December 5, 2023

A North Carolina teenager who was not too long ago caught making an attempt to make use of a well-liked cost-saving hack whereas touring on American Airways has now been grounded by the airline.

Hunter Parsons, the daddy of the 17-year-old, mentioned final week his son was detained and “interrogated” at a Florida airport for skiplagging, often known as hidden metropolis ticketing or level past ticketing, which violates the journey insurance policies of most main airways.

American Airways has imposed a 3-year ban on a North Carolina teenager who tried skiplagging on a latest flight. (Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)

Parsons instructed Insider his son’s “ticket was canceled, and he was banned from AA for 3 years however by no means truly did something unsuitable. He by no means even acquired his boarding move.”

In line with Parsons, the teenager had a aircraft ticket to journey from Gainesville, Florida, to New York Metropolis however was stopped by a gate agent earlier than he was allowed to board as a result of he had a North Carolina license and the flight had a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

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The elder Parsons instructed WJZY that an American Airways gate agent suspected the teenager of “skiplagging” — or aspiring to journey to the connecting metropolis, somewhat than the vacation spot on his boarding move — in an effort to economize.

travelers standing at american airlines ticket counter

Skip lagging, often known as hidden metropolis ticketing or level past ticketing, violates the journey insurance policies of most main airways.  (ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP by way of Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)

Parsons instructed Insider the revoked ticket value $150, and the household had to purchase a $400 direct flight with the intention to get his son to Charlotte. He mentioned the teenager “did not know he was doing something unsuitable.”

“He was left to fend for himself 500 miles from residence,” Parsons instructed the outlet of his son. “He by no means violated any coverage or broke any contract. He merely went to a counter to get his boarding move.”

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The Parsons patriarch confirmed his son was skiplagging and mentioned the household has used Skip Lagged, an internet site that particularly lists hidden-city ticketing journeys, for no less than 5 to eight years to economize.

Nevertheless, he instructed Insider that if his son had been profitable, it will have been the primary time a member of the household truly skipped the ultimate leg of a flight.

An American Airlines and a JetBlue jet on the runway

American Airways is certainly one of a number of main U.S. airways that prohibit skiplagging. ( Joe Raedle/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)

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American Airways Group, Inc.

When reached for touch upon the state of affairs, American Airways directed FOX Enterprise to its insurance policies displaying the airline prohibits “buying a ticket with out aspiring to fly all flights to achieve decrease fares.”

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“Our information point out the client was questioned solely on the ticket counter about their journey whereas making an attempt to check-in for his or her flight,” a spokesperson for AA mentioned. “A member of our Buyer Relations group has been in contact with them to handle their considerations.”

FOX Enterprise’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.