Air travel can be a significant expense, but what if there were a simple way to cut down on those costs? Enter discount codes for flights — a traveler's secret weapon when it comes to saving money on airfare. Promo codes for flights are offered by airlines and online travel agencies, and by knowing where to find them, you can significantly reduce the cost of your next trip. 

What are promo codes for flights?

Promo codes for flights are those short, magical series of letters and numbers that you enter in a box at online checkout, and voilà! The price magically decreases. Airlines and online travel agencies use promo codes for flights to offer loyal customers discounts on their travel. The airline or travel agency also benefits when you use a promo code because it encourages you to book directly through them and not one of their competitors.

However, before you assume the promo code discount is the best deal, it’s smart to still run a search on Skyscanner to see if someone else is offering an even better price on your desired flight. After running a search, you can still book directly through the airline or travel agency of your choice from Skyscanner’s search results page and use the promo code for airline tickets (if that turns out to be the cheapest price).

How to find discount codes for flights

Finding the best discount codes for flights might seem like a treasure hunt, but with a few smart strategies, you can unearth some serious savings. Airlines and online travel agencies want to fill seats, and they often use these codes as incentives. Here's how you can stay ahead of the game and snag those valuable discounts:

1. Sign up for newsletters: One of the best ways to stay in the loop about promo codes for flights is to sign up for your favorite airlines’ newsletters. These are often the first place they announce any discounts or promotions.

2. Check the airlines’ websites: Most airlines will list their current sales, including airline coupon codes, on a specific page of their site. Look for a “Plan/Book Travel” or “Explore” (or similar) tab, and you should be able to find a section for “Travel/Flight Deals and Offers.”

3. Follow social media accounts: Airlines and travel agencies often share promo codes for flights on their social media platforms. Following them on platforms you’re on can give you a heads-up on the latest deals.

4. Use promo code websites: Websites like RetailMeNot, Honey, and CouponCabin often compile a list of current discount codes for flights. These sites can be a goldmine for finding codes and other deals.

How often do airline coupon codes appear?

The frequency of promo code offers varies widely among airlines. Some airlines rarely offer promo codes for flights, while others are known to regularly offer a new one, like Frontier. A popular time for carriers to do so is over the holidays, especially around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday.

Before booking a flight, it’s always a good idea to double-check the airline’s or travel agency’s “Deals” page to see if a promo code is available for your trip. You can run a search on Skyscanner to find the cheapest website to book through and then double-check the airline’s site in a separate window. Always review the fine print, which will detail the booking window, travel window, blackout dates, and any other terms or conditions that must be met in order for the promo code to be valid for your desired flight.

Flight promo codes: How to use them on Skyscanner

The first step to using a promo code is to double-check that you’re actually getting the cheapest price. Here’s how:

1. Do a flight search on Skyscanner: Use Skyscanner to find flight options across multiple airlines and travel agencies.

2. Compare airfare: Sometimes one airline may have discounted airfare that’s a better deal than using the promo code on a different airline. Skyscanner shows you ticket prices side by side so you can easily see which price wins.

3. Book directly with the airline or travel agency: If the promo code offers the best deal, click “Select” on Skyscanner and proceed to the airline’s (or online travel agency’s) website to book the flight. You’ll be able to enter the promo code on the checkout screen.

More ways to save on flights, all year round

Promo codes for airlines aren’t the only way to save on flights. Here are a few other tricks savvy travelers use to cut down on cost:

• Sign up for loyalty programs: Many airlines offer loyalty programs that provide exclusive promo codes for flights, as well as other perks.

• Be flexible with dates: If your travel dates are flexible, you can often find cheaper flights for your route.

• Use Skyscanner’s Whole Month search: This feature allows you to see the cheapest days to fly within a given month, helping you find the best flight deals.

Final thoughts: Finding and using promo codes for flights

Using a discount code can help you save on airfare, but it’s not always the best deal available. To make sure you’re getting the lowest price — and the best value — it’s worth comparing all airlines flying your route. Look beyond just the fare: factor in baggage allowance, in-flight experience, and any other travel needs. A flight comparison site like Skyscanner makes this easy by showing you all available options side by side, so you can decide whether an airline promo code truly offers the best overall deal for your trip.