Skiplagged is a flight search engine that specializes in finding "hidden city" fares — flights where booking a connection through your actual destination is cheaper than booking a direct flight. This controversial pricing arbitrage saved users hundreds per trip but drew lawsuits from airlines including United Airlines, which Skiplagged won.
Skiplagged occupies a unique niche as the only major flight search tool built around hidden city ticketing. It also offers conventional flight and hotel search, but its brand is defined by the arbitrage angle. Airlines actively oppose the practice and may cancel frequent flyer miles or ban passengers who abuse it.
Most popular flight search engine with price tracking, flexible date search, and fare predictions. Does not show hidden city fares.
Searches flights, hotels, and rental cars with price alerts and fare predictions. Comprehensive but does not surface hidden city routing.
Strong for international flights with "everywhere" search feature. Partners with smaller airlines and OTAs that major search engines miss.
Predicts whether flight prices will go up or down with 95% accuracy. "Freeze" feature locks in a price for a fee. Appeals to price-sensitive travelers.
Airlines view hidden city ticketing as a violation of their contracts of carriage. While Skiplagged won its lawsuit against United, airlines can cancel miles, revoke elite status, or ban passengers who use the practice frequently.
Hidden city ticketing only works for carry-on travelers on one-way or throwaway-return tickets. These constraints limit the addressable market, pushing Skiplagged to also offer conventional search where it competes against well-funded incumbents.
Skiplagged's David-vs-Goliath lawsuit story generated significant media coverage. This brand awareness is valuable but fading — sustaining attention without ongoing controversy is challenging.
For conventional flight search, Skiplagged competes with Google Flights, KAYAK, Skyscanner, and Hopper. For hidden city fares specifically, it has no major direct competitors — most search engines do not surface these routes.
Hidden city ticketing is not illegal, but it violates most airlines' contracts of carriage. Airlines can cancel frequent flyer accounts or deny boarding as a consequence. Skiplagged won its lawsuit establishing the right to show these fares.
No. Checked bags will be routed to the final ticketed destination, not your hidden city stop. Hidden city ticketing only works with carry-on luggage.
Savings vary widely but can be $100-300+ per flight on routes where hidden city fares exist. Not every route has hidden city opportunities — the app shows conventional fares alongside hidden city options when available.