How to use travel hacking to fly for free
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.
I get questions almost daily about travel, specifically around how I am able to do it so frequently. While it’s more complex, I can break it down to these three things:
1) I travel for work.
2) I’ve taken and continue to take investment classes and have gotten my finances in order to prioritize travel.
3) I use travel hacking.
In this Wanderlust Wednesday blog post, we will discuss how to use travel hacking to fly for free.
What is travel hacking?
What is travel hacking you might ask?
Travel hacking involves working within the existing rules set up by airlines, credit cards, and hotels, and using them to your advantage to earn points and miles for free travel including flights, lodging, and other upgrades. If you are trying to figure out how to plan your dream vacation, travel hacking is the best way to make your dream a reality,
I have previously covered the topic of generalized travel hacking here, but today we will specifically focus on getting free flights.
How to use travel hacking to fly for free
A couple answers right off the bat:
NO – You do not have to travel for work in order to travel hack.
YES – This is a way to get *free* hotel stays and flights.
YES – I really do mean FREE. Places I’ve gone (for free) include The Maldives, Aspen, Kauai, and more.
NO – This does not involve signing up for a sugar daddy.
YES – I hope I made you laugh with that last one.
In order to learn how to use travel hacking to fly for free, you need to learn how to obtain frequent flyer miles,
The fastest way to obtain frequent flyer miles
The fastest and easiest way to earn miles is through a co-branded credit card. Although it isn’t necessary for travel hacking it is one of the easiest ways to boost your mileage account. When the deals are good, you can find co-branded cards that come with at least a 50,000-mile or point bonus. Many travel hackers have maintained excellent credit scores while applying for and being approved for multiple cards per year.
For those who prefer Delta looking for a credit card to improve your travel experience, there’s no better time to apply than now. Until Oct. 30, 2019, all three Delta cobranded Amex cards (and the corresponding business versions) are offering elevated welcome bonuses. Because Amex only allows you to earn the welcome bonus on each of its credit cards once per lifetime, it’s important to time your applications to hit elevated bonus offers like this:
- Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Earn 60,000 miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months, plus a $50 statement credit after making a Delta purchase in the first three months.
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Earn 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, plus a $100 statement credit after making a Delta purchase in the first three months.
- Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express: Earn 75,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.
I personally have and use BOTH of the Gold and Platinum credit cards. Delta regularly has sales that would allow you to travel roundtrip domestically or internationally with just the spend from these welcome bonuses.
DISCLAIMER: I do get a referral if you click on the link to sign up for these cards, but it does not change your bonus miles/points you earn, so hey I would appreciate it!
Why is NOW the time to get these credit cards
These upgraded welcome offers are for a limited time (they expire on 10/30/19). In addition, the three month window for hitting the spending amount ($2,000-$5,000) starts when you get approved for the card. The holidays are coming and many people have planned, upcoming larger expenses during this season.
Although I use credit cards to enhance my points and miles balances, I never carry a balance. ONLY apply for a credit card if you can pay it off in full each month.
Hopefully this article helped you identify how to use travel hacking to fly for free. For more tips on how to get free or discounted travel, sign up for my mailing list and make sure you never miss a post!
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Andrea Cannon is a pharmacist, triathlete, gratitude practicer, and avid traveler. For both business and pleasure, she has taken more than 250 flights yearly for the past 3 years. In addition to being a travel hacking enthusiast, Andrea enjoys hiking and spending time with her husband (Austin) and dog (Dex). You can connect with her via her blog www.beaUTAHfulworld.com or on Instagram @andreafcannon .