How to Get Free Airline Tickets
Real tips for getting free plane tickets online.
By BrianX | February 15th, 2004If buying discount airline tickets isn’t enough for you, perhaps you should consider free plane tickets! This sounds like a dream come true but it’s not. Getting free plane tickets is actually not that difficult. Just read this article and get started on your next vacation flight or business trip!
Free Plane Tickets
Every single day hundreds of people get free plane tickets from major airlines (American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Air Canada, jetBlue, SouthWest Airlines, and so on). Even if the airline companies lose money, they figure they can make it back using the method described here.
Why would airlines give away free tickets?
More importantly how does it work?! First, you must understand that all major airlines overbook their flights. For example, if an American Airlines plane carries 100 people, they will sell 110 tickets, assuming that about 10% of them won’t show up. A lot of people actually miss their flights because they arrived at the airport late and missed the plane, were too ill to travel, or simply changed their mind at the last minute.
Since airlines want to maximize their profit while simultaneously not piss people off, they have devised a brilliant plan. If a flight is overbooked and everyone shows up (or at least one person beyond the plane’s seating capacity), they have to kick people off the plane. In order to keep passengers satisfied, they offer financial incentives.
Just before boarding, the airline representatives will announce that the plane is oversold and ask if anyone wants to step off. People with the most flexible schedules will agree and as a “thank you” the airline will typically reward the person with hundreds of dollars in airline ticket coupons. These vouchers are usually good for one year and up to about $500 off your next flight. That’s quite the discount, especially if you paid less for the ticket in the first place. Yes, they actually give you more than you paid to compensate you for the inconvenience.
How to optimize your chances of getting free plane tickets
One way to increase the odds of you being the one chosen to step off the plane is to volunteer at the desk, before they even make an announcement. This can be very effective, especially during peak travel periods such as December 23 & 24th. You will arrive at your destination a little later and have a free second flight on your back pocket!
Oh, and when do you get to where you want to go? The airline will place you on the next flight out or a flight that requires a transfer. Sometimes you can get a voucher for $300 for a 1 hour wait. Not bad at all! For the record, I have been in exactly this situation and received the voucher. Trust me, it’s great!
Note that these free plane ticket deals rarely include a free companion airline ticket meaning that if you are traveling with someone, they won’t be included unless enough people showed up for the flight and they needed multiple people to step off the plane. Even then, other people may have stepped forward and asked to be on the list of passengers wanting to be booted in exchange for a free plane ticket voucher. So two free airline tickets is not out of the question, you just have to play your cards right and hope a couple of people don’t show up to your overbooked plane!
One Last Way to Get Free Airline Tickets
There are a few completely different ways to get free plane tickets. They all revolve around free airline ticket promotions. Credit card airline tickets are essentially free if you spend a certain amount on the card. There are various promotions such a Wendy’s and Polident which gave away free tickets. Free airline tickets for military personnel are sometimes available as well.
More Free Discount Travel Tips
The BrianX Travel Guide provides a number of articles to help you get the most out of traveling. Check out how to book a discount hotel room and how to get really cheap flights as well. Looking for something more exquisite? Try the private jets guide.
also, and this is at truthful lady: yes, there are other ways of making money than a job. which is exactly why they should earn the money and just pay for the ticket. for the homeless guy: also, use some of the money you manage to earn on the streets by spanging. i know you homeless people do it.
September 9, 2009 at 5:54 pm
hello, i need some help getting a free flight for my family. My husband is active duty and a family member has just passed away. He is low ranking so he doesn’t make alot. Any help at all would be very much appreciated.
September 10, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Am from Kenya my dream is to travel with plane that is the desire of my heart please I kindly request you to offer me a gift to make my dream come true when you do that GOD from above will remember this great this day and will reward you and I would like to see this other country the way people talk about them more to that am saved and I wish to preach far box 242ruiru or 1538 thika
September 11, 2009 at 9:25 am
I’m really starting to doubt there is any humanity left.
I’m about to be cleared with my new passport and my fiancee is sick in the hospital in the UK. I see people getting free tickets all the time for vacations and idle garbage like such.
Here my beautiful girl is laying there thinking I’ll never show. Its $817 bucks by Virgin Atlantic and I don’t have that money when everything is in bills! I just wanted to leave the US and go to her, take care of her. Why can’t I seem to get these miracle tickets? No one seems to care. What happened to this world?
:’(
September 13, 2009 at 9:40 am
I’m working all my life as a volunteer NGO worker in my province. I always wanted to win free tickets for me and my child even to an Asian trip as a gift for myself and my child whom I always left because of my job. I just wish opportunity will come this year for me.
September 16, 2009 at 10:33 pm
i not begging, but if anyone could help with sending me info. my daughter and son-in-law are in hawaii. he is in the navy and is stationed at ford island on oahua. their son 14 months old is in a coma, my grandbaby, the doctors are going to removed him off life support today or tomorrow. he is brain dead. im hurting so bad for him i only got to see him once. my daughter is falling a part. i need to get out there leave tuesday evening or very early wedsday morning. im have to work, i had my younger son here with my sister. i dont have money for a last minute ticket i have contacted red cross and check all other airlines, they do offer discount but the best was as of this morning 1056.00, thatis with military discount. does anyone have any ideas, i could sure use them. thank you
September 20, 2009 at 9:59 am
To smart guy and those like him, it is as you would put it “dumb” to respond to anyone who is asking for a handout or for something that is free, or for those who misunderstand the word free in this article, these are people, and in the next life you may be one of them and have to deal with their problems and they may have not had alot handed to them on a silver fricken planter throughout life, and anyone who is highly successful and states they grew up with nothing and absolutly no help or did not know someone who knew someone to get them in certain doors your FULL OF IT!, some just don’t get capitalist america, they may be the lucky ones as most of the droids that continue to make it difficult on those who have not had the hand ups, like I said you may be one of them in your next life and maybe there will be a little voice reminding your subconsciouos of what a truly “dumb” thing you said in your prior life to these humans, they are trying in the only way some know how, kinda stupid of you not to know this but then again “dumb” is part of all of us, if you do not agree grab the conical hat and go to the corner, and god bless all of you who are truthfully trying to get somewhere in this big beautiful world we live in, even if it is with a smart guy?……………and since when is the word PLEASE begging?, they’re trying to “do something”………….
