I’ll never forget the time my friend booked a flight from Lagos to Tokyo for the cost of a fancy lunch! My heart literally did a backflip when she told me the amount she paid! Since then, she has flown across continents without going broke or robbing the bank. Here I will share my tried and tested tips on how to fly around the world for nearly free.
And about my friend, she does not have generational wealth or work for an airline. She just has been able to hack it in a way that makes her travel for way less. I mean so cheap you will presume she is one of those Instagram baddies that sugar daddies at their beck and call.
Now let’s get into how to score cheap flight tickets for all your travels.
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How to fly around the world for nearly free
We are not- know all individuals. So, these tips I will be sharing are both those I have applied and those my friend applied to ensure she hacked travel for nearly free.
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Below are ways to fly around the world for nearly free or cheap prices:
Master the Art of Travel Hacking With Points and Miles
Let’s talk about the magical world of points and miles. In fact, my friend calls this her secret sauce. Most people hear “frequent flyer miles” and think it’s something only business travelers rack up. WRONG.
She earns most of my miles through credit cards. Seriously. There are travel credit cards that give you welcome bonuses worth 50,000–100,000 miles just for spending on things you were going to buy anyway (groceries, fuel, etc.). That’s enough for a free roundtrip flight in many parts of the world!
For example, she once used 60,000 miles to fly from Nairobi to Paris. Taxes? Just $25. That’s less than the Uber to the airport.
Pro tips:
- Sign up for cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, or Capital One Venture (depending on your country).
- Always pay off your credit card balance in full. We’re flying, not drowning in debt.
- Use airline loyalty programs like Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Turkish Miles&Smiles, or Flying Blue.
It takes a bit of research, but once you unlock the points game, it’s game over for overpriced flights!
Use Flight Search Engines
Because of my friend, I am now obsessed with Skyscanner, Google Flights, trip.com and Momondo. I can spend hours exploring fares just for fun (don’t judge me). The key is knowing how to search.
Here’s what I do:
- Go incognito mode when searching.
- I use the “Everywhere” feature on Skyscanner. I just put in my departure city, and it shows me the cheapest destinations anywhere in the world.
- I’m also addicted to Google Flights’ calendar view. I can literally see when it’s cheapest to fly in a whole month.
- I would also recommend searching one-way tickets individually instead of round trips. Sometimes mixing airlines saves you money.
Be Flexible
One golden rule that I now live by is that flexibility equals freedom.
I was with my friend the other day when she was booking a trip to Southeast Asia. We realized that flying into Bangkok was $200 cheaper than flying into Hanoi.
So, she flew into Bangkok, spent a few days enjoying mango sticky rice and temples, and then took a $40 AirAsia flight to Vietnam.
If your dates and destination are rigid, you’ll always pay more. But if you treat it like a spontaneous adventure, you’ll save tons.
Ask yourself:
- Can I fly mid-week instead of weekends?
- Can I go during shoulder season or low season?
- Can I land in a nearby city and take a cheap local flight/train/bus?
It’s all about thinking outside the travel box.
Sign Up for Fare Deal Newsletters and Alerts
This one has saved me thousands. I subscribe to newsletters as these magical emails drop insane deals like:
- Nairobi to London for $280 roundtrip
- Johannesburg to Bali for $390
Lagos to Istanbul for $210
Use Budget Airlines for Regional Travel
Yes, the seats might be cramped and the food will make you miss your mom’s cooking, but low-cost carriers are travel gold.
However, I advise that you always read the fine print though! Budget airlines charge extra for everything—luggage, seat selection, even printing your boarding pass sometimes. Pack light and smile.
Volunteer for Bumps and Earn Free Vouchers
This one’s underrated. If your flight is overbooked (which happens more than you think), airlines often ask for volunteers to take the next flight. In return, they give you a flight voucher worth $200, $400, or more.
One time, my friend was flying from Amsterdam to New York, and volunteered to be bumped. They gave her a $600 Delta voucher, a hotel room for the night, and food. She got to explore the city for free and flew out the next day.
If you’re not in a rush, this is a great way to build up free travel credits.
Join Travel Forums and Groups
I’ve learned so much from being in travel communities. It could be Facebook groups or even Reddit’s r/traveldeal. These groups are filled with real people sharing tips, glitch fares, and updates.
One random Tuesday, someone dropped a $99 error fare from NYC to Madrid. Within 20 minutes, dozens of people had booked it. That kind of speed is only possible when you’re part of the right tribe.
Use Stopovers to Visit Two Countries for the Price of One
Stopovers are my absolute favorite hack. Some airlines like Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Emirates offer free or super cheap stopovers. This means you can explore another city for a few days on your way to your final destination.
Travel Slow and Overland When Possible
Okay, technically this isn’t flying, but it’s a secret to sustaining cheap global travel.
When my friend was exploring Southeast Asia, she realized it was way cheaper to fly into one country and then move by train or bus to another. She flew into Malaysia, took a $5 bus to Singapore, and then a $20 train into Thailand. Same story in Europe. She once took a Flixbus from Berlin to Prague for €9.
Flying less and traveling overland helps you experience more, spend less, and honestly, create better memories.
Which of these tips how to fly around the world for nearly free is your favorite? Which of these tips on how to fly around the world for nearly free have you applied? Let me know in the comments below. Ciao for now.
