

No reports of any passengers being charged or having their BAEC accounts closed.

That's not to say no one has just no one came to flyer talk to complain about it / ask for advice

If I am asked to gate check a bag, and need to short check it, I simply state such. There are many legitimate reasons for needing to have access to belongings (e.g medication that requires portable cooling device), but this is not Delta's business.

Really?

I thought they are required to unload the bag if you don't show for a flight. That's the law in many countries. In other words, bags arrives where you arrive.