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The airlines aren't suing passengers though, they are suing Skiplagged. Whether or not you agree with the way that airlines charge for tickets, the ticket is a

The airlines aren't suing passengers though, they are suing Skiplagged. Whether or not you agree with the way that airlines charge for tickets, the ticket is a contract between the passenger and the airline and breaking that contract has consequences. For the passenger, the contracts say that you are expected to use all legs of the tickets and if you do not then the rest of legs of the flights are voided. For the airlines, if they are unable to provide the flight they owe the passenger compensation. There are no legal repercussions for the passenger not using all legs of the flights, but Skiplagged is clearly committing conspiracy to defraud and I would wager a fair sum of money that they will lose this case. The issue with the Sandwich analogy is that there is no contract.

ElComradio 12y ago
How can: > the contracts say that you are expected to use all legs of the tickets and > There are no legal repercussions for the passenger not using all legs of the flights both be true? In other words, I as the customer have no obligation to use all legs of the flight. I did not promise the airline I would fly all the way to my destination (as far as I know); I do not promise that I even get on the flight at all. How can there be a conspiracy to defraud?
- pdabbadabba 12y ago
  The latter is not true. Airlines' contracts of carriage prohibit "Point Beyond Ticketing." Here is what (e.g.) United's contract of carriage says: > Fares apply for travel only between the points for which they are published. Tickets may not be purchased and used at fare(s) from an initial departure point on the Ticket which is before the Passenger’s actual point of origin of travel, or to a more distant point(s) than the Passenger’s actual destination being traveled even when the purchase and use of such Tickets would produce a lower fare. This practice is known as “Hidden Cities Ticketing” or “Point Beyond Ticketing” and is prohibited by UA. And violation of this provision can, in fact, have repercussions: > UA’s Remedies for Violation(s) of Rules - Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, these rules or any fare rule (including Hidden Cities Ticketing, Point Beyond Ticketing, Throwaway Ticketing, or Back-to-Back Ticketing), UA has the right in its sole discretion to take all actions permitted by law, including but not limited to, the following: > 1) Invalidate the Ticket(s); > 2) Cancel any remaining portion of the Passenger’s itinerary; > 3) Confiscate any unused Flight Coupons; > 4) Refuse to board the Passenger and to carry the Passenger’s baggage, unless the difference between the fare paid and the fare for transportation used is collected prior to boarding; > 5) Assess the Passenger for the actual value of the Ticket which shall be the difference between the lowest fare applicable to the Passenger’s actual itinerary and the fare actually paid; > 6) Delete miles in the Passenger’s frequent flyer account (UA’s MileagePlus Program), revoke the Passenger’s Elite status, if any, in the MileagePlus Program, terminate the Passenger’s participation in the MileagePlus Program, or take any other action permitted by the MileagePlus Program Rules in UA’s “MileagePlus Rules;” and > 7) Take legal action with respect to the Passenger.
  - ElComradio 12y ago
    > Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, That sounds like the rub. It is against the law to not board a leg of a flight? Doubtful.
    - pdabbadabba 12y ago
      Read the rest of the phrase! > Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, these rules or any fare rule (including Hidden Cities Ticketing, Point Beyond Ticketing, Throwaway Ticketing, or Back-to-Back Ticketing)
      - ElComradio 12y ago
        I did but I interpreted the first clause as a precondition of the following ones. I see now. It still seems unclear that there are legal ramifications. It simply sets out a list of consequences should you not follow through. I suppose they could attempt to come after you in small claims court if you refused to pay.

ElComradio 12y ago

How can: > the contracts say that you are expected to use all legs of the tickets and > There are no legal repercussions for the passenger not using all legs of the flights both be true? In other words, I as the customer have no obligation to use all legs of the flight. I did not promise the airline I would fly all the way to my destination (as far as I know); I do not promise that I even get on the flight at all. How can there be a conspiracy to defraud?

pdabbadabba 12y ago
The latter is not true. Airlines' contracts of carriage prohibit "Point Beyond Ticketing." Here is what (e.g.) United's contract of carriage says: > Fares apply for travel only between the points for which they are published. Tickets may not be purchased and used at fare(s) from an initial departure point on the Ticket which is before the Passenger’s actual point of origin of travel, or to a more distant point(s) than the Passenger’s actual destination being traveled even when the purchase and use of such Tickets would produce a lower fare. This practice is known as “Hidden Cities Ticketing” or “Point Beyond Ticketing” and is prohibited by UA. And violation of this provision can, in fact, have repercussions: > UA’s Remedies for Violation(s) of Rules - Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, these rules or any fare rule (including Hidden Cities Ticketing, Point Beyond Ticketing, Throwaway Ticketing, or Back-to-Back Ticketing), UA has the right in its sole discretion to take all actions permitted by law, including but not limited to, the following: > 1) Invalidate the Ticket(s); > 2) Cancel any remaining portion of the Passenger’s itinerary; > 3) Confiscate any unused Flight Coupons; > 4) Refuse to board the Passenger and to carry the Passenger’s baggage, unless the difference between the fare paid and the fare for transportation used is collected prior to boarding; > 5) Assess the Passenger for the actual value of the Ticket which shall be the difference between the lowest fare applicable to the Passenger’s actual itinerary and the fare actually paid; > 6) Delete miles in the Passenger’s frequent flyer account (UA’s MileagePlus Program), revoke the Passenger’s Elite status, if any, in the MileagePlus Program, terminate the Passenger’s participation in the MileagePlus Program, or take any other action permitted by the MileagePlus Program Rules in UA’s “MileagePlus Rules;” and > 7) Take legal action with respect to the Passenger.
- ElComradio 12y ago
  > Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, That sounds like the rub. It is against the law to not board a leg of a flight? Doubtful.
  - pdabbadabba 12y ago
    Read the rest of the phrase! > Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, these rules or any fare rule (including Hidden Cities Ticketing, Point Beyond Ticketing, Throwaway Ticketing, or Back-to-Back Ticketing)
    - ElComradio 12y ago
      I did but I interpreted the first clause as a precondition of the following ones. I see now. It still seems unclear that there are legal ramifications. It simply sets out a list of consequences should you not follow through. I suppose they could attempt to come after you in small claims court if you refused to pay.