Aug 13, 2018, 2:42 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
from Airline booking ploys
Throwaway Tickets , such book RT and only use OW - any issues with UA?
Related threads
UA sues "hidden city" search site Skiplagged.com
United asking gate agents to report hidden ticket travelers
Archive thread: Consolidated UA "Hidden City Ticketing Questions" {Archive}
Throwaway ticketing is purchasing a ticket with the intent to use only a portion of the included travel. This situation may arise when a passenger wants to travel only one way, but where the discounted round-trip excursion fare is cheaper than a one-way ticket
Hidden city ticketing (HCT) is a variant of throwaway ticketing. The passenger books a ticket to a fictitious destination (the "hidden" city) with a connection at the intended destination, walks away at the connection node, and discards the remaining segment.
UA sues "hidden city" search site Skiplagged.com
United asking gate agents to report hidden ticket travelers
Archive thread: Consolidated UA "Hidden City Ticketing Questions" {Archive}
Consolidated UA "Hidden City Ticketing Questions"
Nov 29, 2023, 11:17 am
#76
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Looking for some advice. I need a return flight from Tokyo to New York. I booked HND-EWR-IAH-GUA for 37.5k United Miles (similar to the price before the devaluation). Is there an advantage to targeting certain cities in Central America or the Carribean. (for example, I found HND-EWR JFK-GUA for 41.3k. Maybe the forced manual switch airport will be easier to skip the last leg, as I can make up some excuse as to why I couldn't get from EWR to JFK? Or should I try something like HND-EWR-SDQ where United only flies to SDQ out of EWR) I plan on checking bags and taking advantage of the requirement to clear customs at EWR to skip all further segments. United is charging 55k for the HND-EWR directly. This is my first time skiplagging and don't plan on doing it regularly. Any datapoints on getting in trouble for doing this once? It is an award ticket so I can't hide my account.
At the end of the day, the likelihood would be small in the first place, so you need to assess your own risk tolerance. One time hidden ticket should be no issues.
Nov 29, 2023, 8:05 pm
#77
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 4
United sees your final destination as GUA, so you may be re-routed to something like HND-LAX-GUA in case of IRROPs. United would have a duty to transport you to GUA, and not EWR. Perhaps the likelihood would decrease if you'd update the itinerary to JFK-GUA on AV.
At the end of the day, the likelihood would be small in the first place, so you need to assess your own risk tolerance. One time hidden ticket should be no issues.
At the end of the day, the likelihood would be small in the first place, so you need to assess your own risk tolerance. One time hidden ticket should be no issues.
Many thanks for the advice! Will United know if I miss take the HND-EWR on United metal but then miss the JFK-GUA leg on Avianca metal given its not their own metal? Also, I should be safe to check bags because I have to clear customs (and also change airports) right?
Nov 30, 2023, 11:07 am
#78
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Will anything happen (to you)? No.
Dec 4, 2023, 11:47 am
#79
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 16
HCT - last leg domestic
Looking for award tickets, found one from INDIA-SIN-SFO to be ~300k
But, changing the final destination to LAS reduced the price to 175k.
Route is still - INDIA-SIN-SFO-LAS.
What is the best course of action to get off in SFO?
Since we need to re-check bags in SFO anyway, is it okay to get-off in SFO and
1. ask to cancel rest of the legs (or)
2. no-show
Thanks in advance!
But, changing the final destination to LAS reduced the price to 175k.
Route is still - INDIA-SIN-SFO-LAS.
What is the best course of action to get off in SFO?
Since we need to re-check bags in SFO anyway, is it okay to get-off in SFO and
1. ask to cancel rest of the legs (or)
2. no-show
Thanks in advance!
Dec 4, 2023, 12:32 pm
#80
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Looking for award tickets, found one from INDIA-SIN-SFO to be ~300k
But, changing the final destination to LAS reduced the price to 175k.
Route is still - INDIA-SIN-SFO-LAS.
What is the best course of action to get off in SFO?
Since we need to re-check bags in SFO anyway, is it okay to get-off in SFO and
1. ask to cancel rest of the legs (or)
2. no-show
Thanks in advance!
But, changing the final destination to LAS reduced the price to 175k.
Route is still - INDIA-SIN-SFO-LAS.
What is the best course of action to get off in SFO?
Since we need to re-check bags in SFO anyway, is it okay to get-off in SFO and
1. ask to cancel rest of the legs (or)
2. no-show
Thanks in advance!
For #1, when you say rest of legs, you mean just the SFO to LAS segment? Also, do not ask UA if there are any refunds wirh the unflown domestic segment.
Dec 4, 2023, 1:02 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
united is very willing to refund the residual value (calculated on a percentage of total distance basis) for unflown segments on paid reservations that have experienced a schedule change or a flight delay.
Dec 4, 2023, 1:16 pm
#82
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Also award flying if you read the post from the OP.
Dec 4, 2023, 1:35 pm
#83
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
a schedule change or a flight delay are perfectly valid reasons to not fly a final segment. united will happily refund, on a generous distance basis (hint, make the the throwaway segment longer like central america). it was bad advice to leave this value on the table.
Dec 4, 2023, 2:32 pm
#84
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Dec 5, 2023, 11:31 am
#85
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 16
I wasn't going to ask for residual value at all. Only motivation was to stay in good standing with United.
Last edited by hellestbwoy; Dec 5, 2023 at 11:33 am Reason: forgot to quote
Dec 6, 2023, 7:35 pm
#87
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Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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werful tool.
Dec 7, 2023, 9:05 am
#90
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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At most US ports of entry, you must claim your bags and go through customs, then re-check your bag before connecting onward. At many of those airports, you could take your checked bag and exit the secure area and leave the airport without re-checking it.
It's been a couple of years since I entered via SFO, so I won't swear you can still do this, but last time I went through, it was an option.
Worst case, go to the baggage office near baggage claim, state you had a change of travel plans, and ask if they can pull your bag. It's not guaranteed, but depending on how long of a connection you have, it's possible they will accommodate. Keep in mind that they more contact with humans you have, the more likely someone is to see red flags, so if you can just exit with your bag after customs, that's the easiest approach.