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.
I have never flown and i got a job but i need to fly to gedt there and i cant pay for the ticket PLEASEplease PLEASE let me have 1 free flight ill even re-embers u with my first check thanx
JOSH P.
June 6, 2009 at 6:56 am
I have never flown, i belong to poor family want to flown for dreams come true So please please please let me have 3free tickets for me my husband and for my little two year child Somu
Thanks
June 13, 2009 at 2:37 am
I have also ever flown, & I need to get to my family in Tennessee, I am currently in Florida and my husband is in prison for 7 years, I’m a single mother trying to survive but I have no job, and I lost everything, so I’m asking please please please, can you help me out and give me a plane ticket to Memphis, so my daughter and I can get there? Thank you so much.
June 13, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Wow. The above 3 commenters are morons. I bet you think that since you worked so hard at writing a little blog comment you now deserve to get free plane tickets. This is an article about how to get free airplane tickets by using the ideas presented. It’s not a free-for-all plane ticket give-away. Where does it say that this site is an airline or ticket distributor? Why would anyone give people as dumb as you free tickets?! Here’s an idea: Get a job and pay for the tickets yourself. That’s how the rest of us do it.
June 15, 2009 at 10:19 am
This is to address smart guy. Understand that anyone is more than the sum of a jobtitle and there are more ways to make money than by doing a job!
June 19, 2009 at 8:41 am
If there is anyone willing to get me home to spain-I would be eternally greatfull-I am stranded in Savannah Georgia with no way home. I have a home, and a job to return to. Can someone please help me get home? I am 58 years old. Hard working, and will return travel exspense promptly when I return home to Spain. PLEASE HELP ME GET HOME. THANK YOU.
June 19, 2009 at 11:20 am
I congratulate you for the wonderfull job done. My ambition is to continue my education in US and because of African financial situation i find it difficult so by your good work, am mailing you to see if you can help me to get the visa to america for my educational purpose so that ferder discution can be issue thank you and i hope to here from you.
June 24, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I am a Ghanaian gentleman of 21 years and was born from traditional drummers and dances clan in Ghana,i am from poor family ,but rich in my African traditional cultural dance and drumming,am talented and interested in cultural dances.please if you could give me chance to United States,to have workshops with the students of music and others,my aim to arrange cultural activities to local people,and for that i want to get money to care for my poor mother,After my dad death poor is the man who married my mother,so please,please help me to get the free airticket,i am a Hard worker and a strong dancer and drummer.
samed.
June 24, 2009 at 12:25 pm
hello i am Abdou manneh from The Gambia i am a student!! i am poor but i don want to show my porest to many peoples. so i need help in my Education to complete there because right now my Family are not have enoght money to pay my school feeses and i use to try my best but still now i don have some one to help so if u can help me to be in any country to complete my Education it will be very good to me and i shall never forgot you in my life.. i am 20 years old. so if u can help and pay ticket for me i will make sure that in the name of god i shall ever forgot you… so please please please please please please please how many time i need help>
June 24, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Please help me with with a free round-trip ticket. I have an ill relative that I have to take care of in Mexico. I come from a poor family and can not afford to purchase ticket. Your help would be greatly and highly appreciated and God will bless you as a result of it.
June 24, 2009 at 5:30 pm
My 11 year old son is in Fort Drum New York.He has been there a month.I’m trying to find him a way home.If any one can help me get my baby back home please let me now.He is very home sick.and has no way back to me.I would really be greatfull to anyone that helps
June 25, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Wow eveyone wants a hand out LOL!!! On the planet earth there are very few things that are free and air plane tickets are really not one of them.
June 30, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Are you guys sure this is true? I got scammed once when I tried something like this. If it is, I really feel I’m most deservin’ as I would love to have a feel of the hassle of flight.
