I try to travel as much as possible. One way I do that is by taking advantage of hotel and airfare deals to keep my spending in check. I pay for an annual subscription to an airfare deal service that sends me deal alerts so I don’t waste time searching online for the best flight prices.
Want to save on airfare costs? I’ll share how I’ve saved over $3,000 on airfare expenses this year.
This service sends flight deals to my inbox
Flight deal subscriptions have become more popular in recent years, and several companies provide such services. One of those is Thrifty Traveler. I’ve been using Thrifty Traveler Premium for over a year, and I’m impressed with the offerings. It costs $99.99 a year to join.
Subscribers get access to the following:
- Domestic and international flight deals by email
- Economy, first class, and business-class flight deals by email
- Points and miles award flight deal alerts by email
- Error fare alerts by text message
- Members-only Facebook group
A couple of weeks ago, I booked a business-class flight using credit card points — all thanks to Thrifty Traveler Premium.
I was alerted to a deal on roundtrip business-class United Airlines–operated flights to Europe. I use one of the best Chase credit cards and had some points saved up already. Thanks to this deal, I paid only 50,000 points each way when transferring my Chase points to the Air Canada Aeroplan frequent flyer program.
Air Canada Aeroplan is a Chase travel partner, and you can search for United-operated flights on the Air Canada Website. I scored a roundtrip business-class flight to Brussels for 100,000 Chase points and $168.20 in taxes and fees. Talk about a steal!
After securing my reservation, I researched the cash price for my booked flights. If I had booked without points, I would have paid $3,448.20. Considering I only charged my travel credit card for $168.20, I saved $3,280 by booking this points-and-miles award flight deal. Having paid only $99.99 for my Thrifty Traveler Premium subscription, I’d say it was worth it.
I can’t wait to see what other flight deals I book later this year. While I may have lucked out and stumbled upon this deal another way, I saved time by not having to search around, and I have plenty of money left in my savings account to fund the rest of my upcoming vacation costs.
Don’t overpay for airfare
If you’re not paying attention to flight sales and discount opportunities, you’re likely overpaying for airfare. Investing in tools that help you land the best flight deals could help you reduce your annual travel spending so you can afford to see more of the world. Flight subscription services are one tool that you may want to consider exploring if you love to travel like I do.
It’s also an excellent idea to use credit cards that earn rewards. You can earn rewards when you swipe your card for everyday purchases and redeem them for cash back, travel, and more. If you’re already using credit cards for everyday purchases, don’t ignore opportunities to earn rewards. If you prefer cash back rewards, check out our list of the best cash back credit cards.
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