Jetting off on vacation is expensive – there’s no way around it. And savvy travelers know most of the tricks to save money every way they can. Yet there’s one little-known money-saving secret hiding in your airline ticket.
If you hang on to your boarding pass, you could save some serious cash while exploring your vacation destination. Here’s why you should never toss your airline boarding pass – and why you’ll want to print out a physical copy the next time you fly.
Print Out Your Boarding Pass for Every Flight – and Don’t Throw It Away
It’s rare today that travelers print out and carry physical airline tickets and boarding passes – after all, it’s easy to store your boarding pass on your phone and scan it at the airport. However, there’s a huge reason to keep printing out physical boarding passes. And you’ll want to hang onto them even after you land at your destination.
Keeping this single piece of paper is your key to exploring your vacation destination for less. As Travel + Leisure writes, many airlines offer discounts and savings on tourist attractions, local restaurants, airport purchases, and even freebies at resorts, museums, and more.
All you have to do to score these discounts, special offers, and freebies is show your boarding pass. Travelers who keep their boarding passes from their fight are able to get discounts on everything from hotel reservations to rental cars to shopping and dining.
Imagine how much you could save on everything you have planned for your vacation! With this one piece of paper in your hand, you could save on activities both big and small. And over the course of any vacation, those savings can really add up.
How You Can Find These Boarding Pass Discounts
Showing your boarding pass at different spots throughout the city you’re vacationing in isn’t common – and even fewer people know that doing this comes with financial savings. So how can you make the most of your boarding pass and score discounts every time you travel?
The key is knowing that the trick exists. Now that you know you can use your boarding pass for big savings, you just need to do your research. Not all airlines offer these discounts; in fact, very few American airlines hand out this special kind of discount. But if you’re traveling internationally, you’ll find there are plenty of deals to be had if you know where to look.
Search online for airlines that offer discounts for travelers once they land in cities around the world. According to Conde Nast Traveler, some of the top airlines for boarding pass discounts include:
- Singapore Airlines – This airline offers one of the most generous boarding pass discount programs, giving travelers as much as 25 percent off museum visits, restaurants, retail, and popular attractions.
- Emirates – All flights booked to or through Dubai on Emirates get travelers a “My Emirates Pass,” which includes exclusive discounts to Dubai’s most popular attractions.
- Korean Air – This airline offers discounts on local attractions, shows at the National Theater of Korea, and restaurants both local and international (including chains like Shake Shack).
- Turkish Airlines – Get as much as 15 percent off the entrance fees at historic sites throughout Europe. This airline even offers discounts with a boarding pass in the city of Rome, Italy.
Although it’s far less common for U.S.-based airlines to offer these same exciting discounts, there are savings to be found. Conde Nast Traveler reports that Alaska Airlines offers free skiing at various U.S. destinations with a boarding pass – and some destinations, like Squaw Valley, will actually let you ski their slopes for free if you can prove you flew any commercial airline to the city.
So, the next time you’re planning on flying to a new destination, make sure you ask the airline to print you out a physical boarding pass. And don’t forget to keep that boarding pass even after you arrive – it’s your key to accessing savings throughout the city, region, or even country you’re visiting. This one trick could save you a huge percentage off the total spending you do while on vacation.