July 1, 2009 at 8:12 am
I cant say that i have a sad story in order to get free tickets but i can say i cant afford them. I live in Newport News VA and I was invited to sing in Dallas TX . Its a great honor for me but i just cant afford to go. The event is on July 24. Hopefuly you will feel honerd to bless me with some tickets. In the future as the lord blesses me i will bless your airline. yes i have a job but cant aford $400 Round trip tickets. I will even take a dicounted ticket. Thanks hope to hear from you.
July 1, 2009 at 9:10 am
Hilarious. The people who are asking for free tickets obviously did not read the article due to their inability to read english, or their stupidity. Either way, while you are distributing all these free tickets like it apparently says you are in your article, would you mind sending some my way?
July 2, 2009 at 2:09 am
LOL, I can’t believe everyone seems to be asking for free tickets here. Like it’s already been mentioned, this isn’t an actual airline, lol. It’s just an article that is intended to help. I feel for you lot who need help, and I’m one of them, and I hope we all get the help for tickets. However, but for a miracle, this is not really the place to ask. It is a bit funny. May those that are in need, you all have success.
July 2, 2009 at 6:41 pm
please,please,please am just 18 yrs of age and from a very poor family but 1 thing about me is that am very talented in music and i,ve recorded 1 of my tracks,and am telling u it is the bomb.i just need a ticket to us 2 build my talent and when am on i will pay what ever it is i am asked to pay.[from nigeria]
July 7, 2009 at 7:06 am
I have flown but am desperate. My husband and our daughter are in Ghana. My husband works there and is not able to return home at this Time. Our Daughter is ill and Needs Me there My Husband is Working and is Not able to be With Her Constantly and Needs Me there. But, we can not afford a airplane ticket to Ghana for Me. Please, please Help Me My Daughter and My Husband Need Me. Please Say You can help Me. Please Send an Email to Let Me Know? Thank You.
July 10, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Dear, I live in yangon (Myanmar), I am winner of DV 2009.I am very happy because I want to American but my family and me is not to buy air ticket. So, please help me & give me suggestion how to do for i access free air ticket.
Thank you, and best wishess
July 15, 2009 at 9:56 am
Please give me a free air ticket. I am in karachi Pakistan and I want to go in my City Lahore to my Mother and brothers please give a air ticket. Thank you.
July 17, 2009 at 9:51 am
Hey everyone I have to agree with Jay you are dreaming if you think you will get free airline tickets. “nothing is free” I wish you the best. I work everyday and can’t afford it either, but I learned along time ago depend on yourself and you won’t be disappointed. Find a way to earn the money. You can do it.
July 19, 2009 at 10:02 am
All you beggars need to get a life and realize that if you truly want something that bad then get a job!!! Stop annoying those of us who do work for the things we want and need. I mean really do you have any pride?
July 19, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Am in the navy and moeny is kind of tight right now , am trying to see my family before i deploy for a year
July 20, 2009 at 12:44 am
What the??? I am so confused about the comments posted after this article. For those of you that think this is a website giving away free tickets to the most deserving and poor person… try actually reading the article.
July 20, 2009 at 11:53 am
Please give me a free ticket and one for my daughter too. I have a good job and can afford the ticket. Also I have no real reason to use the ticket except I want to go to virginia for vacation. Can I please have one…OMG!!!!!! Who in their right mind would hand out tickets to these people? I promise to pay you back… yeah right. Anyway….
I have done this (getting the free tickets from airlines). Almost every time I have flown they asked this question and I agreed the few times I did not have my infant in tow (baby + flying=no fun). The one time I only had to wait an extra hour, and they gave me a meal voucher (American Airlines) the second time I had to wait almost 3 hours and instead of a non-stop flight I got one stopover. It was well worth it though. I agree about volunteering as soon as you get to the gate. It works best when flying alone, so if you travel on business and have a flexible schedule (plan to fly one day ahead of when you normally would go) you can accumulate enough tickets for your whole family to fly free for vacation or whatever.
