Is hidden city travel allowed?
Apr 20, 2021, 2:12 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,413
All of this said there is very little way for Southwest to prohibit someone from getting off a plane or with open seating to even detect if they did. The only way would be a thru count then checking the identity of everyone on the plane. It seems unlikely that they would take any action except in extraordinary cases.
Apr 20, 2021, 3:48 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,072
You can easily do it once. After all, they would have to PROVE you did not fly. Just about impossible unless you work with NCIS -LOL!
Do it on a regular basis and they will catch it.
Based on other comments and my own checking, there are very few situations where this would even save money.
Do it on a regular basis and they will catch it.
Based on other comments and my own checking, there are very few situations where this would even save money.
Apr 20, 2021, 4:18 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
I once had the OPPOSITE situation, probably once in a lifetime, where a 3 leg, all day, same plane journey took us home from the west coast SJC to LAS to TPA to the northeast. It was much cheaper to buy a ticket ( x 3 people) for the first 2 legs then another for the final leg. By TPA we were settled in the exit row and had no intentions of leaving the plane. Showed the BPs and some ID and all was good...
Apr 20, 2021, 6:22 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,735
I once had the OPPOSITE situation, probably once in a lifetime, where a 3 leg, all day, same plane journey took us home from the west coast SJC to LAS to TPA to the northeast. It was much cheaper to buy a ticket ( x 3 people) for the first 2 legs then another for the final leg. By TPA we were settled in the exit row and had no intentions of leaving the plane. Showed the BPs and some ID and all was good...
I was once on a flight that was a two stopper with delays. The last segment I got screwed as a continuing PAX but because of the gelaythey substituted planes thus I missed my last leg.
I have seen fares like that where individual segrnts purchased were cheaper than the full booked ticket from A to B
i have also seen reasonable routings of A-B-C not available for A to C bookings where the layover was 90 min-2 hrs
Apr 24, 2021, 7:43 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
You can easily do it once. After all, they would have to PROVE you did not fly. Just about impossible unless you work with NCIS -LOL!
Do it on a regular basis and they will catch it.
Based on other comments and my own checking, there are very few situations where this would even save money.
Do it on a regular basis and they will catch it.
Based on other comments and my own checking, there are very few situations where this would even save money.
Mar 1, 2022, 12:20 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 62
You can easily do it once. After all, they would have to PROVE you did not fly. Just about impossible unless you work with NCIS -LOL!
Do it on a regular basis and they will catch it.
Based on other comments and my own checking, there are very few situations where this would even save money.
Do it on a regular basis and they will catch it.
Based on other comments and my own checking, there are very few situations where this would even save money.
Mar 1, 2022, 6:30 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,924
Those scanners don't work right 100% of the time. I've had cases where the boarding pass doesn't scan, GA looks at it and just waves me on.
Mar 1, 2022, 7:24 am
#25
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
If you are on a direct flight number and deplane at an intermediate stop, WN will know the pax count is off, but it will be difficult to ascertain who departed. When hidden city was accepted, I would tell the FA that I was leaving so that they knew that the pax count would be off.
Mar 1, 2022, 6:24 pm
#27
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DEN
Posts: 260
If you are on a direct flight number and deplane at an intermediate stop, WN will know the pax count is off, but it will be difficult to ascertain who departed. When hidden city was accepted, I would tell the FA that I was leaving so that they knew that the pax count would be off.
Mar 2, 2022, 6:52 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,072
A risk, but still may worth taking a chance.