How Can Students Get a Student Discount on Flights in 2026?
Students in the US usually save on flights by combining student ID offers such as the ISIC card, booking-site discount codes that do not need student proof, cheaper travel days from Priceline's fare guidance, and booking through ShopBack US so part of the fare comes back as cash.
ShopBack US is a free app, website and browser extension. You start your booking from the airline or booking site's page on ShopBack US, book as usual, and part of what you paid comes back as cash once the trip is confirmed. Join ShopBack US for free before you book your next flight home or abroad.
How can students get discounts on flights?
Students get discounts on flights in five main ways: a recognized student ID, booking-site discount codes, cheaper dates, lighter fares and booking through ShopBack. Each one saves a little; together they can make a real difference on a semester abroad or a trip home.
- Carry a student ID that travel companies recognize. The ISIC card is the best known. According to the ISIC Association, it provides student status verification and access to thousands of discounts worldwide, and it is issued to students in over 100 countries.
- Use discount codes that do not need student proof. Alternative Airlines says its discount codes are open to everyone, students included, with no student ID or verification needed, as long as you meet each code's terms.
- Fly on cheaper days and months. Priceline's fare guidance names September and February as the cheapest months for domestic flights and Thursday as the cheapest day to depart internationally.
- Pay only for the fare you need. If you can travel with a carry-on, a basic fare can cost less, but count bag fees before you compare.
- Book through ShopBack. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order, so open the site's ShopBack US page before you pay.
The sections below cover each step, with what the airline, booking site or card provider says at the time of writing.
Student discount on flights: do airlines offer student fares?
Student fares, where they exist, are set by each airline or booking site and change often, so the reliable move is to check the airline's own site and your student ID provider's offers before you book. Many students end up saving more from flexible dates and discount codes than from a dedicated student fare.
Where to look:
- The airline's own website. Search the airline's site for "student" or "youth" offers. Programs come and go, and some apply only to certain countries or routes.
- Your student ID provider. ISIC says the card gives access to thousands of discounts worldwide, and its app shows discounts near you on a map. Check the travel section for offers that apply in the US before you buy a card for flights alone.
- Booking sites' deals pages. Alternative Airlines, for example, keeps a deals and discounts page with its current codes.
If a student fare and a regular sale fare are both available, compare the final total with bags. A student fare with a free checked bag can beat a cheaper fare once bag fees are added, or the other way round.
The ISIC card: a student ID for travel discounts
The ISIC card is the International Student Identity Card, and according to the ISIC Association, it is an internationally accepted student ID for full-time students. Here is what ISIC says about the card at the time of writing:
| What ISIC says | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | The ISIC Association, a non-profit first created by students in 1953 |
| Recognition | Endorsed by UNESCO since 1968; issued to students in over 100 countries |
| Who can apply | Full-time students; check the exact eligibility rules with a US issuer |
| Not a student any more | The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is for people 30 or younger who are not full-time students |
| Teachers | The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) covers full-time teachers and professors |
| Getting one in the US | ISIC lists four official representatives that issue the card in the USA |
The card costs money, so it is worth it when you will use more than one discount. Check ISIC's discount list for the travel offers you would actually use, then decide.
Student discount on flights 2026: cheapest months and days
For student flights in 2026, the cheapest months are usually September and February for domestic trips and February and March for international trips, according to Priceline. That lines up well with student calendars for some trips and badly for others, since winter break and spring break fall in pricier months.
Priceline's fare guidance at the time of writing:
| Priceline's guidance | Domestic US flights | International flights |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest months | September, then February | February and March |
| Most expensive months | December, March and June | December |
| Cheapest days to depart | Thursday, Friday or Saturday (up to 12% less than peak days) | Thursday |
| Priciest day to depart | Peak days vary | Sunday |
| Cheapest day to return | Monday (up to 12% less) | Monday (up to 12% less) |
| When fares start rising | 3 to 4 weeks before departure | About 2 weeks out for Europe |
Priceline also says that leaving on a Saturday and returning on a Tuesday often gives the cheapest round-trip price, saving up to 30% when your dates are flexible.
