Korean Air Tried to Collect $1.8 Million Over Hidden City Tickets—Then Settled for $3,000

"We let you take advantage of the cheap Korean Won (and use hidden city ticketing) to get low fares, but now we had enough and YOU GONNA PAY!!! Our accounting department says you $1.8 million but I tell them to knock it down to $1.2 million. I told you I would do almost anything for you. I'm saving you a bundle. Thank me later. So, when you send check for rest. YOU GONNA PAY!!!!" A travel scam that gets too little attention is when airlines pursue agents for tickets they claim are under paid. Korean Air suggested then enabled the use of hidden city ticketing during the depths of the Asian currency crisis only to later try and collect on fictitious fare differences. These claims are rarely settled at their face value. You may remember the ‘A Word on Fares’ back in the Connie Chung section. In 1993, we made it clear that a seat’s value is only known once sold. For years, carriers have claimed unsold seats are worth prices that very few travelers actually pay. An airline seat, like anything, is only worth what someone pays for it. Hidden city ticketing allowed Korean Air on its empty seats and the $1.8 million claim was knocked down to $3K waiver for nuisance value.

More hidden city ticketing resources:

• Hidden City Ticketing Explained
• Hidden City Ticketing Origins
• Hidden City Ticketing Examples
• Hidden City Ticketing Litigation