Hidden City
Aug 28, 2015, 11:06 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: SW RR
Posts: 59
Hidden City
I did the hidden city trick on a trip back in March. It was with points. And I saved over 4,000 pts.
1) Just confirming this is still allowed and nothing has changed.
2) My buddy wants to do it, but he will be paying for his ticket. Only downfall for him is the loss of points posting to his account correct?
3) Currently the fare difference is only $5 - $195 (earn 1,010 pts) vs $190 (earn 934pts). Not worth it for my friend since the value of the points he will earn is more than the savings in cash. I am using the 1/70 as the factor in calculating the valuation for points. Am I correct in my reasoning.
4) I booked with points and I've been checking everyday to see if my fare has gone down. But I only check the real flight and not all the hidden city possibilities. If you were able to save 70 points would you still rebook using hidden city? I guess what I am asking is what is the minimum savings in points you would rebook using hidden city.
1) Just confirming this is still allowed and nothing has changed.
2) My buddy wants to do it, but he will be paying for his ticket. Only downfall for him is the loss of points posting to his account correct?
3) Currently the fare difference is only $5 - $195 (earn 1,010 pts) vs $190 (earn 934pts). Not worth it for my friend since the value of the points he will earn is more than the savings in cash. I am using the 1/70 as the factor in calculating the valuation for points. Am I correct in my reasoning.
4) I booked with points and I've been checking everyday to see if my fare has gone down. But I only check the real flight and not all the hidden city possibilities. If you were able to save 70 points would you still rebook using hidden city? I guess what I am asking is what is the minimum savings in points you would rebook using hidden city.
Aug 28, 2015, 12:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
I did the hidden city trick on a trip back in March. It was with points. And I saved over 4,000 pts.
1) Just confirming this is still allowed and nothing has changed.
2) My buddy wants to do it, but he will be paying for his ticket. Only downfall for him is the loss of points posting to his account correct?
3) Currently the fare difference is only $5 - $195 (earn 1,010 pts) vs $190 (earn 934pts). Not worth it for my friend since the value of the points he will earn is more than the savings in cash. I am using the 1/70 as the factor in calculating the valuation for points. Am I correct in my reasoning.
4) I booked with points and I've been checking everyday to see if my fare has gone down. But I only check the real flight and not all the hidden city possibilities. If you were able to save 70 points would you still rebook using hidden city? I guess what I am asking is what is the minimum savings in points you would rebook using hidden city.
1) Just confirming this is still allowed and nothing has changed.
2) My buddy wants to do it, but he will be paying for his ticket. Only downfall for him is the loss of points posting to his account correct?
3) Currently the fare difference is only $5 - $195 (earn 1,010 pts) vs $190 (earn 934pts). Not worth it for my friend since the value of the points he will earn is more than the savings in cash. I am using the 1/70 as the factor in calculating the valuation for points. Am I correct in my reasoning.
4) I booked with points and I've been checking everyday to see if my fare has gone down. But I only check the real flight and not all the hidden city possibilities. If you were able to save 70 points would you still rebook using hidden city? I guess what I am asking is what is the minimum savings in points you would rebook using hidden city.
2) Yes, no points for the flight (or segment credit for status, if he cares)
3) You're correct in your reasoning.
4) Certainly more than 70 points. I'd start considering it around 500 points, I think. Maybe fewer.
Aug 29, 2015, 10:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Programs: MR LT Platinum, HH Diamond, WN A-List,
Posts: 478
Aug 30, 2015, 6:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 58
Aug 30, 2015, 6:44 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 529
Aug 30, 2015, 7:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
I don't know when you are talking about traveling. But, since as far as I could see, there aren't even any non-stop flights from either Tampa or Orlando to Oklahoma City. That means for a hidden city flight, it would have to be a 2-stop flight from one of those two originating cities, to an intermediate destination and then on to Oklahoma City and then on to the final destination. Good luck!
Sep 2, 2015, 9:23 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PIT, EWR
Posts: 138
You may think about buying two tickets to get to OKC. First one is a one-way hidden city to DAL, HOU, or ATL, and the second one is a one-way ticket from DAL/HOU/ATL to OKC. This *might* save you a few bucks.
Coming back, you have hidden city opportunities to DAL/HOU/ATL, and then from DAL/HOU/ATL to TPA/MCO. There might even be a hidden city itinerary that takes you OKC - DAL/HOU/ATL - TPA/MCO - XXX.
Or you can just fly Allegiant from Orlando Sanford nonstop to OKC, which has flights on Thursday and Sunday starting in Feb 2016.
Coming back, you have hidden city opportunities to DAL/HOU/ATL, and then from DAL/HOU/ATL to TPA/MCO. There might even be a hidden city itinerary that takes you OKC - DAL/HOU/ATL - TPA/MCO - XXX.
Or you can just fly Allegiant from Orlando Sanford nonstop to OKC, which has flights on Thursday and Sunday starting in Feb 2016.
Sep 3, 2015, 10:44 am
#13
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
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Posts: 14,192
Sep 5, 2015, 1:12 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
I suppose there's someone here that has experienced that and can report the outcome.
Sep 7, 2015, 1:13 am
#15
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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