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Aktarer Zaman

Founder & CEO of Skiplagged

Aktarer Zaman is the Founder and CEO of Skiplagged, a travel website known for helping users find cheaper airfare through a practice called "hidden city ticketing." Born in 1993, Zaman gained significant attention in 2014 when United Airlines and Orbitz filed a lawsuit against him for promoting this controversial travel strategy, which involves booking flights with layovers where the layover city is the actual destination. This tactic often results in lower fares compared to direct flights.134

Zaman's journey began when he was a software engineer at Amazon after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He launched Skiplagged in 2013 at the age of 20, motivated by his own experiences with airline pricing inefficiencies.23 The site quickly gained popularity, attracting millions of visitors and leading to legal challenges from major airlines that viewed it as unfair competition.15

Despite the lawsuits, Zaman has remained unapologetic about his business model, asserting that it provides consumers with better access to affordable travel options. In addition to airfare searches, Skiplagged has expanded its services to include hotel bookings and traditional fare searches.78 Zaman's innovative approach has made him a notable figure in the travel industry, often described as a disruptor challenging established norms.67

As of 2023, Zaman continues to lead Skiplagged and has expressed no intention of shutting down despite ongoing legal disputes with airlines.8 His work has sparked discussions about airline pricing practices and consumer rights in the travel industry.

Highlights

May 11 · Business Insider
Skiplagged's CEO has tips on how to use the travel hack without getting caught by airlines
Nov 17 · newser.com
Inventor of 'Skiplagging' Is Unapologetic - Newser
Nov 1 · fastcompany.com
Skiplagged was sued by a major airline—but says it will keep finding ...
Aug 25 · ABC News
What is skiplagging? The travel hack long hated by airlines is now the subject of a big lawsuit - ABC News
What is skiplagging? The travel hack long hated by airlines is now the subject of a big lawsuit - AB
Feb 22 · theorg.com
Aktarer Zaman - Founder & CEO at Skiplagged - The Org
Jul 13 · en.wikipedia.org
Skiplagged - Wikipedia
Dec 31 · money.cnn.com
How a 23-year-old beat United Airlines
How a 23-year-old beat United Airlines
Dec 1 · travelpulse.com
Skiplagged Founder Still Confounding Airlines | TravelPulse
Jan 20 · travelweekly.com
Skiplagged's Aktarer Zaman - Travel Weekly
Skiplagged's Aktarer Zaman - Travel Weekly
Jan 6 · skift.com
Interview With Hidden City Startup Founder: Is He Naive or an ... - Skift
Interview With Hidden City Startup Founder: Is He Naive or an ... - Skift
Dec 30 · businessinsider.in
The Internet Is Giving This 22-Year-Old Almost $20,000 To Fight A ...
The Internet Is Giving This 22-Year-Old Almost $20,000 To Fight A ...

Related Questions

What inspired Aktarer Zaman to start Skiplagged?
How did the lawsuit from United Airlines impact Skiplagged's growth?
What are some of the challenges Aktarer Zaman faced while building Skiplagged?
How does Skiplagged's business model differ from traditional travel agencies?
What are hidden city ticketing and how does Skiplagged use it?
Aktarer Zaman
Aktarer Zaman, photo 1
Aktarer Zaman, photo 2
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Location

New York, New York, United States