21 Travel Hacks Only Frequent Flyers Know (and You Should Too)

10. Use “Hacker Fares” on Travel Sites

Travel websites increasingly highlight “hacker fares,” which involve booking two one-way tickets (on possibly different airlines) instead of a traditional round-trip ticket from a single carrier. This tactic can yield remarkable cost differences, especially if your travel dates are locked in, but the round-trip airline you want is more expensive on one leg. These aggregator sites automatically piece together separate flight segments into a single itinerary, meaning you see the total cost but are booking flights from multiple carriers. You might, for example, fly outbound on a budget airline and return via a major carrier that’s running a promo. The caveat is you’ll have two booking confirmations, so any changes or cancellations might be handled separately. Still, for travelers comfortable with a bit of logistical intricacy, hacker fares are a savvy method to slash hundreds off your final bill while maintaining route flexibility. When time is your friend, your wallet benefits.