Subscription services for flights have become popular for travelers looking for exclusive deals, discounted fares, and early access to promotions. These services curate the best travel deals and notify subscribers, helping you find cheaper flights without constantly checking prices. Here’s how to use flight subscription services to save on airfare.

1. Choose the Right Subscription Service for Your Needs

Flight subscription services vary in their offerings, from alerting you to mistake fares and flash sales to providing guaranteed discounts on fares. Popular services include Scott’s Cheap Flights (Going), Dollar Flight Club, and Next Vacay.

• Top options:
  • Scott’s Cheap Flights (Going): Ideal for international fare alerts and mistake fares.
  • Dollar Flight Club: Provides alerts for both domestic and international deals.
  • Next Vacay: Offers a wide range of deals curated by your location and preferences.

2. Select a Service Based on Your Preferred Destinations

Different services focus on specific regions or types of travel. If you frequently travel domestically, look for a service that specializes in domestic deals. For international travel, consider services like Going or Airfarewatchdog, which often focus on long-haul routes.

• Example: For deals on flights across Europe, Jack’s Flight Club is popular, while Dollar Flight Club covers both North American and international destinations.

3. Consider Premium Subscriptions for More Frequent Alerts

Many flight subscription services offer free and premium versions. The premium version typically provides more frequent notifications, access to exclusive deals, and coverage of additional destinations.

• Worth the cost?: If you travel frequently, the premium tier is usually a small investment compared to the potential savings on flights.

4. Set Up Alerts for Specific Destinations or Regions

Most subscription services allow you to set preferences for destinations, allowing you to get notifications relevant to your travel plans. This feature is particularly helpful for long-term planning and tracking specific routes.

• Best practice: For international trips, set alerts 6–12 months in advance to monitor any major price drops on your desired routes.

5. Use Multiple Services for Comprehensive Coverage

Since each subscription service has its own network and focuses on different deals, using more than one service can broaden your chances of finding the best discounts. For instance, pair a service focused on mistake fares with another that highlights last-minute deals.

• Example: Use Going for long-haul mistake fares and Dollar Flight Club for domestic flash sales to cover multiple types of deals.

6. Sign Up for Airline-Specific Subscriptions

Many airlines offer their own subscription or discount services, where members get access to exclusive fares, early access to sales, and additional perks. For example, Southwest Airlines offers “Click ‘N Save” email deals for subscribers.

• Extra savings: Check if your favorite airline offers a subscription service or loyalty club with exclusive discounts on flights.

7. Take Advantage of Flexible Date Alerts

Subscription services often allow you to set flexible date alerts, which increase your chances of finding cheaper flights. Flexible dates mean you’re notified when the best fare appears, even if it’s a few days outside your initial preferred timeframe.

• How to use it: Select “flexible dates” when setting up alerts to receive a broader range of price drops for nearby dates.

8. Use Subscription Deals for Last-Minute and Off-Peak Travel

Many subscription services highlight last-minute deals or off-peak season discounts, which are ideal if you have a flexible schedule. These deals are especially valuable for budget travelers who are open to spontaneous trips.

• Pro tip: Check services like Secret Flying or Next Vacay for last-minute fare drops to popular destinations.

9. Stack Subscription Discounts with Travel Rewards

Some subscription services work in tandem with travel rewards programs, allowing you to use points or miles to cover part of the fare. For example, you may find a low cash fare through a subscription service and cover the remaining cost with points.

• Extra benefit: Check if your travel credit card offers exclusive discounts or memberships to subscription services as a card benefit.

10. Take Note of Service-Specific Cancellation Policies

If booking a fare found through a subscription service, review the fare’s change or cancellation policies, as some discounted fares may have more restrictions. Most subscription services are simply curators of deals, so the airline’s terms apply.

• Advice: Consider travel insurance for non-refundable fare deals to cover potential last-minute changes.

Conclusion: Saving Big with Flight Subscription Services

Flight subscription services provide an easy way to stay on top of airfare deals, mistake fares, and flash sales. By choosing the right service, setting destination alerts, and leveraging flexibility, you can maximize savings and book affordable flights without the hassle of continuous searching.