- Who started Skiplagged and who runs it now
- What hidden-city ticketing is, in Skiplagged's words
- Where Skiplagged has faced airlines in court
- Skiplagged risks you can plan around
- How booking and changes work on Skiplagged
- Questions to ask yourself before you book a skipped leg
- Fake Skiplagged sites and travel scams
- Is Skiplagged legit?
- Frequently asked questions
Skiplagged is a real flight search site that Wikipedia says was started in 2013 by Aktarer Zaman. It's best known for hidden-city tickets, which Skiplagged says are legal but may conflict with an airline's contract of carriage. The catch is that if the airline objects, that's a dispute between you and the airline, not something the site can settle.
Skiplagged gets asked about because it does something other flight sites don't: it shows hidden-city fares. That sounds like a loophole, and loopholes make people nervous, so I've read what Skiplagged says about itself and what Wikipedia reports about the airline lawsuits. This isn't legal advice, just the facts as they're written.
Who started Skiplagged and who runs it now
Wikipedia says Skiplagged was founded by Aktarer Zaman, who started the site in 2013 at age 20. On its about page, Skiplagged describes itself as employee-owned and independent of the travel industry. That's the company's own description, so I'd treat it as a claim, though it's a clear one.
What hidden-city ticketing is, in Skiplagged's words
Skiplagged describes skiplagging as booking a flight with a layover in your real destination, then leaving the trip at that layover. The idea is that the onward flight isn't one you plan to take. Wikipedia says the site popularized the tactic, also called hidden city ticketing.
Skiplagged says skiplagging is legal but may conflict with an airline's contract of carriage, and says reviewing restrictions carefully is needed. That is the part to read twice. Legal and allowed by the airline are not the same thing.
Where Skiplagged has faced airlines in court
Several airlines have challenged the site, according to Wikipedia. In 2014, United Airlines and Orbitz sued Skiplagged for 75,000 US dollars in lost revenue, claiming it violated fare rules. Orbitz settled out of court, and a court dismissed United's suit on procedural grounds.
Wikipedia also reports that in 2021 Southwest Airlines sued over the display of its fares, and that case settled out of court. In 2023 American Airlines sued, and in 2024 a Texas federal judge ruled Skiplagged had not breached contract but had violated American's copyrights.
I'd read that neutrally. These are disputes between airlines and a search site. They're not findings that Skiplagged takes your money and doesn't deliver a ticket.
| What I checked | What Skiplagged and Wikipedia say |
|---|---|
| Who started it | Aktarer Zaman, 2013, per Wikipedia |
| What it does | Finds flights, including hidden-city options |
| Legal status of skiplagging | Skiplagged says legal, but may conflict with an airline's contract |
| Airline lawsuits | United and Orbitz in 2014, Southwest in 2021, American in 2023 |
| Changes and cancellations | Via the confirmation email and provider contact details |
Skiplagged risks you can plan around
The risk with hidden-city tickets falls on you, not the website. If you skip the last leg, the airline may notice, and the contract of carriage is where it would object. Skiplagged tells readers to review restrictions carefully, so read them before you book.
- Don't check a bag. Skiplagged warns that bags go to the final ticketed destination, not where you leave the trip.
- Think twice before putting a return flight on the same booking as a skipped leg, since the airline's rules decide what happens to the rest of it.
- Don't plan important trips where missing a connection would be costly.
- Read the fare rules and keep your confirmation email.
The first bullet is straight from Skiplagged's own warning, and the rest are common sense. The sensible approach is to treat a hidden-city ticket as a one-way, carry-on-only plan.
How booking and changes work on Skiplagged
The site says you enter your departure city, destination, dates and number of travelers, compare flights and filter by stops, times, airlines, airports or skiplagging options. After you check out, a confirmation email follows. For changes or cancellations, the site points you to that email, which contains manage-booking links and provider contact details.
Skiplagged also says some partner bookings may show a Cancel Booking button within 24 hours. That's a short window, so if you realise you've made a mistake, don't wait.
If a flight is cancelled by the airline, your rights depend on the airline and route. My guide on how long you have to claim after a cancellation explains the timing.
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Questions to ask yourself before you book a skipped leg
Before you pay, ask whether you can live with the worst outcome. If the airline objects, you could face a dispute with the carrier, and Skiplagged can't overrule an airline's rules. That's not a reason to panic, but it's a reason to keep hidden-city tickets for trips where you have a back-up plan.
It also helps to compare the fare with a normal booking for the same trip. A small saving may not be worth the added rules, and a big saving deserves a careful read of the restrictions. I'd also screenshot the itinerary and fare conditions, so you can show exactly what you booked if you need to contact the airline later.
Fake Skiplagged sites and travel scams
Travel is a favourite for scammers because people book in a hurry. Watch out for lookalike addresses, ads that promise unbelievably low fares, and emails or texts asking you to pay again or confirm card details after booking. Go to the site by typing its address yourself.
If you use AI to plan trips, ChatGPT prompts for planning a trip on a small budget can help, but always check the booking details with the airline or provider.
Is Skiplagged legit?
Yes, it's a real search and booking site with a named founder, a public history and a clear explanation of what skiplagging is. The honest trade-off is that the headline feature carries a risk with airlines. Read the restrictions, travel with carry-on only, keep your confirmation email and don't rely on a hidden-city ticket for anything that can't go wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skiplagged legit?
Skiplagged is a real flight search site that Wikipedia says was founded by Aktarer Zaman in 2013. It describes itself as employee-owned and independent of the travel industry.
Is hidden-city ticketing illegal?
Skiplagged says skiplagging is legal but may conflict with an airline's contract of carriage. Airlines have challenged the site in court, per Wikipedia.
Has Skiplagged been sued?
Wikipedia reports lawsuits from United Airlines and Orbitz in 2014, Southwest Airlines in 2021 and American Airlines in 2023. Outcomes varied, including settlements and a dismissal.
Can I check a bag on a hidden-city ticket?
Skiplagged warns against it, because bags go to the final ticketed destination rather than your exit point.
How do I cancel or change a Skiplagged booking?
Skiplagged says to use your confirmation email, which has manage-booking links and provider contact details. Some partner bookings may show a Cancel Booking button within 24 hours.
