What Happens If You Skip a Flight Segment?

Skipping a leg of your flight sounds harmless — you paid for the seat, right? But airlines treat it seriously. Here is what really happens, in plain English.

What does "skipping a segment" mean?

A segment is one flight on your ticket. If you fly New York → Chicago → Denver and get off in Chicago, you skipped the Chicago → Denver segment. This is the idea behind hidden city ticketing (also called skiplagging).

What happens if you skip the last leg?

• The airline marks you as a no-show on that flight.
• Any remaining flights on the booking are usually cancelled — including your return trip.
• Checked bags go to the final destination, not where you got off.
• Frequent flyer accounts can be penalized if an airline sees a pattern.

What happens if you skip the first leg?

If you miss the first flight, airlines almost always cancel every flight after it on the same booking. Call the airline before departure if you can't make the first flight — they may be able to rebook you.

Is skiplagging illegal?

No, it is not illegal. But it breaks most airlines' contract of carriage (their ticket rules). That means they can cancel your remaining flights, take away miles, or in rare cases ask you to pay the fare difference.

Safer ways to save on flights

• Book one-way tickets if you might not use the return.
• Compare nearby airports — it is often cheaper than skipping a leg.
• Check whether Basic Economy is really cheaper with our fee calculator.
• Read our full hidden city ticketing guide.

Rules vary by airline, so read your ticket terms before you fly.