How to Fly for Free or Inexpensively

Many airlines typically overbook their flights by as much as 10% to 30%, knowing that a certain number of paying passengers will not show up for one reason or another. Sometimes, though, their calculations are off, and they're faced with 200 seats and 205 passengers, five of whom are likely to become very annoyed unless something is done in a hurry.

That's where you come in. You made a reservation on that flight, because you knew it was very much overbooked. And you are standing at the end of the check-in line, observing airline officials as they realize their predicament. So, you step out of line, find an airline representative, and offer to be bumped from the flight. You're doing the airline a favor and in return, it will do you the favor of allowing you to fly to your destination free on the next plane out. What's more, the airline will put cash in your pocket for your trouble. (The amount of cash varies, depending on the airline and the circumstances).

Most people know that most airlines offer frequent flyer programs that allow passengers to accumulate points every time they take a trip with that airline, and then redeem the points in the form of free tickets to their selected destinations. You have to fly a lot of miles to win any free trips, but for the business traveler, this is an easy way to arrange free travel. The main problem with Frequent Flyer programs is that they change their rules or become discontinued altogether, faster than you can say, "I'd like a round-trip ticket to the Caribbean Islands, please." The best way to get up-to-date information is to contact the airlines themselves.

When it comes to flying cheaply, if you know you won't travel enough in any given year to accumulate enough points as a Frequent Flyer to earn a free trip, you can still take advantage of Frequent Flyer miles. Coupon brokers buy these Frequent Flyer awards and resell them to the public at very low prices. Coupons are especially good deals if you want to fly first or business class or if you will be flying a very long distance. Generally, you must wait five to six weeks to get the coupon issued in your name. But you must be careful when dealing with coupon brokers. Airlines are not fond of what coupon brokers are doing and are on the lookout for tickets purchased from them. For the past several years, airlines have been confiscating tickets issued by coupon brokers and leaving the ticket buyers stranded at boarding gates all over the world. It is not illegal for coupon brokers to operate in many countries, but it is illegal in some. It is, however, against the airlines' rules in all countries, which prohibit the sale of Frequent Flyer coupons. But if you're willing to take the risks, you will be rewarded with a very cheap airline ticket. You will usually find coupon brokers advertising in the travel classified advertising of major Sunday newspapers around the world.