Skiplagged, the money-saving website that airlines hate, says it's not going anywhere after losing a $9.4 million lawsuit from American

• Skiplagged will still connection hidden-city fares contempt a $9.4 cardinal ruling for American Airlines.
• American was awarded damages for copyright infringement and "ill-gotten" revenue.
• Hidden-city ticketing saves money for customers, but they consequence being barred by airlines.

Skiplagged.com said it will still offer customers a measurement to book a celebrated recreation hack contempt a tribunal partially siding pinch an hose successful a suit against nan company.

On October 15, a judge awarded American Airlines $9.4 cardinal successful damages from an August 2023 suit revenge against Skiplagged — a website airlines dislike because it makes it easier for customers to book "hidden-city" fares, besides known arsenic "throwaway ticketing," to prevention money. The believe is not forbidden but straight contradicts airlines' position of service.

Specifically, nan institution was ordered to salary American $4.7 cardinal for a copyright infringement for utilizing American's logo connected its website and different $4.7 cardinal for repayment of "ill-gotten" revenue.

While nan costs is simply a deed to Skiplagged, which has 20 employees, nan website tin still behaviour business arsenic usual, minus American's logo, CEO Aktarer Zaman told Business Insider.

"Skiplagged will proceed to supply consumers pinch accusation connected each disposable routes and fares, including nan slightest costly airfares available," he said. "American mislaid connected 3 of its 4 claims, and Skiplagged remains free to proceed its business of showing consumers each flights to thief them prevention money."

American told BI it was happy pinch nan copyright verdict, calling it "an important adjacent measurement successful protecting American's intelligence spot and valuable brand." However, it could still entreaty nan court's decision.

It's nan first US hose to people a triumph successful tribunal against nan website, though others person tried. United Airlines' suit against Skiplagged successful 2014 was dismissed, while nan 1 from Southwest Airlines successful 2021 was settled retired of court.

Skiplagged's business will stay mostly unaffected

Skiplagged makes money by uncovering one-way, hidden-city itineraries and charging a work interest truthful customers don't person to manually hunt for and book nan way connected an airline's website.

Nonstop itineraries are usually priced higher than a one-stop. So, customers usage nan money-saving "travel hack" by booking a formation beyond their intended destination and getting disconnected successful nan layover city.

Travelers simply don't show up for nan secondary legs of a journey, but consequence their return formation being canceled and perchance being barred outright from nan airline.

Skiplagged's website moreover warns of nan possible consequences of getting caught and flyers to not subordinate a predominant flyer number pinch their summons and to only bring a backpack. Larger carry-ons whitethorn beryllium gate-checked, and checked luggage goes to nan last destination.