I almost got banned from American Airlines for ‘skiplagging.’ I was terrified when my boarding pass was flagged and I’ll never do it again.

• Cassie Aran bought a hidden-city flight from Skiplagged.
• An American Airlines agent told Aran she would be banned if she missed the last leg of her flight.
• Right before entering security, Aran decided to cancel her ticket and rebook a proper one.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cassie Aran, a TikTok creator known for her traveling videos. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Skiplagging or "hidden city," ticketing is when you book a flight with a layover. Then once you make it to your layover — the place you actually want to go — you don't head to your final destination.