Hey Poindexter (Bill, probably)

https://www.insider.com/american-airlines-skiplagging-hidden-city-ticket-canceled-connecting-flight-2023-7

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ‘skiplagging’ ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board the connecting flight to New York: report

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board his connecting flight to New York City, so his family had to purchase a direct ticket to Charlotte, North Carolina, instead.

The teenager was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, but he planned to disembark during the layover in Charlotte, according to the local television station Queen City News.

His father, Hunter Parsons, told the outlet that he booked the ticket using Skiplagged, a website that shows flights with layovers that are less expensive than direct routes.

“We’ve used Skiplagged almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Parsons told Queen City News, adding that it was the first time his son traveled alone on a plane.

I’ve pondered this but I just can’t get my head around it.

A) How does it cost the airline money for the person to disembark at NC? They’ve already paid for the ticket to NY.
Heck, if all the passengers disembarked at NC the airline would save a few thousand dollars in fuel.

B) Why would the airline offer a cheaper fare on the trip to NY with a stop in NC than the flight to NC? If they didn’t do this they could sell those tickets and hope to sell some seats for the journey from NC to NY.

dv said:

Hey Poindexter (Bill, probably)

https://www.insider.com/american-airlines-skiplagging-hidden-city-ticket-canceled-connecting-flight-2023-7

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ‘skiplagging’ ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board the connecting flight to New York: report

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board his connecting flight to New York City, so his family had to purchase a direct ticket to Charlotte, North Carolina, instead.

The teenager was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, but he planned to disembark during the layover in Charlotte, according to the local television station Queen City News.

His father, Hunter Parsons, told the outlet that he booked the ticket using Skiplagged, a website that shows flights with layovers that are less expensive than direct routes.

“We’ve used Skiplagged almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Parsons told Queen City News, adding that it was the first time his son traveled alone on a plane.

I’ve pondered this but I just can’t get my head around it.

A) How does it cost the airline money for the person to disembark at NC? They’ve already paid for the ticket to NY.
Heck, if all the passengers disembarked at NC the airline would save a few thousand dollars in fuel.

B) Why would the airline offer a cheaper fare on the trip to NY with a stop in NC than the flight to NC? If they didn’t do this they could sell those tickets and hope to sell some seats for the journey from NC to NY.

Murica ! ?

dv said:

Hey Poindexter (Bill, probably)

https://www.insider.com/american-airlines-skiplagging-hidden-city-ticket-canceled-connecting-flight-2023-7

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ‘skiplagging’ ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board the connecting flight to New York: report

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board his connecting flight to New York City, so his family had to purchase a direct ticket to Charlotte, North Carolina, instead.

The teenager was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, but he planned to disembark during the layover in Charlotte, according to the local television station Queen City News.

His father, Hunter Parsons, told the outlet that he booked the ticket using Skiplagged, a website that shows flights with layovers that are less expensive than direct routes.

“We’ve used Skiplagged almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Parsons told Queen City News, adding that it was the first time his son traveled alone on a plane.

I’ve pondered this but I just can’t get my head around it.

A) How does it cost the airline money for the person to disembark at NC? They’ve already paid for the ticket to NY.
Heck, if all the passengers disembarked at NC the airline would save a few thousand dollars in fuel.

B) Why would the airline offer a cheaper fare on the trip to NY with a stop in NC than the flight to NC? If they didn’t do this they could sell those tickets and hope to sell some seats for the journey from NC to NY.

I had something similar on the London/Paris high speed train, in early 2000’s I think. A weekend return was cheaper than a one-way, so I got the return, even though I wasn’t returning over the weekend.

At the check-in they asked me to confirm that I would be using the return.

I lied.

The Rev Dodgson said:

dv said:

Hey Poindexter (Bill, probably)

https://www.insider.com/american-airlines-skiplagging-hidden-city-ticket-canceled-connecting-flight-2023-7

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ‘skiplagging’ ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board the connecting flight to New York: report

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board his connecting flight to New York City, so his family had to purchase a direct ticket to Charlotte, North Carolina, instead.

The teenager was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, but he planned to disembark during the layover in Charlotte, according to the local television station Queen City News.

His father, Hunter Parsons, told the outlet that he booked the ticket using Skiplagged, a website that shows flights with layovers that are less expensive than direct routes.

“We’ve used Skiplagged almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Parsons told Queen City News, adding that it was the first time his son traveled alone on a plane.

I’ve pondered this but I just can’t get my head around it.

A) How does it cost the airline money for the person to disembark at NC? They’ve already paid for the ticket to NY.
Heck, if all the passengers disembarked at NC the airline would save a few thousand dollars in fuel.

B) Why would the airline offer a cheaper fare on the trip to NY with a stop in NC than the flight to NC? If they didn’t do this they could sell those tickets and hope to sell some seats for the journey from NC to NY.

I had something similar on the London/Paris high speed train, in early 2000’s I think. A weekend return was cheaper than a one-way, so I got the return, even though I wasn’t returning over the weekend.

