How to Get Free Flights: Insider Tips That Actually Work

6 Real Tips for Getting Free Flights

1. Max Out on Airline Miles and Points

The most reliable and popular way to get free flights is by earning airline miles—often referred to as frequent flyer points. But here’s the kicker: you don’t have to fly constantly to rack them up. In fact, most savvy travelers earn the majority of their miles on the ground.
How to Do It:

• Join frequent flyer programs for every airline you ever fly. It's free and takes minutes.
• Sign up for travel rewards credit cards that offer big sign-up bonuses—some cards offer 50,000 to 100,000 miles just for hitting a minimum spend in the first few months.
• Use your travel credit card for everyday purchases—groceries, gas, dining out. Those miles add up.
• Transfer points from other reward programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or hotel loyalty programs.
• Take advantage of airline promotions—airlines often run limited-time offers for double or triple miles on specific routes.

A pro tip: focus on one or two airlines or alliances (like Star Alliance or OneWorld) so your miles don’t get scattered.

2. Use Travel Hacking to Your Advantage

Travel hacking is the art of using points, promotions, and loyalty programs to travel for a fraction of the cost—or free. It’s not illegal or shady; it’s simply knowing how the system works and using it smartly.
Here’s how travel hackers do it:

• Churn credit cards strategically (i.e., open new cards for the sign-up bonuses, then move on to the next once requirements are met). But be careful—this requires excellent credit and discipline.
• Combine miles with partner airlines. Many airlines let you redeem miles on partner flights, which can give you more flexibility and better availability.
• Book with airline alliances to maximize point value.
• Know award chart sweet spots. Some routes offer insane value for points—think 15,000 miles for a transatlantic flight during off-peak times.

Travel hacking takes a bit of research, but once you learn the game, it's a goldmine.

3. Volunteer to Get Bumped From Overbooked Flights

Yes, really. Airlines frequently overbook flights, especially on busy routes. When too many passengers show up, they look for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for compensation—often in the form of flight vouchers, which can be used toward future tickets.
Sometimes, airlines will offer hundreds of dollars in credit or even free round-trip flights. Here’s how to capitalize:

• Travel with flexibility, and arrive early.
• Let the gate agents know you're open to being bumped.
• Negotiate: sometimes they’ll add perks like meal vouchers or upgrade you on the next flight.

It might cost you a few hours, but it could earn you a free ticket.

4. Fly for Free by Working While You Travel

Another lesser-known route to free flights? Make travel part of your job. If you're open to blending work and adventure, there are several opportunities.
Jobs That Often Offer Free Flights:

• Flight attendants and pilots (of course).
• Airline employees and their families often receive standby passes.
• Travel bloggers, influencers, and journalists can score complimentary flights for press trips or promotional campaigns.
• English teachers abroad, especially in countries like South Korea or the UAE, often get round-trip flights as part of their contract.
• Au pairs, cruise ship workers, and international volunteers sometimes have airfare included in their program.

This approach takes commitment, but it opens up doors to long-term travel opportunities.

5. Use Airline Companion Tickets and Promotions

Some premium travel credit cards offer companion passes—buy one ticket, get another one free (or close to it).
Examples include:

• Southwest Companion Pass: Fly with a companion for free (plus taxes/fees) for up to two years once you qualify.
• Alaska Airlines Visa Card: Comes with a $99 companion fare each year.
• Delta Reserve and Platinum cards: Offer a companion certificate annually.

In addition, watch for “buy-one-get-one” flight promotions from airlines—these are rare, but they do pop up around major holidays or sales events.

6. Sign Up for Loyalty and Cashback Sites

Another trick in the playbook on how to get free flights is to double dip with cashback and travel portals.
Here's how it works:

• Shop through airline shopping portals to earn extra miles on purchases you’d make anyway (like clothes or electronics).
• Use cashback sites like Rakuten, which sometimes allow you to earn Amex points or airline miles instead of cash.
• Combine credit card points with online travel booking portals, where they often go further than transferring them to airline programs.

With a little bit of strategic planning, you can passively rack up miles and points toward your next flight.

Final Thoughts: Free Flights Are Closer Than You Think

If you're wondering how to get free flights, the key is to stop thinking of it as a once-in-a-lifetime fluke. Instead, approach it like a savvy traveler who knows how to play the game. Whether it's leveraging credit card bonuses, volunteering to get bumped, or making smart career choices, the opportunities are everywhere.
Remember, it's not about gaming the system—it's about understanding it. Free flights aren’t just for elite frequent flyers or travel influencers. With the right moves, they can be yours too.
So start today. Sign up for a travel rewards card. Join those loyalty programs. And start dreaming a little bigger—because your next free flight might be closer than you think.