I’m currently on a train from Taipei, Taiwan to Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Taipei is a popular tourist spot for the Japanese and other Asian countries but I think I’ve only seen one other American here.
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Which means - Everyone is staring at me like a mythical unicorn.
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I get it though. People are just curious. I would be too.
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I’m liking Taiwan a lot. It feels very Japanese without all the westerners so I highly recommend checking it out.
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Let’s get onto today’s issue.
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Travel hacking can feel almost magical at times. But the best hacks often lose their power when too many people find out about them and companies close the loopholes.
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I'm going to cover one travel
hack that used to be amazing but doesn't work as well anymore.
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I want to make sure you understand the risks before you try this trick.
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For years, travelers used a booking trick called hidden-city ticketing to save money.
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The idea was simple: sometimes a flight with a layover in your real destination was cheaper than flying there directly.
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So people would book the cheaper flight, get off at the layover city, and skip the last leg of the trip.
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Sounds simple,
right?
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Well, it used to be. This strategy worked well in the early 2010s when airlines didn't pay much attention. But today, it's not nearly as effective—and it comes with real risks.
Why the Hidden City Trick Doesn't Work Like Before
Airlines have gotten
much smarter. They now use dynamic pricing, which means prices can change in real time, and they monitor unusual travel behavior. Because of this:
- The price gap between direct flights and hidden-city routes is smaller than before.
- Airlines sometimes cancel or change routes, meaning your "layover city" might not be a stop anymore.
- Using this trick frequently
can get your loyalty account flagged or even shut down.
- Your return ticket can be canceled automatically if you skip a segment.
In short: what used to be a clever loophole is now a gamble.
How Brave Travelers Still Use It (Carefully)
If you
really want to try a hidden-city booking, here are the safest practices:
- Carry-on only—no checked bags, ever.
- Book a one-way ticket, not a round trip.
- Avoid using your frequent-flyer number so your account doesn't get flagged.
- Do this rarely, not as
a regular travel habit.
- Check that your layover city is the airline's main hub, which makes route changes less likely.
These steps don't remove all the risks, but they lower them.
The Bottom Line
The hidden-city trick is a classic part of
travel-hack history, but it's no longer the reliable money-saver it once was. It can still work in very specific situations, but today it's something travelers should use sparingly and with full awareness of the risks.
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