Booking travel today doesn’t have to mean paying full price upfront and hoping for a discount later. With a little planning and the right digital tools, you can turn every airline ticket purchase into a chance to earn more rewards, spend less, and travel smarter.
Whether you’re a casual traveler or a frequent flyer, here are the best ways to book flights while stacking savings, perks, and cashback—all without sacrificing flexibility.
Start with fare comparison sites
Before anything else, compare flight prices across platforms. Aggregators like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Momondo allow you to view flexible dates, price trends, and airlines side-by-side. Once you find the cheapest option, make sure to verify the fare directly on the airline’s website—it’s often the same or even cheaper when booking directly, and you’ll have more options if changes arise.
Use loyalty programs and frequent flyer accounts
Never book a flight without logging into your airline loyalty account. Whether it’s Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, or American AAdvantage, you should always be earning miles, even on basic economy tickets. Even if you only fly a few times a year, those points can add up—especially when combined with other rewards.
Earn cashback with airline gift cards
Instead of booking directly with your debit or credit card, consider using a gift card from a cashback platform. With Fluz, you can earn cashback with a Delta Air Lines gift card, get rewards with an American Airlines gift card, or save money with a Southwest Airlines gift card—and apply them at checkout on the airline’s website.
Because gift cards are treated as cash, they work just like normal payment methods. And with Fluz, you often get instant cashback the moment you purchase, making it a smart way to reduce the effective cost of your trip.
Pair gift cards with credit card points
If you’re using a travel credit card like the Capital One Venture Rewards, you may already be earning points. But when you layer in a Fluz gift card, you can double-dip: earn your credit card’s points while also receiving instant cashback on the gift card purchase itself.
This strategy works well if your credit card earns on “travel” broadly or if you’re topping up a balance that doesn’t fully cover a ticket.
Watch for airline gift card promotions
Some airlines occasionally run promotions that give bonus credits or discounts when you buy gift cards through their sites. Others, like Southwest, regularly allow you to apply multiple gift cards per booking—making them ideal for combining smaller cashback wins.
If you’re flying with budget airlines like Spirit or Frontier, check gift card terms carefully. Some low-cost carriers have restrictions on using third-party gift cards, while others accept them easily via online checkout.
Use airline portals with caution
Many cashback and airline portals (like AAdvantage eShopping) offer bonuses for booking flights through their links. However, some deals may exclude gift card payments or certain ticket types. Read the fine print to avoid losing rewards.
Stack the savings
Here’s a sample scenario:
- You find a $200 flight on Delta using Google Flights.
- You open Fluz and earn cashback with a Delta Air Lines gift card.
- You buy the gift card for the exact amount, instantly earning cashback.
- You then use your travel credit card to make the Fluz purchase (earning card points).
- You log into your Delta SkyMiles account and book the flight with your gift card.
In this example, you’ve earned loyalty miles, credit card points, and cashback—all on a single purchase.
Final tip: track everything
To get the most out of your bookings, keep a simple travel spreadsheet or use an app like AwardWallet to monitor your points, gift card balances, and loyalty program expiration dates. It’ll help you stay organized and never miss a reward.
Booking flights is no longer just about the cheapest fare. With the right strategy, you can stack cashback, loyalty points, and credit card rewards to get more from every trip—and start planning your next one even sooner.
