Flight attendant reveals his top tips for ‘skiplagging’ WITHOUT getting caught after American Airlines banned a 17-year-old for using a money-saving travel tactic

A flight attendant has revealed his top tips for avoiding getting caught by employing the money-saving technique known as ‘skiplagging’, which recently saw a North Carolina teenager trapped and detained at the airport.

The concept, which is not illegal but is frowned upon in the industry, works like this: a passenger books a flight from point A to point B with a layover at the desired destination and does not board the connecting flight to point B.

This often results in substantial savings on tickets, but travelers can occasionally get stuck and last week, 17-year-old Hunter Parsons was detained by security when he got off his flight from Florida to JFK in Charlotte and did not return. tackle. He has now been banned by American Airlines for three years.

To avoid such a mishap, Bobby Laurie, who worked as a cabin crew for US Airways (now American Airlines) and the now-defunct Virgin America, says there are three things travelers should avoid if they want to try skiplaping.

First, he told DailyMail.com that it’s important to limit his interaction with airline employees.

To do this, he advises checking in online or through an app, instead of going to a kiosk at the airport.

So unless it’s something urgent, it’s best to ‘avoid talking to airline staff’ for the entire trip.

Bobby’s second tip is to avoid using frequent flyer information, as this could result in your account being terminated.

This means you’ll have to forgo getting a free upgrade or earning miles on the ride.

Lastly, Bobby, co-host of the travel TV show. the jet setter – says that passengers who skip baggage should never check bags, as their baggage is likely to end up at the final destination rather than being unloaded at the connecting airport.

Many airlines make it clear in their terms and conditions that skiplagging is not permitted. But travel professionals stress that the money-saving technique is not illegal.

Former flight attendant Bobby Laurie says it’s better for people to check in online or through an app, rather than going to a kiosk at the airport if they want to try and skip the flight.

Bobby worked as a cabin crew for US Airways (now American Airlines) and the now defunct Virgin America.

One company taking advantage of the skiplagging loophole is the flight booking website Skiplagged.com.

The site even boasts: “Our flights are so cheap that United (Airlines) sued us… but we won.”

It has dozens of flights on sale, with the “skipped” fares displayed alongside the standard prices.

However, he cautions travelers against indulging in the practice too often, as airlines might notice and penalize you.

Like Bobby, he also recommends not associating ‘skipped’ flights with frequent flyer accounts, as if you do, ‘the airline could invalidate any miles you’ve earned on them.’

On Reddit, dozens of travelers have shared their views on skiplagging.

One commenter wrote: “Probably fine for one time, but don’t make it a pattern.”

Echoing similar sentiments, another warned: ‘You’ll only get banned if you do it often.

I’ve done this a few times with a few different airlines but the last time I did it was before Covid lol. So…use but don’t abuse.’

Offering a couple of pieces of advice to others, one ‘skiplagger’ said that sometimes they ‘didn’t say anything and just walked out of the airport with no consequences’.

While on a couple of other occasions, the airline was called to declare a bogus personal emergency ‘preventing me from flying the final legs’.