American Airlines Cancels Teen’s “Skiplagging” Ticket for Skipping Flight

A teen who booked a cheaper flight with a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina, had his ticket canceled by American Airlines when the gate agent realized he wasn’t going to fly to his final destination in New York City.

The teen’s father, Hunter Parsons, told Queen City News that he used Skiplagged, a website that helps travelers find flights with cheaper layovers than direct routes.

But the gate agent in Gainesville, Florida, became suspicious of the teen’s travel plans after seeing his North Carolina driver’s license. The agent questioned the teen and found out he was planning to skip his connecting flight to New York City.

American Airlines then canceled the teen’s ticket and his family had to buy him a new direct ticket to Charlotte.

The family said they didn’t know that skiplagging — the practice of booking a flight with a layover and not flying to the final destination — was against American Airlines’ terms and conditions.

Skiplagging is a way to save money on flights, but it also costs airlines revenue. American Airlines said skiplagging is a violation of its Conditions of Carriage online and that it has contacted Parsons.

Parsons said he was worried about his son being detained and questioned by gate agents in Florida. He said his son was a minor and should have been given a warning instead of having his ticket canceled.

American Airlines told Insider that the teen was only questioned at the ticket counter while checking in for his flight and that it has addressed the family’s concerns.

American Airlines has been cracking down on skiplagging in recent years. In 2020, it charged a passenger $2,500 for skiplagging 52 times and kicked out another passenger from its frequent-flyer program for skiplagging on 95 flights.