About Flights and Airfare

 

There's something about booking a flight that still feels like the first step toward something really good, whether it's a beach week with the family, a solo trip you've been putting off or a quick work trip with a good hotel at the end of it. The flights and airfare category covers everything you need to get off the ground: direct airline bookings, online travel agencies, flight search tools, points and miles redemption platforms and even airport lounge access memberships. You can book a budget seat on a no-frills carrier, find a business class deal on a major international airline or use a travel search tool to compare dozens of routes in one place. Airfare is one of those purchases where a little extra effort before checkout can translate into real savings, which is exactly where Rakuten comes in. Rakuten has paid out over $4.6 billion to more than 17 million members, so the savings are real and the platform is one you can count on.

Why Shop Through Rakuten for Flights and Airfare?

 

Flights are not small purchases, and most people shopping for airfare are already doing their homework: comparing prices, checking layover times, weighing baggage fees and timing their purchase just right. Rakuten fits naturally into that process because it lets you earn Cash Back on eligible flight bookings from participating airlines and travel sites, on top of whatever deal you've already found.

That Cash Back is stackable too. If a participating travel site has a promo code, a seasonal sale or its own loyalty rewards, you can often layer Rakuten Cash Back on top of all of it. Rakuten also surfaces verified coupon codes from participating stores in one place, so you don't have to tab around before checkout hoping something works.

Whether you're booking a domestic round-trip or a long-haul international itinerary, the math is simple: starting your booking through Rakuten means money coming back to you on a purchase you were going to make anyway.

How to Maximize Savings on Flights and Airfare

 

• Start your booking at Rakuten. Search for your airline or travel site before heading to their website, activate Cash Back and then complete your booking as usual.
• Stack Cash Back with promo codes and sales. Rakuten Cash Back can often be combined with a travel site's existing promotions or discount codes, giving you more than one way to save on the same booking.
• Join airline loyalty programs. Frequent flyer programs can earn you miles, seat upgrades and priority boarding. These benefits stack separately from Rakuten Cash Back, so you can earn on both sides of the same purchase.
• Use points-buying platforms strategically. If you collect airline or hotel points, platforms that let you purchase points at a discount can stretch your travel budget further, and some are Rakuten partners where Cash Back is available.
• Book during off-peak fare windows. Flights tend to be cheaper when booked midweek, during shoulder seasons or well in advance of peak travel dates. Combining a good fare window with Rakuten Cash Back is a solid one-two punch.
• Check for verified promo codes before you pay. Rakuten surfaces eligible coupon codes from participating travel sites, so you can apply a discount without hunting for one yourself.
• Use the Rakuten browser extension. It can alert you when Cash Back is available at a travel site and remind you to activate it before you check out, which is especially useful when you're deep in a multi-tab flight search.

Top Picks in Flights and Airfare

 

1. Direct airline bookings: Booking directly through an airline's website often gives you access to member fares, flexible change policies and the ability to apply frequent flyer miles or upgrade certificates.
2. Online travel agencies: Travel booking sites let you compare fares across multiple airlines at once, making it easier to find competitive prices on the same route from several carriers.
3. Flight deal and alert services: Services that track airfare and notify you when prices drop on routes you're watching can help you time a purchase at its lowest point.
4. Airline miles and points purchasing platforms: If you're short on miles for a redemption, platforms that let you buy or transfer points can bridge the gap, sometimes at prices that make the math work out in your favor.
5. Airport lounge memberships: Lounge access programs give frequent travelers a quieter place to work, eat and recharge during layovers, and memberships are available through a variety of travel brands.

Best Flights and Airfare by Trip Type

 

Trip Type	Best Booking Approach	What to Look For
Domestic weekend getaway	Online travel agencies and direct airline sites	Low base fares, no checked bag fees and flexible cancellation
International vacation	Direct airline bookings and full-service travel sites	Included baggage, meal service, seat selection and mileage earning
Business travel	Direct airline bookings and loyalty programs	Upgradeable fares, lounge access and flexible change or cancellation policies
Budget travel	Flight deal services and fare comparison tools	Lowest total price including fees, with flexible travel dates
Family trip	Full-service travel agencies and airline direct sites	Seat availability together, baggage allowances and family-friendly fare rules
Points and miles redemption	Miles purchasing platforms and airline loyalty portals	Best value per point, award availability and transfer partner options

Airlines and Flight Retailers to Love

Expedia

Expedia is a full-service online travel agency where you can search and book flights across hundreds of airlines, with options to compare fares, cabin classes and travel dates in one place.

Priceline

Priceline lets travelers search for flights across major carriers, with tools to compare prices on flexible and fixed travel dates and options to bundle airfare with hotels.

CheapOair

CheapOair is a flight-focused booking site with a wide inventory of domestic and international airfare, including options for economy, business and first-class on many routes.

