A Hidden City Ticket in Basic Economy — Reader Mistake Story
Today, I want to share a story from TPG reader Abby, whose discounted fare came with unexpected costs:
My fiancé and I were headed from San Francisco to Dallas for my grandma's 80th birthday — a quick trip departing on a Saturday and coming home on Sunday. I'm a frequent traveler with both United Premier status and Companion Pass / A-list Preferred status on Southwest; however, all their flights on the SFO-DFW leg were too expensive, so I decided to go with American Airlines basic economy since I could still bring a carry-on and personal item. I realized I could save even more by booking a hidden city fare (SFO-DFW-MSY) for just $70 instead of $103, so that's what I did.
What I forgot (until we got to the airport) is that basic economy fares board last, and we had two roller bags that would not fit under the seat. If there were no room in the overhead bins and my bags needed to be checked, they would end up in New Orleans! The gate agent said there was no way to short-check my bags to DFW, and that there would be no overhead bin space when I boarded. I was told my only option was to re-purchase the SFO-DFW flight for $353, and then check one bag for $30 and gate check the other. There were no other flights that would have gotten us to Dallas in time, so my once $70 flight was suddenly getting expensive.
Luckily, the flight was an hour and a half delayed. Instead of buying a new ticket, I bought two duffel bags that would fit under the seat from a shop in the terminal, and dropped our rollers back off at our car. The bags were a rip-off at $68 each, but it was cheaper than the alternative. The kicker was that when we got on the plane, there was plenty of overhead bin space! The lesson is that if you're going to book a hidden city fare in basic economy, don't pack a roller bag. Pack a small duffel instead, just in case!
Hidden city ticketing can be useful when the flights you want are overpriced, but it's also risky on a number of accounts. For starters, it's against the rules of most airlines' contracts of carriage, but there are practical considerations too. Checked bags will end up in your ticketed destination and not where you're actually going, so you need to pack carry-ons only. As Abby learned, that can be problematic when the overhead bins are full (or if the gate agent thinks they will be). Full bins can be an issue even in regular economy, but you can improve your chances of finding space with elite status or a cobranded credit card, either of which will override your basic economy fare and give you higher boarding priority. Otherwise, the safe play is to bring a carry-on that fits underneath the seat.
Bags aren't the only concern when you book a hidden city ticket; you're also vulnerable to getting rerouted (in the event of inclement weather or a schedule change, for example). Getting switched to a nonstop flight would normally be a win, but it's a hassle if the layover city is your intended destination, especially if you're on a tight schedule. Also, airlines seem to be increasingly cracking down on hidden city tickets, and getting caught booking one could jeopardize your frequent flyer account. Just be aware of the risks, and if you are going to utilize this strategy, it's best to do so very sparingly.
I appreciate this story, and I hope it can help other readers avoid making the same mistake. In appreciation for sharing this experience (and for allowing me to post it online), I'm sending Abby a $200 airline gift card to enjoy on future travels, and I'd like to do the same for you. Please email your own travel mistake stories to info@thepointsguy.com, and put "Reader Mistake Story" in the subject line. Tell us how things went wrong, and (where applicable) how you made them right. Offer any wisdom you gained from the experience, and explain what the rest of us can do to avoid the same pitfalls.
Feel free to also submit your best travel success stories. If your story is published in either case, I'll send you a gift to jump-start your next adventure. Due to the volume of submissions, we can't respond to each story individually, but we'll be in touch if yours is selected. I look forward to hearing from you, and until then, I wish you a safe and mistake-free journey!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.