Orbitz and United take legal action against small start-up
A US website is asking for financial help to fight off a legal action filed against it 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 traveller to buy a longer flight, with a stop-over, but not to take the second leg.
The loophole only works, however, for travellers who do not check in luggage.
In some cases, the site says travellers can save 40% or even more on ticket fares.
But now Skiplagged, set up by 22-year-old developer Aktarer Zaman, has now found itself the subject of lawsuit filed by United and Orbitz.
The two companies are accusing 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 they have lost as a result of the website operating.
The Skiplagged website asks visitors to donate to its legal fund.
According to reports, Zaman has already raised over $10,000 of the $15,000 needed.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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