What this means for students: going home for Thanksgiving or winter break means flying at peak times, so book early and fly on the cheaper weekdays where your class schedule allows. For a summer trip or study abroad, start searching a few months out and watch prices before they start rising. Our guide on when to book flights and our look at the cheapest day to buy flights go into more detail.
Student discount on flights: best deals in the US for 2026
The best student flight deals in the US in 2026 usually come from flexible search tools, a like-for-like price check and booking through ShopBack before you pay.
- Use a fare calendar. Alternative Airlines says its best fare finder calendar shows the cheapest days in green and pricier days in red, and you can sort results by "Cheapest".
- Search nearby airports. A bigger airport an hour away can have more flights and lower fares than the one near campus.
- Try one-way tickets on different airlines. Priceline says its deals engine can build a round trip from two one-way tickets on different airlines when that is cheaper.
- Book the fare you need. Count checked bags and seat fees before you compare, since basic fares often leave them out.
- Book through ShopBack. Open the airline or booking site's page on ShopBack US and book from there.
Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first, too. If your trip needs a hotel or hostel, start from the ShopBack Booking.com page or the ShopBack Agoda page, so the whole trip costs less once the cash comes back. For more tips, see our guide on how to find cheap flights.
CheapOair vs Turkish Airlines: student flights price comparison for 2026
CheapOair and Turkish Airlines suit different student trips, so compare the same flights on each by the final total rather than assuming one is cheaper. CheapOair is a booking site where you compare flights across airlines. Turkish Airlines is an airline that connects many international routes through its Istanbul hub.
| What to compare | CheapOair | Turkish Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A booking site for flights across many airlines | An airline, booking its own flights |
| Good for | Comparing several airlines on one route, including domestic US trips | International trips that connect through Istanbul, such as Europe, the Middle East and beyond |
| What to check | The airline, the fare type and bag allowance in each result | The fare type and bag allowance, and the total trip time with the connection |
| Last step | Book through ShopBack | Book through ShopBack |
How to compare fairly:
- Match the flights. Same dates, same times, same number of stops.
- Match the bags. A fare with a checked bag included can beat a lower fare once you add a bag.
- Look at total trip time. A connection through a hub can cost less but take longer.
Then open ShopBack US and book from the CheapOair or Turkish Airlines page.
CheapOair, Turkish Airlines and Alternative Airlines for student flights
CheapOair, Turkish Airlines and Alternative Airlines are all on ShopBack US, and each fits a different kind of student trip.
- Turkish Airlines: international flights through Istanbul, useful for study abroad in Europe and beyond. Start from the ShopBack Turkish Airlines page.
- CheapOair: a booking site for comparing flights across airlines. Start from the ShopBack CheapOair page.
- Alternative Airlines: according to Alternative Airlines, it sells flights from over 600 airlines worldwide, and its discount codes are open to students and non-students alike, with no student ID needed. Some codes only work with certain payment methods or currencies, per its terms. Start from the ShopBack Alternative Airlines page.
Other travel sites students often use on ShopBack US include Trip.com, Expedia, Priceline, Booking.com and Agoda.
How ShopBack lowers the cost of a student flight
ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Open ShopBack US, find the airline or booking site, tap through, and book as you normally would. After the booking is confirmed, part of what you paid comes back to your ShopBack account as cash.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. For a student budget, that means the money is yours to withdraw once confirmed, not tied to the next flight.
The live rate for each site is shown on its ShopBack US page.
Using discount codes and student cards with ShopBack
Discount codes and card rewards can sometimes work alongside ShopBack, because each comes from a different place.
- Discount codes: no code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback.
- Student credit cards: a card issuer usually pays rewards on the amount charged, so a student card may still earn on a flight booked through ShopBack. Check your card's terms for how travel is coded.
- Airline loyalty programs: you may still earn the airline's miles on a ticket booked through ShopBack, but check the airline's and booking site's terms for your fare.
Our guide on how to earn on travel bookings has more on booking flights and hotels through ShopBack.
Frequently asked questions
How can students get discounts on flights?
