[klipt]

Hidden city tickets are weird because if the cost of flying A to B to C is lower than A to B, that implies the cost of flying B to C is negative.

Does the government pay airlines to fly to podunk towns that wouldn't otherwise get service, or something?

Why don't they just make that leg of the flight $50, but hand out $150 to everyone who's actually on board mid-flight? That would prevent people from booking the flight but not taking it.

[fancyketchup]

> Does the government pay airlines to fly to podunk towns that wouldn't otherwise get service, or something?

In some cases, yes. It's called "Essential Air Service." But that's not the usual reason for B->C having negative apparent cost.