Chicago-based Orbitz Worldwide has settled a lawsuit against a website that helps passengers find so-called hidden-city fares that exploit a loophole in the airfare system.
United Airlines’ suit against the same website is still active.
The suit against skiplagged.com and its owner, 22-year-old programmer Aktarer Zaman, sparked debate about whether hidden cities fare bookings are unethical or being a savvy consumer.
Skiplagged helps users find routes with brief stopovers in a city that is their true destination. They simply get off the plane at the stopover and abandon the remainder of their flight. Such flights with stopovers are sometimes cheaper than direct flights to the same place.
The practice is forbidden by many airlines.
In the settlement, Skiplagged agreed not to redirect its traffic to Orbitz.com and other Orbitz websites. It also agreed not to use Orbitz brands, logos, trademarks, images or other copyrighted materials on its site or mobile apps, according to a statement from Orbitz. Neither company admitted wrongdoing.
The settlement removes Orbitz from a suit jointly filed with United Airlines against Skiplagged on Nov. 17. Orbitz had said the practice put its contracts with airlines at risk.
United’s suit is ongoing.
“We are still involved in this litigation,” United spokesman Luke Punzenberger said. “Mr. Zaman continues to openly encourage customers to engage in deceptive behavior by purchasing hidden-city tickets. United is not seeking money, but rather an injunction against Mr. Zaman and Skiplagged to prevent this from happening in the future.”
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