Last Updated: March 31, 2023
Is Skiplagged Flights Legit? A Comprehensive Review
Finding cheap flights is something we all want. Flying is not cheap and with so many websites offering cheap flights, we tend to make it our mission to find the best deal possible.
Skiplagged is one such website that is all about finding you cheap flights and the way they go about it is different from most other travel websites.
This does beg the question, is Skiplagged flights legit and I am here to answer it. Below, I will dive into the details of how Skiplagged works, its pros and cons, and whether it is safe to use so you can choose to find a deal through this site or not.
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What Is Skiplagged?
Skiplagged was formed by a few travelers who were done with paying such expensive prices for flights. It is a travel website where you can book flights, hotels, and car rentals for your vacation that offers great deals.
The website and app are very user-friendly. You can find a multitude of excellent flight deals and book them very easily too, and these are deals you will not find when booking directly with airlines.
How Does Skiplagged Work?
Skiplagged has two types of flights to get you to your final destination. The first is regular flight deals you would find on other similar websites such as Kayak, and the others are hidden city tickets that are unique to Skiplagged.
Hidden city ticketing is a very clever way of unlocking super cheap flights for us travelers. The hidden city ticketing process works by searching for your final destination as a layover and as your destination.
For example, if I wanted to fly from London to Istanbul and it costs $400. The Hidden city ticketing search would look at normal flights to Istanbul, but also flights that go London-Istanbul-Bahrain with Istanbul as the stopover.
The price for the hidden city option could come out at just $200, and to get these savings, all I would have to do is get off the plane in Istanbul, leave the airport, and not get on the plane to Bahrain.
The hidden city ticketing system works and this is why Skiplagged has become a popular travel booking website.
Pros of Using Skiplagged
Insane Deals
Skiplagged is able to provide some outrageously cheap deals, and you will probably find some of the cheapest flights around by using their hidden city system. You will save money on this flight booking website using hidden city flights.
Their search engine is also pretty awesome at giving you the best deals for regular flights too.
It Is A Pleasure To Use
No matter your desired destination, both the Skiplagged website and app make booking flights, whether it is a hidden city ticket or not, a pleasure. It is easy to find your way around the site/app and find exactly what you are looking for in no time at all.
There are a ton of filters to help you find the exact search results you are looking for, for your intended destination. You can also change the language and currency to suit you as well.
Free To Use & Loyalty Points
Using Skiplagged is 100% free and you can earn loyalty points with every booking that you can then use to make future bookings even cheaper.
24-Hour Cancellation In Most Cases
With most bookings on Skiplagged, if you cancel within 24 hours you will get a full refund.
Cons of Using Skiplagged
The cons of using Skiplagged only come when you use Hidden City Tickets, and as always, when you save some cash, you have to pay the price eventually. Here are the cons to look out for.
No Round Trip Ticket Option
When booking a Hidden City ticket, you will not be able to book a round trip, which often comes with savings. Instead, you will have to book two single tickets.
No Checked Baggage
When you check a bag, the checked bag ends up at your final destination, but that is not where you are getting off when booking a Hidden City ticket.
Your checked bags would end up at the final stop when you have gotten off before it, therefore you can only take carry-on luggage when using a Hidden City flight.
You Will Not Earn Any Air Miles
Hidden city tickets do not earn you any airline miles as you will not have completed the flight and therefore your frequent flyer account will suffer due to this.
Airlines Hate Hidden City Tickets
When a passenger doesn’t arrive for a flight, they are delayed. Also, airlines have to check visas for certain destinations, this doesn’t work if you get off somewhere else.
Generally speaking, the use of Hidden City tickets is an airline’s worst nightmare and it is also causing prices to increase for destinations that used to be a lot more affordable.
Airlines have even taken legal action against passengers who used these types of tickets.
Flight Changes Can Ruin Your Hidden City Ticket
Airlines will often change their routes for flights. This can be a schedule change or to avoid weather and it can have serious consequences for your ticket.
If you have booked a flight from Dallas to Florida connecting in New York, and the airline changes the flight to connect in Charleston, then your hidden ticket to New York simply doesn’t work anymore.
Any changes like this to your hidden ticket won’t get you to your actual destination.
Carry-On Bags Can Get Checked
If you are last to board the plane, your carry-on bag can be checked to your final destination if the overhead lockers are full.
If you are using a Hidden City ticket, this means your bag will not arrive at the connection where you plan to get off, and you will be without your bag, and have to deal with a load of hassle to get it back.
Are Skiplagged Flights Legal?
Yes, Skiplagged flights are technically legal. The company has actually been taken to court by United Airlines, American Airlines, and other Airlines, and they have won every legal battle they have gone up against which is saying something.
Is It Safe to Book Through Skiplagged?
Yes, booking through Skiplagged is a secure process and you will get the flight ticket that you are paying for. But, it does come with some risks, and these are from the airlines.
If you are booking a Hidden City flight, then do not use your frequent flyer number as the airlines are starting to create consequences for people who do not fly to their booked destination and simply get off early.
You can have your points removed, have your status revoked, and even get taken to court by the airlines if they discover you are a repeat offender.
So, use these super cheap deals but at your own risk, overall they are not very good for the travel industry.
Why Is Skiplagged So Cheap?
Skiplagged is super cheap due to its excellent search capabilities and due to its Hidden City Ticketing system, which we have discussed extensively above.
What Others Are Saying About Skiplagged
When you take a look at Skiplagged on Trustpilot, you get a mixture of reviews as you can see below.
Interestingly enough, they do have a 4.5/5 star rating which goes to show that they are currently doing well in terms of customer satisfaction. Let’s take a look at some of the good and the bad.
So, these are some super happy customers who managed to get amazing deals, book with ease, and use their credits to get a free flight. But, the bad contradicts these, let’s have a look.
As you can see, customers have also had trouble with price changes, overcharges, charging without permission, and a lack of customer service to help them use credits or get things sorted.
Overall, customers are happy when using Skiplagged but there are some instances where things do go wrong.
So, Is Skiplagged Flights Legit?
Skiplagged is a 100% legit company and a great way of finding deals on flights. Using their normal flight booking services comes with very little risk but using their Hidden City deals is another story.
If you are really looking for a super cheap deal and do not mind taking the risks of getting off at the connecting airport, then go for it, it should pan out fine, most of the time.
But, it is not good for the travel industry overall and the airline’s reactions are simply to increase ticket prices for flights with connections instead of getting customers to pay a premium for the convenience of a direct flight.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
