How to Find Hidden City Flight Deals
Hidden city ticketing is a clever travel hack that can help you save money on airfare by exploiting pricing inefficiencies in airline routes. The concept revolves around booking a flight with a layover in your intended destination and skipping the final leg of the journey. While this strategy can lead to significant savings, it’s important to understand how it works, its limitations, and potential risks. In this guide, we’ll explain how to find hidden city flight deals and provide tips for using this method effectively.
What Is Hidden City Ticketing?
Hidden city ticketing involves booking a flight where your intended destination is the layover city, and the final leg of the trip is to another destination. For example:
- You want to fly from New York (NYC) to Chicago (ORD).
- A direct flight from NYC to ORD costs $300.
- However, a flight from NYC to ORD with a layover in Dallas (DFW) costs only $200.
- By booking the cheaper itinerary and skipping the final leg to DFW, you save $100.
Airlines often price connecting flights lower than direct flights due to competition, demand, or route subsidies, creating opportunities for savvy travelers.
How to Find Hidden City Flight Deals
1. Use Specialized Tools
Several websites and apps are designed to identify hidden city opportunities:
- Skiplagged: This popular platform specializes in finding hidden city deals. It displays both regular fares and hidden city options, making it easy to compare prices.
- Google Flights: While not specifically designed for hidden city ticketing, Google Flights allows you to explore multi-leg itineraries and spot pricing anomalies.
- Kiwi.com: Known for its flexible search options, Kiwi.com sometimes highlights cheaper connecting flights that could work as hidden city tickets.
2. Search for Multi-Leg Flights
When searching for flights, look for routes with layovers in your desired destination. Pay attention to the total cost of the itinerary compared to direct flights.
3. Compare Prices
Always compare the cost of a direct flight to the hidden city option. If the savings aren’t substantial, it may not be worth the extra effort or risk.
4. Check Baggage Policies
Hidden city ticketing works best for carry-on-only travelers because checked bags are typically sent to the final destination. Avoid checking luggage unless you’re willing to retrieve it at baggage claim before skipping the last leg.
Tips for Using Hidden City Ticketing
1. Book One-Way Tickets
Airlines are less likely to flag one-way tickets for hidden city usage. Additionally, round-trip bookings often invalidate the entire ticket if you skip any portion of the journey.
2. Avoid Frequent Flyer Programs
Using hidden city ticketing while enrolled in frequent flyer programs can raise red flags. Airlines may revoke miles, status, or future benefits if they detect this practice.
3. Don’t Use This Method for International Travel
Hidden city ticketing is more complicated for international flights due to stricter immigration and customs procedures. Skipping legs could result in denied boarding or other complications.
4. Be Flexible with Dates
Prices fluctuate based on demand, so flexibility with travel dates can increase your chances of finding a great deal.
5. Clear Cookies and Use Incognito Mode
Some airlines and booking platforms track user behavior to adjust prices dynamically. Browsing in incognito mode or clearing cookies can help avoid inflated fares.
Risks and Limitations
While hidden city ticketing can save money, it comes with certain risks and limitations:
1. Airline Policies
Most airlines prohibit hidden city ticketing in their terms of service. If caught, you may face consequences such as:
- Cancellation of return flights.
- Loss of frequent flyer benefits.
- Bans from future bookings.
2. Checked Bags
As mentioned earlier, checked bags will be routed to the final destination. Retrieving them at the layover city requires additional effort or may not be possible.
3. Non-Refundable Tickets
If your plans change after booking, you won’t be able to modify or refund the unused portion of the ticket without penalties.
4. Limited Availability
Not all routes or airlines offer hidden city opportunities. Savings depend on specific market conditions and pricing structures.
Alternatives to Hidden City Ticketing
If hidden city ticketing doesn’t suit your needs or carries too much risk, consider these alternatives:
1. Error Fares
Occasionally, airlines or online travel agencies list incorrect prices due to human error or technical glitches. Websites like Secret Flying and Scott’s Cheap Flights alert subscribers to these deals.
2. Flexible Date Searches
Use tools like Google Flights or Hopper to identify the cheapest days to fly. Shifting your departure or return date by a day or two can yield significant savings.
3. Budget Airlines
Low-cost carriers often offer deeply discounted fares. While they may charge extra for amenities, the base price is usually much lower than traditional airlines.
4. Fare Alerts
Set up fare alerts on platforms like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google Flights to monitor price drops for your preferred routes.
