Thursday is Travel Hacking! So far, we've talked to travel experts and points hacking gurus about tips for earning and redeeming points, how to score last-minute deals, their favorite travel credit cards, and points on everyday purchases. I've been asking how to maximize .
One thing we haven't touched on yet is how to take advantage of incredible flight deals. You can't travel the world without getting on a plane. So why not follow all the same strategies as the travel experts to get the best deals on flights?
If you want to attend some of the coolest parties around the world this winter and spring, go on a gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda or attend the month-long Mardi Gras party in New Orleans this month. Use the following command: Here are some tips to help you get the most value for your flight this year.
Thomas Lonergan (@travelliketommy): Use positioning flights and sign up for reward alerts
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First of all, be flexible. Plan your trip based on flight availability, not based on set dates. Flight positioning is also important. Larger airports have more flights and more business and first class seats available. You should also consider booking far in advance or at the last minute.
In fact, using points makes it easier to make last-minute reservations! You should also 100% sign up for reward alerts like Points.me and Roame.
Michele Lowery (@fancytravelpointers): Conduct a “dummy” award search two weeks before the flight goes on sale.
There are two strategies for getting the best international award tickets. The best thing to do is to pre-order it as soon as it's released. Or book your flight within two weeks.
For many families like ours, we have to work around school schedules and it's not practical to keep our kids out of school or sports with a last-minute deal, so book early. is the best option.
Many airlines release award tickets after 330 days (11 months). It's most beneficial to start your “dummy” award search about two weeks before the flight actually goes on sale. This will tell you which airlines/routes have award seats, how many seats will be released, and if you have enough points/miles for that booking.
It's also very important to focus on earning transferable/flexible points (Chase Ultimate Reward points, American Express membership points, Capital One miles, etc.) to give you more options. If you only have “air miles” for one airline, you will be using award tickets released by that particular airline. However, if you have transferable/flexible points, you can find the best award ticket and transfer the points/miles for that award ticket.
Sign up for Business Class and First Class flight alerts here.
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It's flexible. If you're looking for cash or award tickets that allow you to use credit card points or airline miles, be flexible. The more flexibility you have with your travel dates, routes, and airlines, the easier it will be to find the airline that's right for you.
Adam Hill (@adamhillyeah): Flexibility is key
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First of all, it's flexibility. This is the key. Airlines publish error fares, insane cash fares, and coveted award availability on specific dates. When something like this happens, you either become an opportunist and jump on the deal, or you miss out. Many people hesitate to do this because they first set the dates they want to travel without having an idea of when they can travel. People are bound by vacation quotas and available paid time off. I work as a firefighter and am lucky enough to be able to swap his 24-hour shifts with a co-worker, giving me flexibility in my travel dates. However, I have to work on the days when my colleagues work.
Just for bragging rights, I was able to find a round trip flight from LAX to CPH for $252. On the way back, I was able to upgrade to business class at the airport for $450. For those who rely on PTO or have to claim time off, we recommend that you first book and secure your flight ticket and then worry about whether or not to claim PTO. Since he has a DOT, he can cancel within 24 hours if he doesn't like the itinerary he has booked.
Why not schedule a date on the weekend or on your day off?
Finding good cash fares can be difficult. There are many services like Going.com that alert paid subscribers to incorrect fares or lower cash fares, but this also requires flexibility. Is there a theme emerging here? Google Flights and Skyscanner.com are great ways to search for flights. Using a VPN from another country may result in cheaper fares, but we need to stop the myth of booking on a specific date or going out incognito for a specific number of days. Airlines typically publish fares based on demand and are dynamic. Cheaper fare classes are usually set first and prices increase from there.
You may also need to be careful when using your points for the lowest award price, as the airline may need to free up award space. You can easily do this by signing up for a service like Straight To The Points or Thrifty Traveler. These sites will notify you of the availability of benefits. When searching using airline award tables, we recommend starting early or rolling the dice and booking on days closer to your desired travel dates. I found a first class award ticket two days before I wanted to travel.
