Skift Take
A 2015 Skift headline asked whether the Skiplagged founder was naive about the power of airlines or an innovator. Multiple lawsuits later, the business is still holding its own.
A federal jury in Texas decided American Airlines can recover $9.4 million in damages from "hidden city" ticket platform Skiplagged, which continues to offer the airline's tickets at steep discounts.
On Wednesday, for example, Skiplagged was offering a one-way ticket on American from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia for just $162 (including a $35 Skiplagged service fee). But the itinerary was actually part of a Washington-Philadelphia-Boston flight. Skiplaggers would simply get off in Philadelphia and "skip" the connection to Boston.
The cheapest fare on American for the same flight was $491. Skiplaggers would save $329.
Airlines hate — and bar — these hidden-city practices because they undercut their fares and disrupt operations.
A Skiplagged notification during the booking process instructing flyers to only bring a backpack on the flight because a checked bag would end up at the airline's final desti