Category: Air

All programs still allow personal mileage accrual.

1. Check ITA Matrix, Google Flights, Bing Flight Search (either one you preffer, they provide same prices most of the time) to find out what is the lowest fare available there.

2. Use Booking Buddy or skiplagged to compare many travel agents at the same time (make sure to compare Expedia, Kayak, Jetbue, Southwest, Virgin Air).

3. Use HipMunk for easy comparison of flights by length, layover, departure and arrival – to make your final decision.

4. Check with airline’s website and book directly with them whenever possible, as it will be cheaper and easier if anything needs to be changed or cancelled (see “After booking” section), plus some give bonuses (Alaska gives extra 1000 miles for booking at their website and using Alaska air card)

5. Use Airline fee charts to see bag fees and limits, include this into your total ticket price.

STEP 2. DURING BOOKING

1. Check best seats on the airplane – use SeatGuru and then select your preferred seats.

2. Use cashback sites such as TopCashback to earn extra bonus 2-15%.

3. Make sure to enter your air mileage account number to receive miles for your flight. Note that many airlines allow you to earn miles on their partners (see our airline miles page)

STEP 3. AFTER BOOKING

1. Use Yapta to get alerts when price falls below what you paid, and get refund (many companies will offer certificate instead of refund). But your reservation has to be directly booked with airline and not through travel agents.

2. Use Experflyer free account to get alerts when better seats are available.

3. Use TripIt to keep track of all your travel reservations in one place, easily accessible from mobile phone.

4. Use Expensify to track your travel spending.

5. If flight got delayed (more then 3 hours) or cancelled (less then 14 days) – you may be eligeble for refund. Two sites to help you Refundme or EU claim.

OPTIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION

Use Citicards online shopping mall to get 1% additional for EXPEDIA flights

Save up to 63% on international flights on vayama.com.

$31 off on all International Airfares from USA

To check awards available flights

List of offers for cars, hotels and airlines

Help with airport maps travelnerd.com

EUROPE

All Ferry routes and prices neatly presented and easy to track

Cheap Business class to France http://www.flyopenskies.com

Here are some other site you might want to check that are not in available in booking buddy:

For International flights check Mobissimo, Vayama.com.

For North Europe check AirTransat or Condor (discount airlines).

For US domestic flights: Trabber

For Russia check Transaero