Latest news with #AktarerZaman
Travel Weekly
26-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Skiplagged founder Aktarer Zaman on selling hidden-city tickets
The metasearch site Skiplagged has been irritating airlines for more than a decade by promoting hidden-city fares that violate airline policies. In October, the practice caught up with Skiplagged in the form of a $9.4 million judgment to American Airlines for copyright infringement for using the American logo. Airlines editor Robert Silk caught up recently with Skiplagged's founder, Aktarer Zaman. Aktarer Zaman Q: Has the judgment changed anything for Skiplagged? A: It's a big number, especially when you look at what it's for. It's definitely sad because it's for a narrow issue -- just the American logo, which we had used since our beginning because we thought we had permission to use it. I respect trademark law, etc., but here was a pretty innocent mistake on our part, and this was our penalty as a result. But that aside, everything else we won. About a year ago we stopped showing the logo for American; [it had] no effect on our business. Q: Can you explain the Skiplagged business model? How do you find these hidden cities? A: What's valuable is when a hidden city leads to a drop in the price. That's what we search for. When you want to go from A to B, we find all the Cs and Ds that lead to A to B being cheaper. We built a system that does this efficiently and well. You just search like you would anywhere else, A to B, and we just show you everything else. And we only show the ones that give you actual value. On average it saves about 50%, or about $180. Q: What percentage of your bookings involve an unused hidden city leg? A: It's only about 30% of the bookings. We're still a great platform for finding all your options, A to B. From our archives: Skiplagged's Aktarer Zaman is In the Hot Seat Q: Why do you irk airlines so much? A: Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that we are saving consumers a lot of money. Airlines hate us for this reason. Q: American lost with its claim of trademark infringement, which if successful could have prevented you from showing flights and prices. You've said that's more important than the logo display issue, right? A: It is a huge victory if you look at the big picture. The $9.4 million is a hefty fine. But at the end of the day this is a short-term obstacle. We can carry on. We can continue showing flights and prices. So this doesn't end the business. Q: The judge, in dismissing American's claim of trademark infringement due to the statute of limitations, wrote, "American got wind of Skiplagged's stinky business practices, but it waited a little too long to extinguish the stench." Not exactly an endorsement. A: What mattered from the summary judgment was that a big important part of the case fell apart. While it's not the nicest of comments, I'd like to think that as the court got to know us they got to thinking that we're not actually a stinky business. We're actually helping a lot of people. Q: I imagine not many travel advisors use you because they'd risk the airline coming down on them. What would you encourage an advisor to do? A: I would encourage them to look at the actual risks versus what they hear as rumors. We have an almost 100% success rate with hidden city. This is from hundreds of thousands of customers. You hear about airlines banning people or miles being revoked. But this almost never happens. In all of 2024, we're not aware of any occasion of this. The actual risks of anything else is super low. My advice for travel advisors is informing customers of their options is always a good thing. Tell them what the real risk is and let them make a decision.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Flight Hack Airlines Don't Want You to Know About
Airlines are facing a lot of headwinds these days--from falling consumer demand and higher costs to air traffic control issues. Now, the industry has another problem on the horizon-- the upstart Skiplagged. It's a controversial website that uncovers airfare hacks, like skipping the last leg of a flight in order to get a cheaper price. Aktarer Zaman, Skiplagged CEO joined Bloomberg Open Interest to talk about the business model. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airlines hate him: Skiplagged CEO says Gen Z is flooding the site looking for flight deals — and hardly anyone gets caught
helps people book cheaper fares through a practice airlines hate. The website finds cheaper fares through a hack known as 'hidden-city' ticketing. Its CEO says there is a low risk of getting caught and offers tips to avoid detection. Young people are increasingly turning to a popular travel hack to fly cheaper this year, and the chances of you getting caught are practically nil — assuming you follow some simple rules. That's according to the CEO of a website that helps travellers find "hidden city" tickets. The practice usually involves buying a ticket with a layover, but instead using that stopover city as your destination without boarding the connecting flight. It's often cheaper than a nonstop flight, comes with serious caveats, and makes airlines absolutely furious. CEO Aktarer Zaman says the risk of your airline finding out is actually very low, even though some have threatened to ban