hidden-city-strategy

name	hidden-city-strategy
description	Use when user explicitly asks about hidden city ticketing, skiplagging, or throwaway ticketing. Requires explicit consent before analysis. Triggers on hidden city, skiplag, get off at layover.

Hidden City Strategy - Chiến Lược Vé Hidden City

Purpose

Hidden city ticketing means buying a ticket to city C (cheaper) but getting off at city B (your actual destination), which is a layover on the way to city C. This skill provides NEUTRAL analysis - it doesn't encourage or discourage the practice. It gives you complete information to make your own informed decision.

Critical Design Principles

ETHICAL GUARDRAILS:

1. This skill NEVER auto-recommends hidden city booking
2. This skill ALWAYS requires explicit human consent before showing analysis
3. This skill ALWAYS presents full risk disclosure before savings data
4. Final decision is ALWAYS the user's responsibility

Input Required

• Route (origin → actual destination)
• Flight options from flight-search
• Traveler profile (baggage, loyalty, corporate card)

Execution Steps

Step 1: Consent Gate

Before ANY analysis, ask:

⚠️ HIDDEN CITY TICKETING ANALYSIS

Hidden city ticketing violates airline contracts of carriage.
It is not illegal, but airlines enforce penalties including:
- Account suspension
- Mileage forfeiture  
- Future ticket cancellation
- Potential fare difference charges

Do you want to proceed with this analysis? 
This decision is entirely yours. [Yes / No]

If No → Stop. Suggest alternatives (route-optimization for hub-based savings).

Step 2: Eligibility Gate (Must ALL pass)

Check these conditions BEFORE running savings analysis:

#	Condition	Required	Why
1	No checked baggage	✅ MUST	Checked bags route to final destination
2	No frequent flyer number on booking	✅ MUST	Airlines track by FF account
3	No corporate travel card	✅ MUST	Corporate accounts get flagged faster
4	One-way ticket only	✅ MUST	Round-trip: missing leg 1 cancels return
5	No corporate travel policy prohibiting	✅ MUST	Policy violation = disciplinary action
6	No connecting flight after hidden city	✅ MUST	Missing first leg kills all subsequent
7	Non-frequent route (not weekly)	⚠️ WARN	Patterns trigger detection

Output if any condition fails:

❌ ELIGIBILITY CHECK FAILED

Condition failed: #4 - Round-trip booking
Reason: If you don't board the HAN→SFO→LAX segment, 
        the airline cancels your LAX→SFO→HAN return.

This means hidden city is NOT viable for your itinerary.

ALTERNATIVE: Consider route-optimization skill for hub-based 
savings that don't carry these risks.

Step 3: Savings Analysis (only if eligible)

Compare:

Direct ticket:      HAN → SFO     = $750
Hidden city ticket: HAN → SFO → LAX = $520 (you exit at SFO)
Gross savings:      $230 (31%)

But factor in costs of hidden city:

Net savings calculation:
  Gross savings:                    $230
  - Travel insurance (recommended): -$30
  - One-way ticket premium:         -$0 (sometimes one-ways cost more)
  - Risk-adjusted penalty cost:     -$X (see Step 4)
  = Net expected savings:           $200 (estimated)

Step 4: Risk Assessment by Airline

Read references/enforcement-levels.md for current enforcement data.

Present airline-specific risk:

ENFORCEMENT RISK: United Airlines
Level: HIGH 🔴

- AI detection system launched 2025 for skiplag detection
- Actively tracks passengers who don't board final segments
- Known to charge fare difference retroactively
- Frequent flyer account at risk of suspension
- Delta dedicating resources at Atlanta hub specifically

If caught: Fare difference charge ($230+), possible account ban
Probability of detection: MODERATE-HIGH for this route

Step 5: Full Risk Disclosure

Present ALL risks in clear format:

COMPLETE RISK DISCLOSURE

✅ What goes right (best case):
   You save $230 and nobody notices.

⚠️ What could go wrong:
   1. Gate agent notices and re-routes you to LAX
   2. Airline charges fare difference ($230+) retroactively
   3. Frequent flyer account suspended (if accidentally linked)
   4. Future bookings on this airline scrutinized
   5. If flight diverts/cancels, you're rebooked to LAX, not SFO
   6. Carry-on could be gate-checked to LAX at busy gate

🔴 Worst case:
   Airline bans you from future bookings + charges premium fare
   + forfeits any miles in your account

💡 Mitigations:
   - Use airline's website directly (OTAs may flag unusual patterns)
   - Don't add frequent flyer number
   - Arrive early, board early (avoid gate-check of carry-on)
   - Have backup plan if flight is cancelled/rerouted

Step 6: Decision Framework

Don't recommend - present framework for user to decide:

DECISION MATRIX

                    Hidden City         Direct Booking
Cost:               $520                $750
Savings:            $230 (31%)          Baseline
Risk level:         HIGH (United)       None
Baggage:            Carry-on only       Any
Rebooking if delay: To LAX (wrong)      To SFO (correct)
Miles earned:       None (risky)        Full earning
Insurance:          Recommended (+$30)  Standard

YOUR CALL: Given these trade-offs, the decision is entirely yours.
This skill has presented neutral information. 
We do not recommend for or against this strategy.

References

• references/enforcement-levels.md - Airline-by-airline enforcement data
• references/eligibility-check.md - Detailed eligibility conditions

Important Notes

• Hidden city ticketing is explicitly prohibited in airline Contracts of Carriage
• It is NOT illegal (no law prohibits it), but it IS a contract violation
• Airlines have successfully sued travel agencies (not individuals) promoting it
• Skiplagged.com lawsuit was dismissed but demonstrates airline hostility
• Frequency of use increases detection risk dramatically
• This skill exists for informational purposes only