5 Ways to Fly for FREE

Absolutely, positively legit ways to fly for FREE, or next to free. This is how I stretch my travel budget. You can do it too.

1. Travel rewards credit cards. You pick - every bank has one whether it's RBC Avion, or Capital One Sky Miles or CIBC Aerogold. MoneySense magazine ranked them last year. Only you will know which card is best suited to your life. Read the fine print. Some cards will charge you taxes or booking fees for your "free flight" other cards, such as TD Infinite will allow you to cover 100% of your trip (flight, hotel, taxes, etc) with their travel points/dollars. That would make your flight 100% FREE.

** An average user, should be able to net a free flight at least every 2 years.**

2. Gas, grocery and on-line purchases with Air Miles or Aeroplan can add up. This could net you a FREE flight, or cruise, or hotel certificates.  Some redemptions require that you pay the taxes.

**An average household could accumulate $400 in free travel every 2 years or more. A "gold" collector or an aggressive points collector should be able to do the same every 12-15 months.

3. Fly flexible with Delta Airlines.  Delta Airlines is notorious for overbooking flights. This, in my opinion, is not a bad thing for the bargain traveller.  The last 4 out of 5 flights I have taken with Delta, they have asked (through the check - in kiosk) or at the counter, for VOLUNTEERS to wait for the next flight. Upon accepting, you are offered travel vouchers anywhere from $200 to $600, PLUS meal stipend and perhaps even hotel.  Indeed I have done this with very pleasing results. Follow my math on  this example: I paid $283 (per person, round trip, tax in - unreal seat sale) for a flight to the Bahamas. En route Delta offered a $600 future flight voucher to "bump" and take the next flight out.  We accepted (a party of 4 - yes, that's $2400)  and 6 months later used the vouchers for 1.5 flights each. ($400 to California and $200 towards Vegas/Denver etc.)  So, we got 2.5 flights for $283 cash out of pocket, or about $500 for 3 round trip flights per person. Thank you Delta!!

**The key to this is to pick a popular route, with less popular flight times to follow. This ensures that you have excellent odds of still making it to your destination same day. Also, be polite and aware at the gate. Be prepared to volunteer and then spend time chillin' at the airport.**

4. Ask for Air Canada gift cards from Santa.  You'll fly for free once you have enough cards saved. This is NEW for the airline industry. Air Canada just started offering them 3 months ago. Westjet does not offer gift cards.... yet. Air Canada gift cards are available at any Canada Post outlet or online at AirCanada.com

5. Win your flight! More and more charity auctions are offering travel prizes. Plus, there are numerous on-line contests. Somebody has to win. Why not you? I personally know 2 people who have won such prizes in the last year or so.  Maybe you'll be lucky #3!