Teenager STOPPED at airport after trying to use ‘skip-lagging’ trick

The parents of a North Carolina teenager are outraged after their teen was detained by airport security for trying to “jump the delay” on a flight from Florida to New York.

Hunter Parsons of Charlotte said his son Logan had an American Airlines ticket with a stopover in Charlotte and intended to get off without reboarding.

It was the first time the teen had flown alone, his father said, adding that the family has taken advantage of the popular method of saving on flights before.

At the gate, however, Logan’s North Carolina ID raised red flags with the agent and the teen was later taken to a security room and questioned, Hunter said.

Logan’s ticket was canceled and the family was forced to buy him a direct flight.

While not illegal, skip lagging, also known as hidden city ticketing, is frowned upon in the industry and violates some airlines’ codes of conduct.

It was the first time Logan (pictured) had flown solo, his father said, adding that the family has taken advantage of the popular method of saving on flights before.

Logan’s American Airlines ticket was canceled and he was forced to buy a direct flight

Hunter Parsons said he wasn’t worried about allowing the teenager Logan to fly alone, as the family has used the popular but risky method many times.

“We’ve used Skip Lagg almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Hunter said, saying they weren’t worried about its flight.

However, when Logan got to the door to register, the agent caught on to his plan, and Hunter said he was taken to a security room and questioned “for a little bit.”

“They told him that he was planning to disembark in Charlotte and that he was not going to make the connecting flight,” the father said.

According to Hunter, the family was unaware that delay jumping is looked down upon.

He said his concern was not that the ticket was canceled by an American Airlines representative, but rather the way the situation was handled.

“Our concerns are that he is a minor and that he was left alone several states away,” Parsons told Queen City News.

A lawyer for the airline who spoke to the outlet agreed, calling it “harsh.”

“It’s his first time flying, and he doesn’t really know what he’s doing,” Bruce Brandon said. ‘It seems to be a bit hard for me.

“I just don’t understand why they would do this,” the lawyer added.

The Parsons family in a photo posted to Facebook by Lisa Parsons

“Our concerns are that he is a minor and that he was left alone several states away,” Parsons (left) told Queen City News of his son Logan (right) being alone.

Brandon added that the whole situation did not sit with him, despite the airlines’ recent crackdown on ticketing in hidden cities.

“Was it a security problem or was it a contract problem?” added the lawyer. “Were you held against his will in that back room?”

In recent years, many of the major flight providers have cracked down on outlets that connect passengers with cheaper flight options through the controversial method.

United Airlines and Orbitz sued Skiplagged in 2014, alleging that the company’s site “intentionally and maliciously” interfered with their business.

Most recently, Lufthansa filed a lawsuit against a passenger who had tried to skip a delay on their airline. The company later withdrew the lawsuit.

In a statement following the incident involving Logan, American Airlines said the popular process goes against its flight terms and conditions.

“Buying a ticket without intending to fly all flights for lower fares (hidden city ticketing) is a violation of American Airlines’ terms and conditions and is described in our online Conditions of Carriage,” it said. read in the statement.

They also said they had been in contact with the Parsons regarding the incident.

It was still too hard for the family and the teen who said they understood the company’s position, but thought there might be a better way to do it.

“I think a stern warning, ‘hey, this is frowned upon, if you do it again, there will be consequences, financial penalties,'” Hunter Parsons said.

“We’ve used Skip Lagged almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Hunter (pictured) said, saying they weren’t concerned about its flight.

In a statement following the incident involving Logan, American Airlines said the popular process goes against its flight terms and conditions.

Speaking to Queen City News, a representative for American Airlines said they are speaking with the family about Logan’s time in custody in Florida.

The spokesperson said they were unaware of that part until the outlet reached out.

An investigation is underway within the company.