Hidden City Ticketing: Techniques, Challenges, and Ethics | Ep188 | 2-4-23

Hidden city ticketing could save you a lot of money or miles, but it comes with both challenges and risks. Some find it appealing, others find it unethical. Greg and Nick discuss the details.

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00:00 Introduction

00:42 Giant Mailbag

05:19 Mattress running the numbers: Now exchange points between Choice and Radisson

https://frequentmiler.com/now-convert-radisson-points-to-choice-privileges-at-a-21-ratio/

13:04 The News: Delta 15% discount on awards for cardholders

https://frequentmiler.com/delta-launches-takeoff-15-cardholders-save-15-on-award-flights/

18:25 Awards we booked this week: JAL business class for 5

https://frequentmiler.com/wide-open-japan-airlines-business-class-space-not-all-phantom/

26:00 Main Event: Hidden city ticketing: techniques, challenges, and ethics

What is it?

https://frequentmiler.com/hidden-city-ticketing-can-save-you-an-absurd-amount-of-miles-with-some-key-caveats/

30:25 Drawbacks / warnings

30:36 You can never skip anything but the final segment

33:01 Keep it simple: don't check bags

36:40 Irregular Operations (IRROPS)

39:39 Make sure you qualify for entry to the destination of your ticket

40:40 Techniques to find hidden city ticket opportunities

41:05 Skiplagged

42:36 One more warning: Airlines don't like this practice

45:39 Google Flights

49:17 Use cheap prices as a starting point for looking at awards

52:30 Look at flying to Mexico or maybe Canada

53:04 Look where regions meet

56:01 Mixed-cabin award pricing (Avianca LifeMiles, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and Virgin Atlantic for Air France or KLM)

https://frequentmiler.com/cathay-pacific-asia-miles-mixed-cabin-award-pricing-first-class-for-less/

https://frequentmiler.com/avianca-lifemiles-awesome-mixed-cabin-award-pricing-first-class-for-less/

00:13 Downside of hidden city award tickets

1:01:32 Seats.aero for finding these opportunities

1:03:50 Ethics: Is this practice unethical?

1:18:55 Question of the Week: Is relying on close-in award availability a viable travel strategy, or am I setting myself up for a world of pain?

Music credit: Annie Yoder