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Maximize Holiday Flight Savings with 5 Proven Travel Hacks
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Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 8:30 GMT by CNET- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
How to Cut Holiday Flight Costs with Five Proven Travel Hacks
Every year the excitement of a winter getaway is often dampened by the sight of soaring airfare. Yet, for those who know where to look, the sky isn’t the only thing that can be trimmed. A recent CNET guide breaks down five practical tricks that can keep holiday travel affordable—without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Below is a distilled summary of those tactics, complete with the extra insights that were tucked away in the article’s embedded links.
1. Leverage Credit‑Card Travel Perks
Key Idea: Sign up for a travel‑reward credit card that offers a generous sign‑up bonus, and then book your flights using the points you’ve earned.
The article emphasizes that many modern travel‑credit cards come with a 1‑to‑1 points match (e.g., “Earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months”). By booking flights with the card, you can redeem those points directly for the cost of the ticket, often up to 100% of the fare. Some cards even let you “convert” points at a better value when you transfer them to airline partners.
Extra Detail: CNET links to a comparison page that ranks the top travel‑cards for 2025, noting that the “Blue Cash Preferred” offers $2,000 in cash back, whereas the “Chase Sapphire Reserve” offers $300 in travel credit and a 3‑point value per dollar spent on travel. This helps readers decide which card aligns best with their spending habits.
Tip: Use the card’s “free checked bag” benefit, and check whether the airline’s “travel companion” offer applies—some cards give a free or discounted ticket for a friend.
2. Buy Flights “In Advance, but Not Too Early”
Key Idea: Airfares are most predictable between 70‑90 days before departure. Waiting longer than that can lead to price spikes.
The article references a 2018 study by Google that found airfare prices peak at 30‑45 days before the flight. The author advises setting up alerts on Google Flights (linked in the article) and on Hopper, a price‑prediction app that uses machine learning to suggest the best day to book.
Extra Detail: The guide links to a Hopper blog post that explains how the app’s “Smart Buy” feature not only indicates the cheapest day but also sends push notifications if a price drops unexpectedly. Readers can test the tool on a sample itinerary.
Actionable Step: Bookmark a flight on Google Flights, click “Track price,” and let the system notify you when a lower fare appears. Most travelers win $20‑$50 per ticket by waiting the right amount of time.
3. Capitalize on “Hidden‑City Ticketing”
Key Idea: Book a flight with a layover in your final destination and skip the connecting leg—effectively paying for a cheaper route.
Hidden‑city ticketing is controversial (most airlines ban the practice), but for savvy travelers it can shave a significant amount off the price. The article explains that if the ticket to your destination is part of a multi‑city itinerary, you may find it cheaper to book a flight that stops at your desired city and then simply walk off the plane.
Extra Detail: CNET cites a Flyertalk forum post where a frequent flyer shares a successful example: “Book a NYC‑to‑Boston‑to‑San Francisco route; fly the first leg and skip the last.” The article warns that airlines now scrutinize frequent hidden‑city travelers and recommends booking with a new or infrequent card to avoid detection.
Caution: The article reminds readers that you’ll lose the checked luggage that goes to the final stop and you can’t use in‑flight Wi‑Fi or seat selection on the skipped leg.
4. Use “Fare‑Alert & Discount” Aggregators
Key Idea: Tap into price‑comparison sites and discount marketplaces to snag last‑minute deals or “flash” discounts.
The article highlights several tools: Skyscanner, Kayak, and the lesser‑known Airfarewatchdog—each offering a free “price alert” service. Moreover, the guide points out a partnership with Secret Flying (a subreddit‑style site that posts broken‑ticket deals). By subscribing to newsletters, travelers can receive instant alerts for discounted fares that often save up to 40% of the ticket price.
Extra Detail: There is a link to Airfarewatchdog’s “Top 10 Best Flights” newsletter. This newsletter curates the most significant deals each day and includes airline error fares, promo codes, and early‑bird specials.
Actionable Step: Create accounts on each site, set the parameters for your desired route (departure city, destination, dates), and enable push notifications. The article notes that many travelers report saving an average of $80 per flight using these alerts.
5. Combine Airline Miles with “Last‑Minute” Purchase
Key Idea: If you have miles or points that are about to expire, use them to cover a significant portion of the fare, then pay the remainder with a credit‑card reward or a low‑price ticket.
The article outlines how airlines often release “Last‑Minute” fare classes with higher miles requirements. By pairing a miles redemption with a cash ticket, you can split the cost and keep the miles from going to waste.
Extra Detail: CNET links to a Travel + Leisure article that explains the concept of “Miles for the Money” programs, where the airline matches the cost of a ticket with miles plus a small cash payment. The guide highlights that the Delta SkyMiles program offers 50% off the cash portion for a redemption of 50,000 miles on a $500 flight.
Tip: Check the airline’s “Miles + Cash” options before booking. Some carriers allow you to use a combination of miles and a credit‑card reward (e.g., “Air Miles + Amex Points”), further cutting down the out‑of‑pocket expense.
Putting It All Together
CNET’s article not only lists these five strategies but also stitches them into a practical “Holiday Travel Checklist.” Here’s a quick recap:
- Choose the right credit‑card: Maximize your sign‑up bonus and use the travel credit.
- Time your purchase: Set alerts for 70‑90 days out.
- Consider hidden‑city: If it’s a one‑way trip, it might save money.
- Use aggregator alerts: Get the best last‑minute deals.
- Redeem miles wisely: Pair them with cash for extra savings.
With a little planning and a few clicks, you can slash your holiday airfare and keep more of your budget for the gifts, decorations, and holiday meals that make the season special. Happy traveling!
Read the Full CNET Article at:
[ https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/stop-paying-full-price-for-holiday-flights-with-these-5-travel-tricks/ ]