At the check-in they asked me to confirm that I would be using the return.

I lied.

Dodgy booking perhaps

Cymek said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

dv said:

Hey Poindexter (Bill, probably)

https://www.insider.com/american-airlines-skiplagging-hidden-city-ticket-canceled-connecting-flight-2023-7

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ‘skiplagging’ ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board the connecting flight to New York: report

American Airlines canceled a teenager’s ticket after realizing he wasn’t planning to board his connecting flight to New York City, so his family had to purchase a direct ticket to Charlotte, North Carolina, instead.

The teenager was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, but he planned to disembark during the layover in Charlotte, according to the local television station Queen City News.

His father, Hunter Parsons, told the outlet that he booked the ticket using Skiplagged, a website that shows flights with layovers that are less expensive than direct routes.

“We’ve used Skiplagged almost exclusively for the last five to eight years,” Parsons told Queen City News, adding that it was the first time his son traveled alone on a plane.

I’ve pondered this but I just can’t get my head around it.

A) How does it cost the airline money for the person to disembark at NC? They’ve already paid for the ticket to NY.
Heck, if all the passengers disembarked at NC the airline would save a few thousand dollars in fuel.

B) Why would the airline offer a cheaper fare on the trip to NY with a stop in NC than the flight to NC? If they didn’t do this they could sell those tickets and hope to sell some seats for the journey from NC to NY.

I had something similar on the London/Paris high speed train, in early 2000’s I think. A weekend return was cheaper than a one-way, so I got the return, even though I wasn’t returning over the weekend.

At the check-in they asked me to confirm that I would be using the return.

I lied.

Dodgy booking perhaps

Book keeping

I’m no help sorry. I have no idea why such things exist though I am confident in blaming the accountants for it.

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Shrink to Sarahs mum…“you know not everything makes sense.”

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

Using the hub-spokes model as is often the case in the US it might make sense to have more than one flight and Charlotte NC does seem to be an AA hub.

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

Possible slight saving in fuel? Assuming you refuel at NC.

sarahs mum said:

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Shrink to Sarahs mum…“you know not everything makes sense.”

Good shrink

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

Keep That Economy Must Growing¡

dv said:

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

Possible slight saving in fuel? Assuming you refuel at NC.

Nope. You burn far more in start-up, take-off, and climb than you ever do compared to a straight flight.

dv said:

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Okay then.

Just one of those pieces of stupidity that exists because it exists.

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

Possible slight saving in fuel? Assuming you refuel at NC.

Contract obligations say the airport has to be landed a certain amount of times as it benefits said airport

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Spiny Norman said:

Yeah I’m surprised that such flights happen. Having two shorter flights instead of one full-length one uses a lot more fuel, more engine wear, etc, and there’s the additional airport fees as well, such as landing, handling, etc fees.

Possible slight saving in fuel? Assuming you refuel at NC.

Nope. You burn far more in start-up, take-off, and climb than you ever do compared to a straight flight.

Well I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out of ideas

dv said:

Spiny Norman said:

dv said:

Possible slight saving in fuel? Assuming you refuel at NC.

Nope. You burn far more in start-up, take-off, and climb than you ever do compared to a straight flight.

Well I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out of ideas

https://simpleflying.com/what-is-skiplagging/

Link

Based on fuel and labor costs alone, a lower fare on a longer journey seems confusing. However, there are a few reasons for this price differential. Air travel is a competitive business, and specific routes will have more competition than others. If an airline knows it runs one of the few direct services to a city, it will charge as much as customers are willing to pay.

However, if an airline has to route customers via a hub stopover, it will often lower its fares to compete with other airlines running direct services. Another reason, particularly relevant to our North American example, is that an airline might have to pay more in airport fees for passengers disembarking at one destination versus another. Those fees might not apply to transit passengers.

ChrispenEvan said:

dv said:

Spiny Norman said:

Nope. You burn far more in start-up, take-off, and climb than you ever do compared to a straight flight.

Well I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out of ideas

https://simpleflying.com/what-is-skiplagging/

Link

Based on fuel and labor costs alone, a lower fare on a longer journey seems confusing. However, there are a few reasons for this price differential. Air travel is a competitive business, and specific routes will have more competition than others. If an airline knows it runs one of the few direct services to a city, it will charge as much as customers are willing to pay.

However, if an airline has to route customers via a hub stopover, it will often lower its fares to compete with other airlines running direct services. Another reason, particularly relevant to our North American example, is that an airline might have to pay more in airport fees for passengers disembarking at one destination versus another. Those fees might not apply to transit passengers.

Good old capitalism ensuring fair, equitable and most importantly efficient distribution of resources, fuck yeah¡

ChrispenEvan said:

dv said:

Spiny Norman said:

Nope. You burn far more in start-up, take-off, and climb than you ever do compared to a straight flight.