Students usually save on flights by combining four things: a student ID such as the ISIC card for student offers, booking-site discount codes that do not need student proof, cheaper travel days and months, and booking through ShopBack US so part of the fare comes back as cash after the trip is confirmed.
Do airlines give student discounts in the US?
Student fares, where they exist, are set by each airline or booking site and change often, so check the airline's own site and your student ID provider's discount list before you book. Many students save more from flexible dates and booking-site discount codes than from a dedicated student fare.
What is the ISIC card and who can get it?
According to the ISIC Association, the International Student Identity Card is an internationally accepted student ID for full-time students that provides student status verification and access to thousands of discounts worldwide, and it has been endorsed by UNESCO since 1968. If you are no longer a full-time student but are 30 or younger, ISIC says you can get the International Youth Travel Card instead.
Does Alternative Airlines have a student discount on flights?
According to Alternative Airlines, its discount codes are not student-only, so students can use them without a student ID or verification, as long as they meet each code's terms. Some codes only work with certain payment methods or currencies.
What is the cheapest month for students to fly?
For domestic US flights, Priceline says September is typically the cheapest month, followed by February, while December, March and June are usually the most expensive. For international flights, Priceline says February and March usually offer the best deals and December is the priciest.
What is the cheapest day for students to fly?
Priceline says departing on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday can save up to 12% on domestic fares compared with peak days, Thursday is usually the cheapest day to depart internationally, and a Monday return can trim up to 12%. It also says a Saturday departure with a Tuesday return can save up to 30% if your dates are flexible.
Is CheapOair or Turkish Airlines better for student flights?
They suit different trips. CheapOair is a booking site where you can compare flights across airlines, while Turkish Airlines is an airline that connects many routes through its Istanbul hub. Compare the same flights on each by the final total with bags, then book through ShopBack US.
How does ShopBack help students save on flights?
ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Open the airline or booking site's page on ShopBack US, tap through and book as usual. After the booking is confirmed, part of what you paid comes back as cash, so it lowers what you actually pay rather than giving you points or miles.
Do discount codes work with ShopBack on flights?
No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay, and part of what you spend comes back as cash.
Can students save on hotels and hostels for the same trip?
Yes. Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first, the same way you do for the flight. Compare a few nights on each site by the final total with taxes, then book from the site's ShopBack US page.
Related reads
Book through ShopBack US: Turkish Airlines · CheapOair · Alternative Airlines · Trip.com · Expedia · Booking.com · Agoda
About this guide
Student card details come from the ISIC Association's website. Discount code terms and search tools come from Alternative Airlines' student discount page. Cheapest months and days come from Priceline's flights page. Rates on ShopBack change, so this guide points to the live rate on each site's ShopBack page instead of quoting one.
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Student fares, discount codes, card benefits and fare patterns are set by airlines, booking sites and card providers and can change. Rates on ShopBack vary by site and campaign; the current rate is on each site's ShopBack page.
This article is for general information only and is not professional or financial advice.
Related guides
How Do I Find Cheap Flights in 2026?
To find cheap flights in the US in 2026, search flexible dates and nearby airports, compare the same itinerary on Expedia, Priceline, CheapOair and Trip.com, use the airline's 24-hour hold or cancel rule to lock a fare, and go through ShopBack US before you book so part of the fare comes back as cash.
What's the Cheapest Day to Buy Flights in the US? (2026 Data)
The cheapest day to buy flights in the US in 2026 is usually at the weekend for domestic trips (Saturday in Expedia's 2026 data, about 2% below Monday) and Friday across all trips (3% below Sunday). The day you fly, the month and how far ahead you book move the price far more, and going through ShopBack before you book on Expedia or Priceline lowers the effective price.
What Are the Best Affordable Laptops for Students in 2026?
For US students in 2026, the best affordable laptop is a Chromebook or a Windows 11 laptop with 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, bought in a back-to-school or Black Friday window from Best Buy, Newegg or Walmart. Specs by major, what Microsoft and Google say about updates, store policies that matter, and why you check ShopBack US before you check out.
Earn Cashback on Hotels & Flights
Click through ShopBack before you book a flight, hotel, or activity. Cashback pays after the trip completes and the cancellation window closes.