passengers who are caught purposely skipping the second legs of their trips. And as fears of an economic downturn grow, he says more Gen Zers and younger millennials are turning to the travel hack to save money. Zaman told Business Insider in an interview that Skiplagged has seen hidden-city tickets increase 30% in March and April compared to February. "I think it's due to the economic issues where money is uncertain," he said, noting that the average Skiplagged savings are $180. "People still want to travel, and some have to for reasons they can't avoid, so they're inclined to find discounts." Despite at least three lawsuits from airlines accusing the company of facilitating what they consider a prohibited practice and copyright infringement for using their logos without permission, Zaman said there's little a carrier can do about his website's actual business and vowed to keep at it. For future skiplaggers, he offered tips on how to stay incognito, like only taking a backpack, booking one-way, and paying attention to visa requirements for international itineraries. Airline websites aren't designed to show you every possible flight from A to B. They want to sell you a ticket at a price you're willing to pay that also works for their operation. They see skiplagging as lost revenue and disrupting their schedules. Sure, you could use a guess-and-check method on an airline's website to find a cheaper hidden-city fare, but Skiplagged says it aggregates flights from various sources to generate options that specifically indicate a hidden-city itinerary and the related fare savings. For example, Skiplagged shows a nonstop one-way Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta in July for $299. A hidden-city ticket to Baltimore with a layover in Atlanta costs just $139, saving $160. You would simply not get on the second flight to Baltimore. Zaman said most of Skiplagged's 10 million monthly users are between the ages of 18 and 34. Most use the website as a search engine and then book their desired flight via the airline directly or a third party like Kayak. Only 30% of those customers who book through Skiplagged are actually buying hidden-city tickets, he said, or about 300,000 people in 2024. Data shared with BI shows Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Dallas are the top five destination cities booked via Skiplagged. "It's controversial, but it's a reason we are as big of a success as we are today because consumers have realized how much value [Skiplagged] provides to them," Zaman. He added that the site brings in more than $20 million in annual revenue from user fees and vendor kickbacks. The company is currently fighting a lawsuit from American Airlines, which has had particularly harsh words about the practice of skiplagging. In 2023, the carrier alleged copyright infringement, trademark infringement, breach of contract, and tortious interference. The latter means intentionally damaging another party's contract and causing harm. Skiplagged lost the copyright infringement case and was ordered to pay $4.7 million in damages and another $4.7 million for repayment of "ill-gotten" revenue in October. However, Skiplagged can continue to display hidden-city fares on its website. Zaman said American revealed in trial that it does not maintain a blacklist of passengers caught skiplagging. American did not respond to a request for comment. United and Southwest have also previously sued the company for deceptive practices and violating their terms of service. United's suit was dismissed for jurisdictional reasons, and the other settled outside court. Skiplagged declined to reveal the terms of the settlement. Airlines like Alaska and United specifically say they can punish travelers for skiplagging, including taking legal action or revoking miles or elite status. However, Zaman said skiplagging is actually "not that risky" overall, with 99.7% of hidden-city bookings through Skiplagged going off without a hitch in 2024. "Miles being revoked, and people being banned by airlines, it's so rare, and no one last year reported to us that that happened to them," he said. He said the tiny percentage of people who do get caught typically did something that revealed their plans. Skiplagged outlines some tips on the website to help people know the dos and don'ts before flying. For example, Zaman said some people have booked a skiplag fare with an international destination but a domestic layover and can't fly because they didn't bring a passport. The same goes for people who forget about visa requirements. Other practices to reduce the risk of getting caught skiplagging or ending up somewhere you don't intend to include: Don't skiplag often because it will create a pattern, and an airline may flag you Only bring a backpack. A checked bag will go to your final destination, and a carry-on may be gate-checked Book one-way because if you skiplag on the outbound, the return will likely be canceled Don't associate your frequent flyer account to avoid the risk of miles being revoked Be vigilant of itinerary changes to ensure your layover city hasn't changed before flying Have proof of return travel already booked if you skiplag internationally; make it refundable if you don't plan to actually use it These tips are not 100% foolproof (though they're close), and you could still face repercussions from the airline if they find you breached their contract of carriage. "There are certain airlines where you're free to skiplag all you want; it's not against the rules to miss a flight on purpose," he said. "But, for some airlines, missing on purpose is against their policy, but the numbers show how rare it is to actually get in trouble." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Skiplagged's CEO has tips on how to use the travel hack without getting caught by airlines