In short, there are many ways and methods to find ways to travel cheaply, but the biggest takeaway is flexibility. Happy journey!
Vivian Tu (your.richbff): If you're a student, get cheap flights with student discounts
Order your copy of RICH AF: A Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life here.
This is what I want to tell all my young people. Because I really wish I had known this when I was in college. There are many great websites and brands that offer student discounts on airline tickets. Student Universe is a top site for booking travel, and you can usually get 10-15% off. That way, you'll have more money in your pocket, which you can use for things like books, housing, and food.
You can also visit Kayak, search for your flight's departure and return dates, and select the “Student” option in the Travelers section. Set Traveler Search as “Student” instead of “Adult”. Kayak actually aggregates Student Universe, Flyla, and Scholartrip flights to offer student discount flights on all major airlines, so you can see all the discounts available. Most of these require you to be a student between 18 and 24 years old.
These are especially useful for flights home on vacation during the school holidays.
Allison Tackette (@luckytictac): Flexibly search for flights from nearby airports
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If you plan your trip by thinking, “I want to fly on United Airlines at 6pm on Saturday,” you're doomed to fail. Flexibility is the biggest factor in finding great airfare. Flexibility in setting dates (even 1 or 2 days) and routes. There may not be flights from your hometown airport, but there are flights departing from another airport.
Flexibility can be the difference between a 500,000 point flight and a 60,000 point business class flight. The more flexible you are, the more successful your search for prizes will be. You may have a better in-flight experience.
Angel Trinh (@pennywisetraveler): Either book very early or book last minute
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You must book early or at the last minute as award slots become available. Although most airlines publish award space availability almost a year in advance, award spaces may not be released until two weeks before your travel date.
A business class seat became available at the last minute, so I booked a flight within the next few days. For example, I may book an economy ticket to secure a seat to my destination, then cancel the flight (which is free on American Airlines), and the miles will be credited back to my account immediately. Once American Airlines releases seats for business, use those miles to book a business class seat.
Ryan Horn (@profitsandpoints): Join our Cheap Flights Newsletter
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There are five different strategies I consistently use to ensure I find the cheapest flight tickets possible.
1) Join a cheap flight newsletter: There is a growing number of cheap flight newsletters on the market. Most of these newsletters send the cheapest airline tickets we find directly to your inbox for a subscription price. The companies that publish these newsletters typically employ people who spend hours every day searching for the cheapest airline tickets. So you not only save money, but also time.
2) Set up price alerts: Google Flights has a great feature that lets you receive emails when the price of a flight you're viewing increases or decreases. These alerts can help you decide when to purchase your flight ticket.
3) Consider alternative airports: Perhaps the biggest factor in determining the price of your flight is where you're departing from and where you're going. You can potentially save a lot of money by considering other airports within a short driving distance of your first choice. Advanced travelers may also want to consider flight placement. A positioning flight is a flight you take to get to an airport with a cheaper airfare to your final destination. Basically, it's like creating your own connecting flight. Allow plenty of time in case something goes wrong with your positioning flight.
4) Rebook your flight if the price drops: Many airlines allow you to receive credits/points/refunds if the price of your flight drops. My favorite example is Southwest Airlines. If the price of your flight drops, you can rebook your ticket through Southwest and receive a credit for the difference in fare on a future trip. If you paid with points, the difference in Rapid Rewards points will be automatically credited to your account.
5) Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility: Finding cheap flights ultimately requires flexibility. Would you like to fly on a different date? Are you willing to take a longer layover? Would you like to travel somewhere a little different than you originally planned? The more flexible you are, the more you can save on air travel. More likely.
Angelo Minella (@paidwithpoints): Subscribe to our special offer newsletter
There are many newsletters you can subscribe to, including the Straight To The Points premium newsletter, which will send you a special offer reservation. This is a great way to stay on top of award availability and book your travel before the news spreads quickly.
