All you have to do is think like an airline! They’re not going to tell you their secrets, so we’ve done the research and found: How can I fly for free? Secrets Airlines don’t want you to know. The unedited five best ways to score flights without paying a dime.
From booking late to sneaking onto the plane without being noticed, these are our best tips on how to fly for free!
How to Book a Flight in 7 Easy Steps
1) Use A Credit Card That Earns Frequent Flyer Miles
If your employer offers a flexible spending account (FSA) that lets you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay medical expenses, signing up is a no-brainer. You should also consider opening a credit card that will earn you frequent flyer miles or rewards points toward airline tickets (see below).
Keep in mind that an FSA contribution is limited to $2,500 per year—meaning most people will have more than enough room in their budget for both.
Here’s how it works: Let’s say you decide to contribute $1,000 each year. If your employer matches half of your contribution, then it’s like giving yourself an extra $500 bonus at tax time. After all, who doesn’t like getting money back?
2) Volunteer
Airlines are willing to hand out free flights, frequent flier miles, and upgrades in exchange for a little help from volunteers. You could be sitting next to someone who volunteered their way into a first-class ticket; it happens all of the time. Charities often look online first when they need a volunteer, so create an account on your favorite charity’s website, then start volunteering your services whenever possible. For example, if you have a lot of experience with animals, offer to walk dogs at local shelters or provide vet care at no cost. If you love kids, sign up as a Big Brother or Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters. If you enjoy working with older adults, consider becoming a tutor through AARP Foundation or signing up as an Alzheimer’s Reading Helper through Family Caregiver Alliance.
3) Join Loyalty Programs
Airlines like Southwest and JetBlue offer frequent-flyer programs that allow members to rack up points by flying with them. Use those loyalty points toward a free flight, or better yet, put them on top of a hotel rewards program. For example, Marriott allows users to earn credit toward a stay at their hotels through loyalty programs like AAdvantage and SkyMiles.
If you book your flights directly with an airline or their travel website (instead of going through a travel agent), most will give you credit back toward future flights.
4) Sign Up For Travel Reward Programs
The less money we spend on travel, the more freedom we have when it comes to booking flights. That’s why it pays to sign up for travel reward programs offered by hotels and credit card companies like Starwood Preferred Guest and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Most of these rewards offer points that can be used at hotels, restaurants or retail stores, but a few even let members redeem them for free airline tickets! How cool is that?
5) Get Your Friends To Share Their Miles With You
If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that our parents always told us that sharing is caring. When it comes to miles, your friends (and family!) will thank you: If they have any miles with a specific airline they’re unlikely to use anytime soon, get them to share!
Some programs allow users to transfer their frequent flier miles with someone else, either on a one-to-one basis or through a group.
By recruiting friends and family members to share their miles with you, you can significantly increase your own number of free flights. Keep in mind that certain airlines limit how many times people are allowed to share their miles per year—so make sure you check before taking advantage.
6) Check Out Credit Cards Sponsored By Airlines
If you have good credit, going straight to an airline’s site and picking up a co-branded card is a great way to score extra perks. Many cards offer bonus miles and upgrades if you use them on a particular airline or when booking flights with specific websites.
Plus, most airfare purchases qualify for purchase protection, so if your trip is delayed or canceled because of weather or other circumstances out of your control, it may be possible to get your money back.
Another bonus: many travel credit cards give rewards that are redeemable toward baggage fees—just another reason why it makes sense to avoid checking bags whenever possible!
7) Look For Special Deals From Airlines And Hotels Linked Together
Frequent flier miles are a great way to secure cheap flights, but these deals come with a catch: You generally have to stay at an airline partner hotel and use an airline partner credit card.
However, if you’re not loyal to one particular airline or hotel chain, then sites like SkyMiles or Orbitz link together deals from many different companies.
By paying close attention, travelers can snag awesome airfare/hotel packages that would cost hundreds of dollars more by booking each flight and hotel individually.
8) Know The Best Time To Buy Tickets
This one is so simple and easy: just be aware of when prices fluctuate. There’s a tendency to try and book flights way in advance, but actually, that’s just not a great strategy, according to Nerd Wallet.
Booking early doesn’t necessarily mean getting a better deal, because many times airlines will start their sales season at certain times of year—like right after New Year’s Day or during specific sporting events like football bowl games—and offer very low fares only during that time period.
If you miss those low prices, it might seem like there aren’t any good deals left…but actually, savvy travelers wait until there are no good deals left (or price drops) and then they book.