September 22, 2009 at 12:19 pm
i never flow so i need ur big help to get my man get home cuz he is very sick .. he need get free flight to get hom in u.s. right now he is in nigeria so please please get him free ticket asap home before not want happen to him so his name is kelvin brooks….. thank you …
September 25, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I have never flown before. It was my dream wish ever since i was young. Please help me fly so as to realise my dream.
September 26, 2009 at 10:09 am
I want to a free air tickets.
September 26, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Hi. I have recently been engaged to a woman from Ukraine whom I met here in the U.S. She went back to her country and I need to get there. I can’t afford it. I work two jobs that don’t make enough money to pull that much money out of my pocket at once. If you could Please help me, I would be forever greatful and also make payments to you. Please. l love her dearly.
October 1, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Hi I have been in America for 5 months and while I was here I was working but due to some one stealing my tools I am now out of work. I have gotten a eviction notice where I live. And will also be losing my computer carrier I don’t know when but soon for I can’t pay the bill. I need to get back to Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. I don’t have any money and winter is closng in soon. I don’t know what Im going to do, I’m begging you to please help me reurn home to my family where I know I will beable to go back to work. I am willing to pay this back once working again. Thank You Sincerely Yours Tim Munro stranded in America.
October 2, 2009 at 9:10 am
Dear Sir,
Plese let me know what are the criterias to ge the free air tickets.
October 2, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Thank you are free ticket america visa thanka for you.
October 2, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I am a mother of 3 and my oldest is in san diego ready to graduate boot camp and i have no way to get there, my money is tied up in taking care of his broter and sister and paying rent . If anyone could help me it would be the greatest thing in the world for him , me and his siblings.
October 5, 2009 at 10:43 am
hello ,i am dipendra i am from nepal now i am in spain ,i am married i have 2 child .in this days i dont have work ,government pay me few money to live but its not enough for us to live here so i have to travel to nepal in 2010 march with my familly i can pay two o three tickets .for one o two please help us to go and come back again .thank you
October 8, 2009 at 4:20 am
hi i need to go to see my family in chile 16 years i not see my family i cannot affort to pay my ticket because i cannot word i in dissability pension thank if you can help me.
October 8, 2009 at 7:03 am
To whom it may concern. My grandmother is in the hospital and on her death bed she has a bad heart her vowl to her heart is leaking and no blood is pumping to it mayjor part of this is half her heart is beating and the doctos cant do anything if they do she wont wake up i need to get to her asap i love her and im the only family member not there and i want to be plz help me get from bridgeport to dallas tx to be with my grandmother and family plz help me.
October 14, 2009 at 10:00 pm
i am a us cityzen,immigrant from sierra leone west africa(blood daimond land).am 27.nine months ago i went back and marry my high school sweetheart,come back and file for her and now i am waiting for her filling to be completed and sent to me.any way before i left sierra leone my wife was pregnant.she was surpose to be due coming december 09.she lost the baby and i have been sending her some money but i guess she cant cope and here in am streesfull that i cant work over time to get there before the due date or the aniversery jan 10.please borrow at least my airfare to go .give me a try and help me out.thans in advance.john hallowell.
October 20, 2009 at 9:32 pm
There is a program called Angel Flights that will take family members sometimes to be with a loved you that is in critical condition. It is volunteer pilots who volunteer there time and planes. I am a 55 year old grandmother raising 4 grandchildren on my own. my son recently had a life threatening dirt bike accident in colorado. He is better he is at the Craig Hospital right now. Here is my problem he has his own business and his wife’s family all live in New Zealand. He is going to need help in running his business when he is released from Craig. He has no movement in his right arm (yet) and still has a brain injury and no short term memory. We have no idea (it’s up to God) at this point if he will regain use of his arm or if his braini will ever be the same. I have to work and the only time I can go out to help him with his business is Friday afternoon through Monday mornings. I have spend all my little savings on flights when he was first injured and still in very critical condition. I am not asking for free but if someone has any (I forget what they are called) flying miles frequent flyer miles etc that I could purchase very cheap please e-mail me and God Bless you and thanks.
October 23, 2009 at 10:37 am
I am an unemployed Zimbabwean staying in Capetown South Africa wishing to join the French Foreign Legion . The only way for me to get to their Recruitment Centers is only to go to Mainland France . I am appealing for an air ticket so that I can grab this lifetime opportunity . I have a strong conviction that if given the opportunity to get to France I can meet the standards neede by the Legion . May God bless
October 24, 2009 at 4:24 am
I really want to go to Greece and as iam a student i don’t have enough money to afford .That is my biggest dream and i want to take my husband too. I will only get this chance now…once if i started taking care of my family i will not be able to go afterwards. So can u please consider us the tickets if available. I would be really thankful to you guys.
October 24, 2009 at 5:43 am
Hi, I m working all my life in a private firm as a assistant production incharge in corrugated carton company. I always wanted to win free tickets for me and my child even to an Asian trip as a gift for myself and my child whom I always left because of my job. I just wish opportunity will come this year for me. I can’t afford myself because my pay is very small and hardly I time pass of my life.
I have never flown before. It was my dream wish ever since I was young. Please help me fly so as to release my dream.
November 7, 2009 at 2:26 am