Travel Hacking $1,600 in Airline Tickets this Year

Free Airline Credit Travel Hacking

I know what your’e thinking…this is the most click-baity headline I’ve seen all day. Has Eclectic Emissary finally sold his soul for corporate Ad revenue? Don’t worry this is still a travel blog for the enlightened. But I will share with you details on how I managed to get $1,600.00 in airline travel credits. Travel hacking is the metaphorical sword and shield for every budget traveler. And I’ll share some of my favorite ones with all of you. *Disclaimer I am not profiting from any of these businesses, they are just the best deals around and I endorse them.

$100 Credit Card Reward Travel Hacking

Getting a credit card that offers great travel rewards is one of the most popular ways to pay for your travels. I used the Capital One Venture card to accrue redeemable points from buying ordinary items, like groceries and gas. A word of caution, it takes quite a while to stack up enough credits to pay for a flight but it’s better than nothing. Most credit cards offer large bonuses of up to four or five hundred dollars when a certain limit is reached within the first few months. Check this post to find out if you have the right disposition for a credit card. 

$750 Spirit Airlines Travel Hack

This one I’ll admit i got pretty lucky. Using the free ticket I redeemed with my credit card points, I booked a flight on Spirit Airlines (wouldn’t strongly recommend unless you are being frugal). Some flights are often overcrowded and the attendants will offer compensation for anyone who gives up their seat to another customer. Just be sure to listen carefully for volunteers being requested and be one of the first to appear at the gate. You’ll get a free flight to your destination and a voucher for another Spirit flight of your choosing. If your travel plans are flexible, this is a great option to take advantage of.

$750 Google Fi Travel Hacking

The title is misleading but not correlated to hacking google. Technically this is more of an opportunistic consumer purchase. But if you’re in need of a new phone service provider, Google’s Project Fi plan is a great way to save money. There are occasional special offers for buying a brand new Pixel phone through their website, which can score you some pretty sweet travel deals. The Pixel 2 has an amazing camera, a data plan that includes international countries, and a super cheap monthly bill so you can spend more on your trips! I am not sponsored in any way by google (is wish i was) but if you are interested, signup for their plan here for $20 off your first bill. 

So that’s how I got all my flights this year for free. It’s good to be aware of any great opportunities that might arise. It’s definitely possible to travel hack your way to free flights as long as you’re diligent. As always, thanks for reading and keep leveling up!