‘Hidden cities’ website crowd funds $50,000 for legal defense
A website is asking for financial help to combat legal action filed by United Airlines and Orbitz.
Skiplagged is a small start-up website which claims to offer savings on flight prices by finding routes with so-called ‘hidden cities’.
It works on the principle that it can actually work out cheaper for a traveler to book a longer flight, with a stop-over, but not to take the second leg.
The loophole only works for travelers who do not check in luggage.
In some cases, the site says travelers can save 40% or even more on ticket fares.
Now Skiplagged, set up by 22-year-old developer Aktarer Zaman, has now found itself the subject of lawsuit filed by United Airlines and online travel agent Orbitz.
The two companies accuse Skiplagged of engaging in unfair competition and of ‘intentionally and maliciously’ interfering with their business contracts.
They say hidden city ticketing is not allowed because of ‘logistical and public safety concerns’.
The two firms are seeking damages of at least $75,000 in revenue they claim to have lost as a result of the website operating.
The Skiplagged website has asked visitors to donate to its legal fund in order to contest the lawsuit.
The legal stand-off seems to have struck a chord with the public, no doubt miffed at the industry’s obsession with added fees and bumper profits for airlines.
By early Friday Zaman’s plea for financial help had been answered by more than 2,300 people, contributing almost $50,000 so far on the crowd funding platform GoFundMe.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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