Are you planning to head home for the holidays? Many college students do. However, flying at the holiday is almost always more expensive than it is at non-peak times and it can be hard to find an affordable flight on a student budget.
That said, some airlines offer student discount flights for the holidays. These flights are only for people who can prove they are students, and if you do some research, you may be able to find a flight that will cost you significantly less than what you’d pay as a non-student.
With that in mind, here are the airlines that provide student discount flights and some information about how to take advantage of them.
American Airlines has a program that offers college students enrolled in US colleges and universities discounted prices on airfare. The discounts can vary from flight to flight, but you can make sure to get the lowest price by entering your name, student identification number, and college from their drop-down menus.
In addition to offering discounted airfares, you can save on your hotel if you book directly through the airline. Air and land combination packages can receive an additional 5% discount. You can also take advantage of group discounts if you’re planning a trip with friends.
Generation Fly isn’t an airline, but they have an affiliation with Lufthansa to provide flights to students at discounted prices. If you become a member, you’ll get Lufthansa’s lowest airfares for students. You can also get:
We particularly like Generation Fly for any student who is planning to study abroad in Europe. Lufthansa is based in Germany but flies all over. Students often travel by train, but this program can make air travel far more affordable and reasonable than it would otherwise be.
British Airways flies to the UK and many European cities. The airline frequently pairs up with student travel agencies to offer deep discounts to college students. You may not be able to book these flights directly through the airline, but you can check other sites (like Student Universe, which we’ll talk about later in this post) to find their best deals.
Even if you don’t find a student flight through British Airways, you should still keep them in mind for travel. The special offers page on their website sometimes has incredibly good deals that are ideal for students traveling on a budget.
Air Norwegian is another good choice for students who are studying abroad. Like Lufthansa, they fly to most locations in Europe. And, they also offer some significantly discounted fares that are affordable even on a student budget.
While Air Norwegian doesn’t offer student discounts per se, you can check their website for their low fare economy tickets. The tickets come with some limitations and may not always be available, but if you’re willing to be flexible with your travel dates, you can find some really great deals.
Delta doesn’t offer discounts specifically for students. However, if you’re looking for group discounts, they’re one of the best American airlines to try. They offer discounted rates for groups of 10 or more. That makes them an ideal choice if you and a group of friends are planning a spring break getaway or a trip over the holidays.
Like Delta, Alaska Air offers group discounts that are ideal for students. We especially like their program because it applies to:
You should also check the special deals on their websites. When flights aren’t full, they sometimes offer one-way domestic airfares as low as $50.
While there are many airlines that don’t offer student discounts, that doesn’t mean you should despair. Instead, check out Student Universe. It’s a membership site that offers discounted flights to both students and faculty members. The site is registered with the Better Business Bureau and their testimonials speak for themselves.
You will need to sign up for a membership to qualify. However, it’s free to sign up. You’ll provide your student information and the site will verify that you’re a student via email. The sign-up process is quick and easy. Once you’re a member, you can take advantage of their negotiated discounts with more than 90 airlines. They even have a newsletter that delivers promo codes right to your inbox.
Traveling as a student doesn’t need to be expensive. Booking your flight through one of the airlines or websites we’ve mentioned here will allow you to see the world without straining your budget.
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