Well I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out of ideas

https://simpleflying.com/what-is-skiplagging/

Link

Based on fuel and labor costs alone, a lower fare on a longer journey seems confusing. However, there are a few reasons for this price differential. Air travel is a competitive business, and specific routes will have more competition than others. If an airline knows it runs one of the few direct services to a city, it will charge as much as customers are willing to pay.

However, if an airline has to route customers via a hub stopover, it will often lower its fares to compete with other airlines running direct services. Another reason, particularly relevant to our North American example, is that an airline might have to pay more in airport fees for passengers disembarking at one destination versus another. Those fees might not apply to transit passengers.

Very well then.

Bums on seats. That all that matters.

Moving someone from a near-full flight to a near-empty one saves the airline money. And other advantages.

Airline operations are not always one-way. The plane in question has to do the return journey at some stage. Or the leg is just part of a circle route that the plane does daily. Allow for crew changes and cleaning and all that.

Maybe just this particular leg of a broader schedule of flights is problematic. We have a Point A to Point C service with a stopover at B. For some reason the airline can’t fit in an A to C direct service separately, so they do a stopover flight. But, the stopover flight is less attractive to some customers e.g. business travelers, so they make the flight cheaper in order to attract a different class of passenger, say tourist or irregular travelers.

party_pants said:

Airline operations are not always one-way. The plane in question has to do the return journey at some stage. Or the leg is just part of a circle route that the plane does daily. Allow for crew changes and cleaning and all that.

Maybe just this particular leg of a broader schedule of flights is problematic. We have a Point A to Point C service with a stopover at B. For some reason the airline can’t fit in an A to C direct service separately, so they do a stopover flight. But, the stopover flight is less attractive to some customers e.g. business travelers, so they make the flight cheaper in order to attract a different class of passenger, say tourist or irregular travelers.

I think you’ve missed the point.

This is a flight from A to C with a stopover at B.

If the person books the flight from A to B (which is where they want to go), price is X. But if they make a booking that uses the exact same flight leg from A to B to C, the price is cheaper. I was asking why this would ever make sense for the airline to price it like that.
So the person just makes the booking from A to B to C and gets off at B instead to save some money. Airline says that him getting off at B costs them money. I was asking, how does it cost them money?

And I guess Chrispen has answered this to some extent.

dv said:

party_pants said:

Airline operations are not always one-way. The plane in question has to do the return journey at some stage. Or the leg is just part of a circle route that the plane does daily. Allow for crew changes and cleaning and all that.

Maybe just this particular leg of a broader schedule of flights is problematic. We have a Point A to Point C service with a stopover at B. For some reason the airline can’t fit in an A to C direct service separately, so they do a stopover flight. But, the stopover flight is less attractive to some customers e.g. business travelers, so they make the flight cheaper in order to attract a different class of passenger, say tourist or irregular travelers.

I think you’ve missed the point.

This is a flight from A to C with a stopover at B.

If the person books the flight from A to B (which is where they want to go), price is X. But if they make a booking that uses the exact same flight leg from A to B to C, the price is cheaper. I was asking why this would ever make sense for the airline to price it like that.
So the person just makes the booking from A to B to C and gets off at B instead to save some money. Airline says that him getting off at B costs them money. I was asking, how does it cost them money?

And I guess Chrispen has answered this to some extent.

Not really.

The plane has to go to C to meet a wider network schedule. They are also in a competitive market, and their fares have to reflect what other airlines are doing.

If A to C (via B) is cheaper than A to B alone, it suggests to me that they are making a killing on the A to B service, over and above the operating costs. Maybe there are fewer other competitors offering the same flight, so they can charge a hefty margin on that bit of the it.

party_pants said:

dv said:

party_pants said:

Airline operations are not always one-way. The plane in question has to do the return journey at some stage. Or the leg is just part of a circle route that the plane does daily. Allow for crew changes and cleaning and all that.

Maybe just this particular leg of a broader schedule of flights is problematic. We have a Point A to Point C service with a stopover at B. For some reason the airline can’t fit in an A to C direct service separately, so they do a stopover flight. But, the stopover flight is less attractive to some customers e.g. business travelers, so they make the flight cheaper in order to attract a different class of passenger, say tourist or irregular travelers.

I think you’ve missed the point.

This is a flight from A to C with a stopover at B.

If the person books the flight from A to B (which is where they want to go), price is X. But if they make a booking that uses the exact same flight leg from A to B to C, the price is cheaper. I was asking why this would ever make sense for the airline to price it like that.
So the person just makes the booking from A to B to C and gets off at B instead to save some money. Airline says that him getting off at B costs them money. I was asking, how does it cost them money?

And I guess Chrispen has answered this to some extent.

Not really.

The plane has to go to C to meet a wider network schedule. They are also in a competitive market, and their fares have to reflect what other airlines are doing.

If A to C (via B) is cheaper than A to B alone, it suggests to me that they are making a killing on the A to B service, over and above the operating costs. Maybe there are fewer other competitors offering the same flight, so they can charge a hefty margin on that bit of the it.

bad edit