How to fly free? Is it even possible? Flying around the World without having to pay for flights!? Its even possible You might have witnessed or heard it. Maybe while taking water from the office cooler, the festive dinner table, and everywhere else you go, enthusiastic travel hackers are proudly talking about snagging complimentary flights to distant locations.
Are you prepared to participate in the excitement? Everything you should be aware of about obtaining complimentary flights can be found here. “Free flights” typically come with hidden costs. You typically shell out a minimum of $5.60 per flight for Transportation Security Administration fees included in your ticket. For specific global flights, you may also need to pay fuel surcharges, which can amount to approximately $200 per trip for economy class and over $700 per trip in business class.
Now that you understand award travel equals “mostly” no cost, here are the most trustworthy methods to obtain free flights.
5 Ways to obtain Complimentary Or Free Flights
By spending strategically and using the appropriate credit cards over time, you will soon be flying at significantly lower prices.
Accumulate miles or points by Flying with your favorite airline carrier
Enroll in a frequent flyer program (membership is at no cost). Whenever you utilize the airline’s services, you will accumulate mileage or points that are redeemable for flying free.
» Find out more: What is the process of airline miles?
The amount of miles you receive depends on the airline. The majority of them award miles depending on the cost of your ticket. For instance, members of United Airlines’ MileagePlus program accumulate 5 MileagePlus miles for every dollar spent on eligible tickets. First-tier participants in the program receive additional miles as a bonus.
Hawaiian Airlines and other airlines give miles depending on the distance traveled. For instance, flying 2,397 miles from San Francisco to Honolulu would earn you 2,397 HawaiianMiles in your frequent flyer account.
Flying with one of the partner airlines of your preferred airline can also help you earn miles. If you travel with JetBlue, you have the option to input your HawaiianMiles membership number while making a reservation in order to accumulate miles with Hawaiian Airlines. Alternatively, you can reserve a flight to Paris with Air France, inputting your Delta Air Lines SkyMiles number during the booking process to accumulate Delta miles for your journey. Find out which airlines collaborate with your favorite carrier to explore every opportunity to accumulate miles.
What distance must you travel to accumulate sufficient miles for a complimentary flight? It all depends on the airline miles you accumulate, your destination, and the time of travel. Check the website of your favorite airline to find example award bookings for your travel dates as well as different dates to observe the fluctuation in award prices.
Accumulate miles by using an airline credit card for your daily expenses apart from Flying 4
Airlines collaborate with financial institutions to provide airline credit cards that give you miles or points based on your spending, which are then credited to your loyalty program account. With one of these credit cards, it is possible to accumulate sufficient points or miles for a complimentary flight without actually purchasing a plane ticket.
Receive numerous miles for flying free by taking advantage of a welcome bonus offered by the credit card.
The quickest method to accumulate sufficient miles for a complimentary flight is by grabbing a credit card’s “welcome bonus.” These promotions usually involve a large amount of points or miles, frequently in the tens of thousands. This welcome bonus is earned by new cardmembers after signing up and meeting a spending minimum within a specified time period, typically the first three months.
Accumulate versatile points with a credit card that is not affiliated with an airline.
Financial institutions like Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi, and others provide travel credit cards that earn points. You have the option to exchange points for flights on the issuer’s travel booking site or convert your points into miles with your preferred airline for certain programs. Others permit you to exchange them for a credit on a statement to cover the expenses of a flight or hotel.
One example is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, which gives you 1.5 points for every dollar spent. Those points can be redeemed for a complimentary flight through Bank of America’s travel booking site, or you can buy a flight with the credit card and later use your points to receive a statement credit that covers the cost.
These versatile rewards cards offer a wider variety of airlines to select from. However, they do not provide some benefits such as complimentary checked baggage or extra miles for purchasing flights with a co-branded card from the same airline.
Obtain a companion pass for airlines
Certain airlines provide the opportunity to obtain a “companion pass,” allowing a second traveler to accompany you flying free at no cost (excluding taxes or fees). One way to attain the Southwest Companion Pass is by taking 100 one-way flights or collecting 135,000 qualifying points from buying flights or using a Southwest credit card. The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to choose one individual to travel with you on the same schedule for only the price of taxes and fees, which begin at $5.60 per journey. It remains valid for the rest of the year you received it, as well as the next full calendar year. You have the option to switch your chosen partner up to three times annually.
Travelers aiming to become part of the group receiving complimentary airfare should strategize meticulously. Firstly, think about your destination and which airlines you will be flying with. Afterwards, enroll in loyalty programs, then explore credit card sign-up bonuses and other methods to accumulate miles. Even with minimal credit card usage, you can gradually move towards obtaining inexpensive or almost complimentary airline tickets.