July 21, 2009 at 3:32 am
What is wrong with you guys?!?!? There is no way you will get a free ticket. Just find a job!
July 22, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi, I would you please send me a free flight ticket from Kuala Lampur to Dublin. I’m not working. A friend said to me in Dublin I’ll have an opportunity to work. Thanks for your help.
July 23, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I’m 21 years old and trying to get to a place to where I can better myself. I’m struggling with hiv and someone wants to help me through this but I have to get there. I’m homeless runnin from pit to pole and i need to be where i can take care of myself and get the help i need. I need a plain ticket so that i dont have to struggle anymore.
July 24, 2009 at 9:27 am
Aloha, my time is running out.. my sister/husband will become pastor in Sacramento this Sunday Aug 2nd. It will be a blessing/honor to be witness their ceremony for a surprise asking for 3 free tickets… mahalo and God Bless
July 28, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Go to New York. They give away free one way tickets for the homeless. No matter where you need to go. As long as you are living in a shelter and homeless. They pay for everything!
July 30, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Guys don’t be to critical of the less fortunate.
This sounds like a lottery……lol
Everyone got a chance to win
July 31, 2009 at 8:00 am
Very well said Mikey and Jackie. One should at least read the article.
This begging is not the way to have their flight needs met, but some of them are probably trying other means as well.
Great article. And for those of you who did not read it (and probably will not read my reply which I leave to posterity), try saving up some money, make a budget every month, search for new ideas, and focus on what you want. A ticket is but a small step towards a much greater goal for many of you. Let it not stand on your way. Think about what you want to accomplish and work hard.
July 31, 2009 at 5:49 pm
i havent been 2 puerto rico in 15 years i really really need your help i cant afford a ticket
July 31, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Heloow this time i need your help very serious am in Dar es salaam Tanzania.Am orphan and i need to carry on ma studies in America while i help ma family can u please help me for a ticket to America so i need a place where i can take care of my self and to give support my family
August 1, 2009 at 9:51 am
i want to go see my boyfriend in baltimore but i dont have the money to go see him plus i never flow befor so plz help me thank you
August 10, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Good article. It’s funny that the comments are all thinking that you’re giving away tickets. Anyway, I actually have a comment related to the article!
About a year ago I was on a business trip and when I arrived I was pulled aside and they asked me if I’d be willing to switch airlines (I was flying on United and they wanted me to go on Delta) and they offered me a ticket voucher. I was only traveling that day and it didn’t really change my schedule much, so I agreed.
I plan on asking at the counter before I check in to my flight every time I fly to see if I can do this. What a terrific way to get an extra flight!
August 11, 2009 at 5:35 pm
i have work and get good work , but i am six my left foot pain, and than i go to my country to get medice and now i am health but now i would to go work again but no have much money to pay fling tiket. i work on cruice ship Aida bella i am join in chifitaveccia in italy. i hope i get free tiket to join on my cruise again.
sincerely your
Wendra doni
August 15, 2009 at 8:45 am
please,please,please am just 30 yrs of age and from a very poor family but 1 thing about me is that am very wanst man 1 of my tracks,and am telling u it is the bomb.i just need a ticket and visa to us 2 build my talent and when am on i will pay what ever it is i am asked to pay.[from bangladesh]
August 15, 2009 at 9:26 am
my husband and i are trying to get to tucson az before the 20th of november to see our only child before he leaves for Afghanistan. at this time we are unable to afford to buy tickets. he is in the air force and i would love to be able to see him before he goes. i hope that someone will be able to help us.
August 15, 2009 at 1:13 pm
FREE FREE TICKETS TO ANYWHERE, once you get there and get in, free accommodation, transport,tvs, mobile phones ,food vouchers, clothing, medical care, the list is endless, the greatest free place on earth, ITS CALLED ENGLAND, And when you get there the magic word is ASYLUM
August 16, 2009 at 11:21 am
hello i would like to work add study in america i have one child and my mother is sick i take care of my child alone here in africa life is difficult i would be happy to have a free flight to study in america throught green card lottery application to stay there for ten years i have no phone number
August 16, 2009 at 11:58 am
Could you please, please ,please help me to get back to Atlanta Ga. Its me and my 3year old and my 11month old son could you please help me it would be a blessing for us thank you.
