Have you ever got free things while you were on a flight?

There are a lot of people who seem to have figured out how to travel on a budget and actually see the world. They look like they spend most of their time in the airport, catching flight after flight, sleeping in first-class cabins, taking tons of pictures of some of the most breathtaking views ever, and having the time of their lives.

How do they do it? How can they afford such things? Well, that’s what I wanted to discover, and let me tell you that these tricks are totally doable. Many people say that you can use a credit card that has mile rewards, but to the honest, it can get pretty confusing, especially if you’re not a trained traveler.

I’m not a skilled traveler either, but I asked some of my expert friends to give me a few tips and tricks on how everyone can get some freebies on their next flight. So if you’re looking for ways to get some free stuff on your vacation and find out what you can actually get when you’re on a plane, keep reading.

1. Make a profit out of bad situations

Bad things can happen and they might ruin your vacation, but if you have the proper knowledge, you can actually turn this in your favor. Each airline company has its own policies, and unfortunately, weather delays are sometimes unpredictable, and don’t mean that customers are able to receive monetary compensation.

Some airplanes have in-flight entertainment screens so people can watch movies and podcasts, listen to music, and so on, especially when the flight is long, but not everyone is content with the quality of these devices.

A friend of mine told me that she was on a JetBlue flight and she overheard someone saying that the quality of their entertainment screen was simply poor. One of the flight attendants came to that person and credited them $10 in JetBlue credit. It might not be much, but it’s still something, right?

Not many people know it, but when it comes to crew delays or maintenance aspects, airlines typically have to do something, which means that they’re more likely to give their customers some form of compensation to make up for the inconveniences.

If their delay is going to ruin your getaway and is probably going to cost you more than what they can offer you, there’s something you should know: you have up to 30 days to talk to the airline company and negotiate a refund.

What if the airline is ruining your vacation?

On the other hand, if the airline company you booked your flight from doesn’t offer any cash compensation, there’s no need to panic because you can ask them for airline miles.

Recently, a colleague from work experienced a huge delay of roughly 24 hours. She traveled from New York City to Paris, and it was horrible. Her vacation was absolutely ruined, but she and other passengers decided to file paperwork where they complained about the massive delay. The good news is that each one of them received approximately $700 for the inconvenience.

And that was not all. They also got a free night in a beautiful hotel as well as 3 reimbursed meals. All these things were worth around $200 per traveler.

Moreover, if they make a mistake and your bag is late, that’s probably going to make you mad, but airline companies know that you need your luggage after a flight, so they’ll charge you $50 per day that your bag is missing.

The amount of money you receive can be larger, depending on the situation and the company you booked your flight with. If you paid extra to check that luggage, you can ask them to refund that fee as well.

If you only remember one thing from this article, here’s what you should keep in mind: you need to know when to complain, how to do it, or where to do it. If you tweet to an airline something about a pilot missing during your flight, you’re more likely to receive a gif and an apology, and I don’t think that’s very helpful in your situation.

On the other hand, if you complain in a formal and serious manner directly to customer relationships, you might be lucky to earn credit or miles. Don’t be afraid to be direct and say exactly what the problem is as soon as you notice something you don’t agree with. If you kindly discuss every single issue as it arises, you might earn some free mileage, and that sure is something good.

Many airline companies want to avoid all the angriness and complications of directing tons of complaints directly to customer relationships, so they thought of a better alternative. They gave flight attendants the capacity to give way miles to unsatisfied customers, and if you’re one of them, just tell the staff about everything you find weird and inappropriate.

2. Ask for seconds

During longer flights, the staff is typically serving meals for the passengers, but depending on the airline company you’re flying with, they might not carry a lot of dietary options, such as vegetarian, vegan, or raw vegan meals, so it’s possible that some people are going to say no to the food they’re offered.

If you’re still hungry, wait for the flight attendants to serve all the passengers their meals, and then ask them if you could have a second. If you’re nice and ask politely, they’re more likely to give you another meal (of course, if there’s enough supply).

3. Volunteer

Volunteering is something beautiful that you do from the bottom of your heart without expecting anything in return. But it’s not the case during a flight, because this selfless type of volunteering actually comes with free cash.

There are many overbooked flights, and they want to make things right, so they ask if there are any volunteers who’re willing to give their seats away and reroute on a later flight. You might be thinking that you don’t want to waste time, right? Well, what if I told you that you can actually be compensated for the good thing you did?

You might be lucky to get some meal vouchers, a travel voucher, and even overnight accommodation, depending on the next booking. However, this only works if you’re flexible with your travel schedule and don’t make the people you’re with angry that you’re changing the schedule.

These scenarios are more likely to happen when traveling season is at a peak time, such as before a holiday, or in the season, like July and August. During these times, people are typically stressed and not willing to change their plans. But if you don’t have a problem with that, then go ahead and volunteer!

4. Earphones

Did you forget your earphones at home? No problem, because airline companies have got you covered. All you have to do is ask one of the flight attendants for a pair, and then you can listen to music or block the sound of a noisy neighbor.

These earphones don’t exactly have the greatest quality, but for a better travel experience that only lasts a couple of hours, they get the job done, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t ask for a pair.

5. Pillows and blankets

Airplane companies know that people would like to rest and maybe get some Zzzs before they arrive at their destination, so they make sure that everyone feels comfortable.

Generally, these tiny blankets and pillows will wait for the passengers on their plastic wrap on the seat cushions, but sometimes the staff won’t put them in a place where people could reach them easily. However, it doesn’t mean that they’re not available. Just ask a flight attendant, and they’ll surely provide you with everything you need.

Do you have any plans for traveling soon? If you plan on booking a flight and don’t exactly want to pay for luggage, a carry-on might be exactly what you need! I recommend you get this one from Amazon because it’s affordable, spacious, and perfect for planes!

And because travel season is closer than you think, we did our research, so make sure you check out all the tips on our website because we have plenty of amazing ones and they’re all budget-friendly. Speaking of that, if you’re looking for another great article to read, here’s a fantastic one: Want a Luxury Vacation? Here’s How to Get CHEAP 5-Star Hotel Rooms!