Tourists are urged to ‘skiplag’ to get the best deal on flights

By ESTHER MARSHALL

Published: 12:43 BST, 4 June 2025 | Updated: 12:43 BST, 4 June 2025

A travel expert has explained how tourists can bag a cheap long-haul flight but the hack does come with a few catches. 

Chelsea Dickenson, the Cheap Holiday Expert, explained how skiplagging works on her podcast, @passportspleasepod. 

She reveals: ‘Skiplagging is when a passenger books a flight with a layover but intentionally gets off at the layover city instead of continuing to the final destination. 

‘And that is because the layover city is usually cheaper to fly to as part of a longer route.’ 

As an example, Chelsea explains that a passenger could fly from London to New York. 

Instead of opting for a ‘super expensive’ direct route, travellers could find a flight that’s London to Chicago with a change in New York. 

Chelsea says that the passenger would then get off in New York and exit the airport, instead of waiting for the flight to Chicago. 

But while the hack could be a way to score a cheaper flight, Chelsea warns that it’s not always better value than booking a direct route. 

Chelsea Dickenson, the Cheap Holiday Expert, explained how skiplagging works on her podcast, @passportspleasepod

Instead of opting for a ‘super expensive’ direct route, travellers could find a flight that’s London to Chicago with a change in New York. Chelsea says that the passenger would then get off in New York and exit the airport, instead of waiting for the flight to Chicago

And there’s another downside. 

She adds: ‘The main con is that airlines absolutely hate it cause you’re wasting a seat on one of their flights.’ 

Airline staff may also be looking for the missing passenger when they don’t board the second flight. 

Chelsea says: ‘It’s admin to them. They hate it. And you can get blacklisted by doing it. Some people have been totally told they cannot book with airlines if they’ve done it repeatedly.’ 

Although Chelsea’s tip picked up more than 265,000 likes on TikTok, a commenter issued another warning for travellers that are keen to try skiplagging. 

‘Nayla Kana’ says: ‘My first thought is, this would only work for passengers with hand luggage only. Because your luggage will be in Chicago now!’ 

Another commenter said the tip would surely be unlikely to work for a return journey, and Chelsea agreed, saying: ‘It wouldn’t [work]! If you did it on the flight out, they’d probably cancel your return flight.’ 

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Tourists are urged to ‘skiplag’ to get the best deal on flights

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