An airline in the US is suing a man whose website finds cheap air fares.
Aktarer Zaman founded the website Skiplagged.com in 2013. It looks for “hidden city ticketing”. This involves finding flights to a more distant destination, but with a stop in the desired city.
The passenger then gets off at the stopover and does not continue.
The reason why this technique can be cheaper is that airlines often offer lower prices to regional airports in order to attract fliers, but sometimes the flights are routed through major hubs.
It is only practical to fly this way on single flights and with hand luggage only.
Now United Airlines and the US-based flight booking website Orbitz, have claimed the entrepreneur’s “unfair” website promotes “strictly prohibited” travel, creating “unfair competition”. It is seeking $75,000 in compensation for loss of revenue.
United and Orbitz said the site was "intentionally and maliciously" interfering with the travel firms' business and was making it breach its contracts with its partners.
Mr Zaman says that he has had no profit from the website, but now has to launch a fundraising campaign to gather cash to fight the legal battle. So far he has raised $10,538 (£6,776) of the $15,000 he needs.
He believes that he has not broken the law but is simply exposing an “inefficiency” in airline prices that has been common knowledge among aviation insiders for years.
“Hidden city ticketing” is likely to be more germane in the US than Europe where budget airlines have introduced simpler ticketing.
Comments
Useful for say a weekend away and ideally need to be flexible where you go. Present yourself at the baggage collection and say you want to be a courier.
Unaccompanied high value packages will be on the seat next to you.