Young people are increasingly turning to a popular travel hack to fly cheaper this year, and the chances of you getting caught are practically nil — assuming you follow some simple rules. That's according to the CEO of a website that helps travellers find "hidden city" tickets. The practice usually involves buying a ticket with a layover, but instead using that stopover city as your destination without boarding the connecting flight. It's often cheaper than a nonstop flight, comes with serious caveats, and makes airlines absolutely furious. CEO Aktarer Zaman says the risk of your airline finding out is actually very low, even though some have t hreatened to ban passengers who are caught purposely skipping the second legs of their trips. And as fears of an economic downturn grow, he says more Gen Zers and younger millennials are turning to the travel hack to save money. Zaman told Business Insider in an interview that Skiplagged has seen hidden-city tickets increase 30% in March and April compared to February. "I think it's due to the economic issues where money is uncertain," he said, noting that the average Skiplagged savings are $180. "People still want to travel, and some have to for reasons they can't avoid, so they're inclined to find discounts." Despite at least three lawsuits from airlines accusing the company of facilitating what they consider a prohibited practice and copyright infringement for using their logos without permission, Zaman said there's little a carrier can do about his website's actual business and vowed to keep at it. For future skiplaggers, he offered tips on how to stay incognito, like only taking a backpack, booking one-way, and paying attention to visa requirements for international itineraries. Why airlines hate skiplagging so much Airline websites aren't designed to show you every possible flight from A to B. They want to sell you a ticket at a price you're willing to pay that also works for their operation. They see skiplagging as lost revenue and disrupting their schedules. Sure, you could use a guess-and-check method on an airline's website to find a cheaper hidden-city fare, but Skiplagged says it aggregates flights from various sources to generate options that specifically indicate a hidden-city itinerary and the related fare savings. For example, Skiplagged shows a nonstop one-way Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta in July for $299. A hidden-city ticket to Baltimore with a layover in Atlanta costs just $139, saving $160. You would simply not get on the second flight to Baltimore. Zaman said most of Skiplagged's 10 million monthly users are between the ages of 18 and 34. Most use the website as a search engine and then book their desired flight via the airline directly or a third party like Kayak. Only 30% of those customers who book through Skiplagged are actually buying hidden-city tickets, he said, or about 300,000 people in 2024. Data shared with BI shows Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Dallas are the top five destination cities booked via Skiplagged. "It's controversial, but it's a reason we are as big of a success as we are today because consumers have realized how much value [Skiplagged] provides to them," Zaman. He added that the site brings in more than $20 million in annual revenue from user fees and vendor kickbacks. The company is currently fighting a lawsuit from American Airlines, which has had particularly harsh words about the practice of skiplagging. In 2023, the carrier alleged copyright infringement, trademark infringement, breach of contract, and tortious interference. The latter means intentionally damaging another party's contract and causing harm. Skiplagged lost the copyright infringement case and was ordered to pay $4.7 million in damages and another $4.7 million for repayment of "ill-gotten" revenue in October. However, Skiplagged can continue to display hidden-city fares on its website. Zaman said American revealed in trial that it does not maintain a blacklist of passengers caught skiplagging. American did not respond to a request for comment. United and Southwest have also previously sued the company for deceptive practices and violating their terms of service. United's suit was dismissed for jurisdictional reasons, and the other settled outside court. Skiplagged declined to reveal the terms of the settlement. Getting caught is rare, but pay attention to the rules Airlines like Alaska and United specifically say they can punish travelers for skiplagging, including taking legal action or revoking miles or elite status. However, Zaman said skiplagging is actually "not that risky" overall, with 99.7% of hidden-city bookings through Skiplagged going off without a hitch in 2024. "Miles being revoked, and people being banned by airlines, it's so rare, and no one last year