Travel Blog

Fly Smart Save More – The Benefits of Cashback on Flights

Flying is expensive, but it can be pretty reasonable if you’re smart and don’t have too many kids (or a lot of baggage).

You can also save money with flight cashback programs. This program is simple — you earn dollars back on every flight booking.

You’ll Save Money

Air travel can be expensive, but you don’t have to break the bank. The right credit card, savvy search techniques, and simple tricks can help you save on airfare. The biggest money-saving tip is to be flexible when booking your flight. Prices are higher around popular holidays, weekends, and before and after significant events, so try to be as flexible as possible with your dates.

One of the best ways to save on flights is to book a trip with points or cash back. If you have children or want to save money on a big trip, vacation rental homes can be a great choice.

Another way to save on flights is by booking a bundle. Many online travel agencies offer vacation packages that include airfare and hotel stays for a discounted rate. It can be a great way to save on your next vacation and still have plenty of time to relax by the beach or pool.

Lastly, if you’re comfortable flying with a connecting flight or are planning a more extended trip, consider using multiple airlines. You can often save money by booking each leg of your trip with different airlines. For example, if you’re flying from New York to Paris, you can find cheap fares to London on one airline and then fly directly to Paris on another. It may take a little extra planning, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

One way to save money on your flight is by using a travel rewards credit card. These cards offer cashback on flights and other rewards for purchases at places like grocery stores and restaurants. However, select a card that provides airline and hotel loyalty programs and benefits, such as waived annual fees and travel protections. You can also find cards with a fixed rate of $8 per year for every mile you fly, which is a great way to keep your budget in check.

Save Money on Hotels

Flights aren’t the only travel expense you need to budget for. Hotel rooms can add up, too, especially if you’re booking with a family or group. But you can do some simple things to save money on hotels.

For example, book a suite instead of a regular room. Suites are typically cheaper and offer extra space for families or groups. And don’t forget to book an early check-in or late checkout. You can save up to $20 or more by checking in or out later than the standard times.

Lastly, sign up for hotel loyalty programs for cash back and freebies. Some hotels even waive resort fees for loyalty program members.

Many travelers have stockpiled billions of unused miles and points. If your business travelers can redeem their unused miles, you can cut travel expenses significantly.

Save Money on Car Rentals

There are various ways to save money on car rentals, including shopping for the best deal, using discount codes, and maximizing perks built into frequent flyer or credit card programs. Some credit cards also provide a flat cashback rate on rental car purchases.

Depending on your travel dates, time of year, and destination, renting a car earlier or later in the day may be cheaper. According to a study by Expedia, rental car demand spikes on summer Fridays and the days leading up to Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. Planning your trip around these dates allows you to enjoy lower prices and shorter lines at the car rental counter.

Various organizations, associations, and credit cards offer rental car discounts for members. For example, the Veterans Advantage program offers a discount on budget rentals for veterans, active-duty military personnel, National Guard and Reservists. In addition, many credit cards allow you to redeem miles and points for car rentals, such as the American AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles. Lastly, you can find websites like RetailMeNot to find the best possible deals on car rentals.

Save Money on Shopping

Whether you fly for work or play, there are many ways to save money on flights. Be flexible with your dates – airfares vary by day, so booking Tuesday through Saturday can save you 10 to 40 percent off your flight costs, compared with flying Friday and Sunday.

Use price alerts to get notified when your flight price drops.

If you’re on a budget, consider choosing a cashback credit card instead of one with points and miles. Maximizing points and miles cards can require juggling multiple cards, using travel portals, and transferring between programs. A cashback card can make managing your money and reward programs easier. You can earn cash back on flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and purchases.

You’ll Get Cashback

Unlike points and miles cards, which often require juggling multiple card accounts, rotating between them depending on your needs and redemptions through travel portals, a cashback credit card allows you to put all your rewards toward what you will use them for. You can choose your 3% spending category each month to align with your goals: dining or home improvement and furnishings for your upcoming vacation or online shopping for that big holiday or birthday purchase. You can direct your cashback towards a savings or investment account, helping you achieve your long-term financial goals.

You’ll Save Time

Flights are expensive, but they don’t have to be. One way to reduce flight costs is to book or redeem award miles early. The dollars you’ll save on airfare can be put toward fancy restaurants, exciting hotels, or new experiences. And if you can be flexible about your travel dates, saving money is even easier. Just shifting your trip by a few days could cut the cost of your ticket in half.

Book your flight award with a minimum of 14 days and no later than two days before departure, and redeem your award miles.

You’ll Have More Options

Whether planning well in advance or on the spur of the moment, booking sites help you have more options when booking flights. Book a flight award on the economy class airlines 14 days and two days before departure, and redeem your award miles in economy class. You’ll save up to 50% of the standard mileage amounts. However, read the rules (each airline is different) before selecting this fare. They may include restrictions, such as not allowing seat selection or limiting carry-on luggage size.