Airlines seem to have all the power algorithms, timing, and secret pricing strategies while travelers are left guessing. But what if there was a loophole hidden in plain sight? One that frequent flyers, expats, and even travel agents have quietly used for years to beat airline pricing systems at their own game? It's called the Reverse Booking Trick, and if you learn how to use it right, it could save you hundreds even thousands on long-haul flights, especially across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Instead of deciding where they wanted to go first, Sorkin built their trip around a single flight deal. When he got the email from Thrifty Traveler Premium, a subscription service that alerts users to award flight availability, he knew this deal was the one. "We saw a unicorn offer for American business class from LA to Auckland for about 60,000 miles one-way," said Sorkin. "I already had enough miles in my AAdvantage account, and we bought some miles for Max for around $1,600, which still felt like a steal for the experience."