British Airways

British Airways is a major international carrier that offers flights across a global route network, with options for economy, business and first class travel, as well as a frequent flyer program for earning and redeeming miles.

Avianca

Avianca is a Latin American airline that operates domestic and international routes, with a loyalty program and options for booking economy and premium cabin travel.

Trip.com

Trip.com is a global travel platform where you can search and book flights from airlines around the world, with multi-language support and tools to compare fares on international routes.

CheapTickets

CheapTickets is an online travel booking site where travelers can search for discounted domestic and international flights across a range of airlines and travel dates.

How Does Rakuten Work?

Rakuten is the most rewarding way to shop, helping you earn Cash Back every time you buy your favorite products at thousands of stores, including some of the most popular airlines and flight providers. It's a simple way to get value back for shopping you're already doing. Here's how to start earning Cash Back:
 

1. Join Rakuten for free. Create a free Rakuten account online, in the app or through the browser extension.
2. Find a participating store. Search Rakuten for the store where you want to shop.
3. Activate Cash Back. Click through Rakuten before making your purchase.
4. Shop as usual. Complete your order on the store's website.
5. Get paid. Eligible Cash Back is added to your Rakuten account and paid out every three months via check, PayPal, Amex Membership Rewards Points or Bilt Points.
    

How is it free? Stores pay Rakuten to send them shoppers, and Rakuten shares that money with you as Cash Back. It's as simple as that!

Why Rakuten Is a Dependable Way to Shop for Flights and Airfare

Trustworthiness and reliability are the foundation of a rewarding customer experience. Here's how you know you can always count on Rakuten:
 

1. It has been around for decades. Rakuten has been helping shape the way people shop online since its founding in 1999.
2. It has a huge member base and has paid out billions of dollars. Rakuten has more than 17 million members and has paid out over $4.6 billion in Cash Back in the U.S.
3. It has strong user reviews. Rakuten has a 4.6 rating on Trustpilot with over 36,000 reviews, including more than 27,000 five-star reviews.
4. It has thousands of partners. Rakuten partners with over 3,500 stores in a huge range of shopping categories, including clothing, shoes, beauty, travel, electronics, pets, experiences and more.
5. It has a straightforward model. Rakuten's structure may seem confusing at first, but it's really quite simple: Stores pay Rakuten for sending them shoppers, and Rakuten shares that money with its members as Cash Back. That's it!
6. It has a clear payment schedule and multiple payout options. Rakuten pays its members their Cash Back every three months through one of four payment options: check, PayPal, American Express Membership Rewards points or Bilt Points.
7. It publishes its privacy policy and terms. Rakuten provides a formal privacy policy that explains how its tracking works when you click through to a store. The company also publishes terms and conditions for its browser extension that describe how extension-collected data is handled in accordance with its privacy policy.

Rakuten partner stores in this category cover a wide range of flight bookings, including domestic and international routes, economy and premium cabin tickets, direct airline purchases and multi-airline itineraries booked through online travel agencies. You can earn Cash Back on eligible flight purchases from participating stores across all of these booking types.

Fares tend to be lowest during shoulder seasons, which generally fall between peak summer travel and major winter holidays. Booking well in advance or staying flexible on travel dates can also help you find lower prices. Midweek booking windows often have less competition than weekend searches on popular routes.

It depends on what you value. Booking directly with an airline often gives you more flexibility to make changes, easier access to your loyalty account and the ability to use miles or upgrade certificates. Online travel agencies are useful for comparing multiple airlines on the same route at once. Both options are available through Rakuten partner stores.

Economy is the standard cabin on most flights, with basic seating and limited included services on many carriers. Premium economy typically offers more legroom, wider seats and additional meal or baggage benefits. Business class includes lie-flat or reclining seats on most long-haul flights, along with lounge access and full meal service. The right choice depends on the length of your flight and your budget.

In many cases, yes. Booking through a participating Rakuten store does not typically prevent you from entering your frequent flyer number at checkout, which means you may be able to earn miles on the booking while also earning Cash Back through Rakuten. Always confirm with the airline or travel site before completing your purchase.

In many cases, yes. Rakuten Cash Back can often be stacked with eligible promo codes and active site promotions from participating travel stores. Always check the store's terms and Rakuten's details before completing your purchase to confirm what can be combined.

Compare prices across multiple participating travel sites before booking, check for active promo codes through Rakuten and look at whether booking directly with the airline versus a third-party site yields a better total price. Joining airline loyalty programs can also unlock member fares and upgrade opportunities that aren't always visible to non-members.

The process is the same as any other Rakuten purchase. Activate Cash Back through Rakuten before you begin your booking, complete your eligible purchase at a participating store and the Cash Back gets added to your Rakuten account. Because airfare can be a significant expense, especially for international or multi-passenger bookings, the Cash Back you earn can add up quickly.