Posted on 12/30/2014 10:25:05 AM PST by george76
A young computer whiz from New York City has launched a site to help people buy cheap plane tickets. But an airline company and its travel partner want to shut him down.
United Airlines and Orbitz filed a civil lawsuit last month against 22-year-old Aktarer Zaman, who founded the website Skiplagged.com last year.
The site helps travelers find cheap flights by using a strategy called “hidden city” ticketing.
The idea is that you buy an airline ticket that has a layover at your actual destination. Say you want to fly from New York to San Francisco — you actually book a flight from New York to Lake Tahoe with a layover in San Francisco and get off there, without bothering to take the last leg of the flight.
This travel strategy only works if you book a one-way flight with no checked bags (they would have landed in Lake Tahoe).
(Excerpt) Read more at kdvr.com ...
Yes, good tip. My company is a vendor for several of those major companies so I have that out - just in case I ever need it. Never been asked for credentials once however.
1. Like it or not, you are violating the terms of the contract.So this would be a minor civil matter. I don't see either side willing to invest thousands of dollars in legal fees over a couple-hundred dollar (or less) matter. But, if the airlines chooses, I'm sure that one airline could choose not to do any future business with you.
2. Suppose you get off in San Francisco, and then the plane crashes in the Sierra. Now everyone thinks you're dead. Now suppose that you're a super opportunistic person and decide to stay dead.Only likely if the same flight you initially boarded *is* the connecting flight and you were not required to deplane and re-board. I've been flying up to 45 weeks a year since 2000 and have never encountered one of those connections. Even when the same plane continues on to the final destination, I've always been made to deplane and re-board so the cleaners and caterers can go over the plane between flight legs. However, perhaps I'm an oddball case. Are there still split-flights where they allow you to remain in your seat?
3. Suppose the airline system notices that you failed to check in to the Tahoe flight and adds you to the FBI BOLO list. Now you are a fugitive terrorist on the run.I don't see why they would do this. People fail to show and board on many flights daily. I think the airlines actually bank on this or else they would not over-book a flight. And all the folks flying "stand-by" are sure hoping you don't make your flight. Could be you were stuck in traffic; stuck in the bathroom or just decided you didn't want to fly - they would need some additional *serious* reasons to involve airport security, much less the FBI, because you missed a flight. Remember, all they know is that you didn't board. There could be any number of reasons why - the vast majority of which are innocent and reasonable.
I think the airlines really can't do squat about individual passengers gaming the system and they know it. But when some dude comes up with a technological tool to assist folks in gaming the system, then they have a stationary target they can focus their lawyers on and I'm betting that is the case with this story.
They can get him shut down if they have a case but all that really means is people will have to do the work themselves to get discount fares.
A contract of carriage as you point out correctly is enforceable but if airlines can’t stop people from gaming the system - maybe take away the financial incentive for them to do so in the first place.
And unless someone has lots of frequent flyer miles, there’s not much they can do - since no one can read people’s minds and there are also perfectly legitimate reasons for staying overnight or skipping your return flight that have nothing to do with defrauding the airline of revenue.
Just pick whatever company in town is the largest and ask them for the rate. Ford in Detroit, Anheuser Busch in STL,etc.....
“Airlines charge more for New York to San Francisco than New York to San Francisco to Lake Tahoe?
I know that when used to have to go East on business, I found at times when we were at our Carmel Home over a weekend, that I could fly on United from Monterey to SFO, then on to some East Coast Destination for less money than if I had driven from Monterey to SFO and flown direct. Again, the airline was United. So much to say, with airlines run by morons coupled with the BS of the TSA, I am glad I don’t have the need to fly anymore. The Golden Age of Air Travel has been over at least since 911 and probably before. AL management still tries to chrome plate a turd.
I found a direct flight from Frankfurt Germany to Detroit Michigan through a German travel office for about $200 (round trip). The Military travel office (TMO) offered me a round trip flight with two layovers for about $700.
I looked at taking a $10 Space Available hop from Rhein Maine or Ramstein to the nearest military base and finding a follow-on within the U.S. It was cheaper to fly commercial all the way.
I’ve actually done this in the past though then you didn’t always know what your “hidden city” was, or at least if it was guaranteed.
This is done all the time. Chattanooga Tn. is a hidden city. If you final is Atlanta book to cha it will be about 100 bucks cheaper and don’t take the Chattanooga flight. Dont check a bag though.
I flew from Detroit to Shreveport with a stop in Atlanta. They only checked my bag as far as Atlanta. I wonder if a clerk would be willing to do this for a $10 tip...
Just have UPS/Fed-Ex ship your luggage to your hotel. Or just carry what you need in a take on bag.
I’ve heard of people doing that just to avoid the hassle of dragging around their suitcases. You’ve taken the idea to a whole new level; you rock!
2. Suppose you get off in San Francisco, and then the plane crashes in the Sierra. Now everyone thinks you’re dead. Now suppose that you’re a super opportunistic person and decide to stay dead.
Are you a political junkie or a drama junkie?
When you board the plane they swipe your ticket and look at your ID. There’s a computer log showing who boarded and who didn’t. If you don’t get on the connecting flight the computer log will note your absence.
-PJ
;-)
Airlines overbook (double sell seats) anyway.
They ID boarding passes at the gate. they know you are not on the plane.
When I was at Compaq, it was revealed that there was different bundle pricing for options depending on which click path you used to select a system. This was done deliberately.
I figure if you have to game the system to be profitable, you aren't doing something right. Same goes for charging more for traveling fewer miles on the same plane.
Because of price-fixing and illegal collusion between the airlines to all adhere to this practice.
It certainly isn't based on operating costs and it succeeds as long as they all are agreeing to do it.
The airlines were demanding driver's licenses as ID to board for over a decade before 9-11. They certainly didn't prohibit terrorist from boarding the flight but they did help to prevent passengers from selling the return trip of a round trip ticket.
My Wife and Brother had the same first initial.
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