Man Says “I Told You So” After Girlfriend Gets Banned From An Airline For Ticket Cheating

The phrase “Hidden City Ticketing” might sound like a savvy travel hack, but it’s really just one way to [tick off] an airline.

One man’s cheapskate girlfriend had been routinely using this scheme, booking a flight with a layover at her actual destination and skipping the final leg, to save a few bucks. Her boyfriend warned her repeatedly that she risked getting banned, but she dismissed him as “mansplaining.”

Well, she found out the hard way that the airlines play for keeps. After she skipped yet another flight, she received a permanent ban notice, costing the couple thousands and sparking a massive, profanity-laced blowout.

Now, read the full story:

This is the sound of a very lucrative but highly precarious travel scam hitting the wall. The girlfriend had a profitable but risky hustle, but her boyfriend had to pay the cost when her luck ran out.

The girlfriend’s strategy—known as “Hidden City Ticketing” or “skiplagging”—is a direct violation of the airline’s contract of carriage. The airlines rely on complex pricing algorithms, and when a passenger consistently breaks the rules to exploit cheaper layovers, it disrupts their system and costs them money.

The girlfriend acted selfishly and childishly, ignoring clear warnings and then doubling down by threatening a lawsuit she has no chance of winning. However, the boyfriend’s response was a catastrophic failure of communication. Calling his partner a “[freaking] moron” and telling her to “grow the [freak] up” moved the conversation from a valid critique of her financial irresponsibility to straight-up verbal abuse.

While she absolutely f__ed around and found out, his reaction ensured that nothing productive was learned.

First, let’s confirm the legality: the airline is 100% within its rights to ban her. When a traveler purchases a ticket, they agree to the airline’s Contract of Carriage, which almost universally prohibits using the flight itinerary in a way that avoids paying the full fare to the ultimate destination.

As reported by NerdWallet, airlines have escalated their fight against skiplagging, often banning passengers and even suing third-party websites that promote the practice. Lot Airlines did exactly what OP warned they would.

However, OP’s reaction moved from justified anger to abusive communication. Even if a partner makes a gigantic, costly mistake, responding with degrading insults is corrosive to the relationship.

Dr. John Gottman, a leading researcher on marital stability, identifies contempt—which includes insults, name-calling, and mockery—as the single greatest predictor of divorce. As the Gottman Institute explains, contempt is deadly because it conveys “disgust and disrespect.” The boyfriend’s insults didn’t correct her behavior; they just drove a massive wedge between them.

The girlfriend needs to accept responsibility for the financial damage she caused. The boyfriend needs to apologize for his abusive language and ask himself why he feels the need to date someone he respects so little.

Check out how the community responded:

The majority of Reddit users ruled ESH (Everyone Sucks Here), arguing that while the girlfriend was wrong for breaking the rules, the boyfriend was wrong for the verbal abuse.

A few commenters sided with the boyfriend, arguing that the girlfriend’s expensive, childish irresponsibility justified the outburst.

Finally, some users questioned the long-term viability of the relationship itself.

The girlfriend was undeniably wrong, demonstrating immaturity and selfish risk-taking that directly harmed her partner’s finances and travel plans. She needs to own her mistake and handle the increased costs.

However, the boyfriend’s name-calling created a bigger problem than the cost of the new tickets. When financial stress turns into verbal contempt, the relationship itself is past the point of damage control.

Do you think the girlfriend’s expensive mistake justified the boyfriend’s harsh insults? Or should he have kept his cool?