reported to us that that happened to them," he said. He said the tiny percentage of people who do get caught typically did something that revealed their plans. Skiplagged outlines some tips on the website to help people know the dos and don'ts before flying. For example, Zaman said some people have booked a skiplag fare with an international destination but a domestic layover and can't fly because they didn't bring a passport. The same goes for people who forget about visa requirements. Other practices to reduce the risk of getting caught skiplagging or ending up somewhere you don't intend to include: Don't skiplag often because it will create a pattern, and an airline may flag you Only bring a backpack. A checked bag will go to your final destination, and a carry-on may be gate-checked Book one-way because if you skiplag on the outbound, the return will likely be canceled Don't associate your frequent flyer account to avoid the risk of miles being revoked Be vigilant of itinerary changes to ensure your layover city hasn't changed before flying Have proof of return travel already booked if you skiplag internationally; make it refundable if you don't plan to actually use it These tips are not 100% foolproof (though they're close), and you could still face repercussions from the airline if they find you breached their contract of carriage. "There are certain airlines where you're free to skiplag all you want; it's not against the rules to miss a flight on purpose," he said. "But, for some airlines, missing on purpose is against their policy, but the numbers show how rare it is to actually get in trouble."
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Travel + Leisure
08-05-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
This Travel CEO Says Last-minute Bookings Can Be the Cheapest Way to Fly—Here's Why
From travel hacking to flying during the shoulder season, there are endless ways to save a few extra dollars when planning a vacation. One surprising trend involves booking flights a passenger never intends to board—and it has helped some travelers save thousands. Known as 'skiplagging,' the concept involves booking a flight with a connection that is cheaper than flying to a destination directly. For example, a traveler looking to get from New York City to Miami may find it more affordable to book a flight from New York City to Chicago with a layover in Miami, and then not board the second leg of the ticket. As people randomly scoured airline websites for the best skiplagging deals, start-ups such like Skiplagged have grown to help travelers find these discounts. 'Last-minute bookings are on the rise, especially among younger travelers who are waiting for price drops instead of planning in advance,' Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman told Travel + Leisure. Zaman said skiplagging's growing popularity is two-fold: the pain of increasing prices on airline tickets and consumers becoming savvier about how airlines price the fares. He added that travelers who set price alerts, use tools like VPN to obscure their location, and compare prices across sites likely find better deals than booking directly with the airline. Airlines don't like skiplagging because it exposes the way they overpriced routes. The reality is that if airlines wanted to eliminate this practice, they could simply adjust their pricing to make direct flights more affordable. — Aktarer Zaman, Skiplagged CEO The amount of money that can be saved using skiplagging varies. Skiplagged told T+L that passengers recently saved $10,716 on two international tickets from Tokyo to New York City. Within the U.S., another passenger saved $4,255 on two tickets from Houston to Seattle. While skiplagging may be a unique way to book a ticket, the practice has recently faced controversy. American Airlines filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged in 2024 over its business practices and copyright infringement, and a federal jury awarded the carrier $9.4 million. 'American is pleased the jury recognized that Skiplagged infringed its valuable trademarks and awarded $9.4 million in damages for copyright infringement,' a spokesperson for American Airlines told T+L. 'This was an important next step in protecting American's intellectual property and valuable brand.' For its part, Zaman said the practice democratizes airfare pricing and allows more people to travel. 'Airlines don't like skiplagging because it exposes the way they overpriced routes,' Zaman told T+L. 'The reality is that if airlines wanted to eliminate this practice, they could simply adjust their pricing to make direct flights more affordable. Instead, they've chosen to enforce rules that benefit their bottom line while leaving consumers with fewer options.' Airlines for America, an industry group representing carriers in the United States, did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. For travelers interested in trying the service, Skiplagged said that 99.7 percent of customers have flown without issues. However, there are limitations, like not being able to check bags to a final destination. Another potential concern is if a flight gets rebooked or switched to a direct route without the layover, passengers could find themselves on a different vacation altogether ... or may need to "skiplag" back home.
