The secret of those who like connecting flights.

For many travelers, the destination they want to reach is not the final leg of their flight but rather a connecting stop.

Direct flights are usually more expensive than connecting flights. Many people choose connecting flights to save money, but not everyone takes the flight to their final destination. Many people stop at the transit point because that's the city they want to reach.

Kathleen Bangs, a former pilot and spokesperson for FlightAware, one of the world's largest flight tracking platforms, said that a direct flight from Minneapolis to Miami, USA, costs $500. If flying from Minneapolis to Florida, with a layover in Miami, the price is $350. Therefore, many people wanting to go to Miami will choose the second option: booking a Minneapolis-Florida flight but stopping in Miami for a layover and skipping the final Miami-Florida leg. "They'll save $150," Bangs said. This trick for buying cheap tickets is known as skiplagging.

Passengers line up to board a plane at Fort Worth International Airport, USA, in late 2022. Photo: Dallas News

Those who choose this flight option will not check in their luggage to avoid the possibility of their suitcases being transferred directly to the next flight.

Amanda, a marketing employee living in Texas, USA, often chooses this method to save money on international flights. She has applied this to nearly 10 flights, saving $3,000-$4,000 over three years starting in 2021. Airlines apparently haven't yet discovered Amanda's canceled flights.

When asked if she was worried about being caught, Amanda replied "yes." However, she hoped not to be caught because this flying method "helps me a lot." "I plan to fly like this again at the end of the month," the American tourist said.

Those who stop at a connecting point and don't complete their flight may face penalties from the airlines. "But this action is not a criminal offense," CNN reported.

"You won't go to jail. Airlines consider this a violation of the terms and conditions you agreed to when booking your ticket," said Scott Keyes, founder of the travel website Going. However, airlines may penalize those who circumvent the rules, such as cutting reward miles for frequent flyers or banning them from flying, requiring them to pay the difference in fare.

Phil Dengler, co-founder of the online travel advisory website The Vacationer, says that skipping the last leg of a trip isn't a new trick; it's been around for a while. In fact, many travel agencies use this tactic to help customers buy cheaper tickets.

Airlines dislike this because passengers are inadvertently creating more stress for ground staff. When passengers don't board, the airline has to spend time searching for them, such as sending staff to look around the airport or calling out their names over the loudspeaker. Check-in counter staff might delay closing time trying to wait for a passenger who will never show up.

CNN sent interview questions to nine major airlines worldwide, including American, Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa, but received no responses. Some airlines stated they "didn't want to discuss this topic further" because it could inadvertently spread the information widely, leading to increased awareness and potential violations.

Dengler "does not encourage travelers to abandon their flights" because "you're creating too much trouble and stress for yourself and the airline." However, many people are still willing to take the risk. Amanda says it's the only way she can fly international flights regularly when needed. "Flight prices are now three to five times higher than in previous years, making it sometimes impossible for us to travel," Amanda says.

(By Anh Minh , according to CNN )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/bi-mat-cua-nhung-nguoi-thich-bay-noi-chuyen-4679472.html