Travel hacking and saving money on flights has become quite common as people are traveling more on a budget.
So let’s get to it! Here are 11 ways to save on flights so you can travel more often on a budget.
Below are 11 ways to save money on flights that work.
Use Ebates to save on flights
Using Ebates allows you to get cash back on flights, and many other travel related sites.
You can save on flights, rental cars, Amazon, vacation packages, spas, and much more with Ebates.
Create an Ebates account here. Make an online purchase of $25 and get $10 as a welcome bonus! So easy.
Ebates even has a free browser extension that automatically applies the best coupons to your purchases and activates cash back. There are so many times I forget to use Ebates when I’m online shopping – so the Ebates button reminds me every time I go online shopping. It’s a must.
Get cash back with Ibotta
Ibotta is a free app that gives you cash back for making purchases on things like groceries, clothes, toiletries, but also flights, hotels, and other travel-related purchases.
You can get up to 10% cash back on flights, hotels, and more all within the Ibotta app.
If you sign up now, you can get $10 in your account by using my link here.
If you’re downloading Ibotta on your phone, the app will ask if you have a referral code. Use my referral code: lwyxxrb and you’ll get $10 for signing up.
Compare airlines
There are so many airlines out there to choose from, and they’re all in competition with each other.
A few cheap U.S. airlines will be Frontier, United, Southwest, Spirit, and American.
If you’re looking to get to a destination the cheapest way possible and don’t care about the extra stuff, I recommend choosing Southwest.
If you’re looking for a more luxurious flight, I recommend booking with American Airlines.
I’ve flown with American to 5 continents around the world, and have sat in their first class, business class, and coach all around the world.
Use a travel agent
Travel agents are very affordable and worth it in the long run (some are even free and get paid on commission through the hotels or agencies you’re booking with).
Not only will they find you the best flight at the lowest price, but they’ll also help you in case anything goes wrong with your flight.
Travel agents are experts at what they do, and they’re only getting better and better.
Learn about credit card rewards
Figuring out how credit cards for travel rewards work are the easiest way to get free flights or land a first-class seat on an international trip.
It’s critical you pay your bills on time to maximize your potential for travel rewards, so if you aren’t good credit cards, I recommend skipping #5.
Million Mile Secrets has a great article on credit card rewards and breaks everything down clearly.
A few of the best credit cards for travel rewards are:
- Capital One® Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Chase Freedom
- Discover it – Cashback Match
Related:50+ Ways To Make Extra Money
P.S. Sign up below for the FREE ultimate financial planner that includes printables like: debt tracker, income tracker, annual budget summary, savings challenges, financial goals, and debt thermometers!
Sign up for email alerts from airlines
Signing up for email alerts from airlines ensures that you get the cheapest tickets on your flights.
RyanAir (Europe’s budget airline) would often email me when I was living in Europe as an au pair.
I’d get notified before non-email subscribers when they’d have their $10 deals to different countries.
That means I’d score great deals before anyone even knew about the sale going on!
Use Hopper
Hopper is an easy to use user-friendly app that tells you the best time to fly and when to buy your ticket.
There is no spam, ads, or popups at any time on the app, and you can book your flight directly from the app.
Here are the directions from their website:
First, search for a trip by tapping dates on the color-coded calendar.
Then, get Hopper’s prediction about when your flight will be cheapest. We’ll recommend whether you should wait or book.
If we say WAIT, tap the binoculars to watch.
Hopper will keep an eye on that trip for you and send you notifications the instant prices drop.
If Hopper says BUY, choose your flights and book in just a few taps and a swipe. Save your passenger and payment info, so future flight booking is even quicker. – Hopper
Related: 15 College Student Jobs That Make Up To $40 An Hour
Be flexible
Be flexible in terms of booking, and not only that but when a front desk employee is asking for a customer to give up their seat to take the next flight, be the first to volunteer.
Giving up your seat means you’re almost certainly going to get an upgrade, or free hotel accommodation, or actual money.
Book on certain days
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday’s are the best days to fly since the airports are less crowded, meaning everyone’s booking for a flight on Friday and Sunday, making your flight cheaper on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Clear your browser history
Clearing your history and cookies is important. Airlines are smart and are keeping an eye on you every time you refresh your browser to check for flights.
Most airline websites will increase their ticket prices when they know you’re constantly checking for a certain flight as they know you’re most likely going to have to purchase it eventually, leading you to think you better buy it now before the price continues to rise.
Travel during the low season
Traveling during the low season means you’re paying a fraction of the cost for a flight.
This also means that your accommodations, tours, and other travel-related expenses will be cheaper as well.
I’ve traveled to many places during the low season and they always end up being a great trip as touristy places are way less crowded.
Saving on flights and travel hacking is easier than ever with credit cards with travel rewards and knowing a few hacks to “beat” the system.
Though I’ve been flying for free for my life due to a family friend working for a major airline, I will most likely be using credit cards in the future for travel rewards.
What to read next: 10 Budget Travel Tips That Can Save You Thousands
Best side hustles (making $1,000+/month)
- Sell printables on Etsy – Selling printables is the #1 side hustle to make money. This can be done on your own schedule and turn into passive income! You can earn over $10,000 a year selling printables.
- Sell dog treats – Make $1,000+ selling dog treats from the comfort of your home. Be your own boss and make your own schedule.
- Proofreading – Earn $20+ an hour proofreading from home. Great for people who enjoy editing and working from a computer.
Alexis Schroeder is the CEO and founder of FITnancials.
With budgeting and side hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made over $100,000 in side hustles in college.
Since starting this website over 10 years ago, Fitnancials has reached over 3,000,000 readers. We’ve been featured on sites like Forbes, Yahoo, Side Hustle School, GOBankingRates, Mint, and many more.
If you want to contact Alexis, please send an email to alexis@fitnancials.com.