August 20, 2009 at 8:08 am
Hi my name is Kidus. My family needs some one to help them and I’m their only son who can do that. So I realize that I have to have a better education by going to America. My sister is to young and she is in 5th grade. And me, I completed 10th grade. So to get better education and to have a better work in America, I beg you to help me with my fortune by giving me a free airline ticket to America so that I can work learn and help my family.
August 21, 2009 at 6:06 am
dear friend i need airticket to go to the u.s.a in visiting but no money ihave ,i need your support.
thanks
August 21, 2009 at 8:10 am
my fiance was supposed to be coming home tommorrow after a month long trip that i havent seen him at all and now hes unable to…..i can not afford another earlier ticket for him and my missing him is really killing me and i just need him in my arms so please please please please send a free ticket for tommorrow so i can finally see my boo! please anyone help all i want to do is just see his face i need him badly back in my arms and i love him so much! please help!
thank you so much!
-trisha
August 29, 2009 at 4:57 pm
This is for the SMART GUY… You’re my hero.
This is for the TRUTHFUL WOMAN… get bent lady.
August 30, 2009 at 12:55 pm
i have resently moved here from my home island… my sister is back in guam and is having her baby… her husband just left to iraq and she needs someone to go down there to help her… and im the only one available… my family means the world to mean and i need a round trip ticket to go down there for a few months and come back to texas to continue my job… i dont make that much… all my money goes to bills and food… im trying my bestest to get down there and i saw this program and i thought maybe this would be my oppurtunity to go to my sister…. and it will mean alot to me if i have a free round trip ticket down there and ill try saving up some money to repay back…. thank you so much in understanding….
September 2, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I know this sounds strange but I got married about three years ago, I recently became disabled with torn rotator cuff and lower back injury. I have full custody of my thirteen year old son, and I am on disability now due to my injury. My wife recently left me and I am worried about a divorce, since we have now been seperated for almost five months now. I won a trip but I need airfare. I would really love to take my wife to hopefully rekindle our love, I hope. I still love her, and I think she still loves me as I do see her at times, but not as often and it hurts. I really miss her. I am only 40 and I know I can make her happy still. I’ve never stopped cooking and keeping house the best I could. I would much rather be working the coal mines again.
September 4, 2009 at 3:16 am
My daughter called, all freaked and terrified. She’s got medical problems and no insurance. She needs to be seen by a doctor and the only way she can be seen is here, in Alaska. She is losing her sight, rapidly, and we are trying to get her here. She needs a ticket from Fayetteville, AR to Seattle, WA. I have the miles to get her here from Seattle, but cannot help her with the first leg of her journey. We have a few days left and this is the only way I know to ask anyone out there, to help her. Please, this is not a joke and my daughters life is at risk. Help us, if you can. You have my email address. Thanks for just reading this.
September 6, 2009 at 6:03 pm
If you want the free tickets, do what it said to do in the article. and to the homeless guy, your homeless. hitchhike or walk or get enough money together for a BUS ticket. they are cheaper and honestly, what with airline wait times and what not, faster at times. For all the people begging for free tickets, if you wanna get to another country, find someone who is doing a boat voyage and see if they will take you on as a crew member. Hey, you may even get some cash in hand too. and to the guy with aids, you dont have enough money for a plane ticket yet you have enough money for those drug cocktails? Doesn’t make sense. If you can find cheaper versions of the same stuff, find it and use the money you save on the plane ticket. everyone else, STOP BEGGING and do something. search for cans and take them in, 5 cents per can!
September 9, 2009 at 5:47 pm