Airline Scams That People Actually Fall For: How to Avoid Them

Brittany Jones-Cooper
·Reporter

Sometimes the most expensive part of planning a vacation is booking your airline ticket. And I can imagine nothing worse then preparing for your trip, only to realize that your ticket isn’t real.

Here are three common airline scams, and how to avoid them.

1. Scam: Free tickets

As the saying goes, “Nothing in life is free,” so if you get an offer in the mail for a free airline ticket, be skeptical.

The Better Business Bureau warns of a scam where letters are mailed to unsuspecting customers disguised as free tickets or vouchers from American Airlines or US Airways. These letters usually have no return address and ask you to call a toll-free number to claim your prize. On the phone, you’ll be asked to pay a small processing fee with your credit card, and just like that, your identity is stolen.

Or travelers are lured to attend high-pressure sales pitches for expensive travel club memberships.

Solution:

If you’re looking for deals, flash sales are really the only way to get a cheap plane ticket. Follow travel sites, like Airfare Watchdog on Twitter, that share flash sales as soon as they happen. This is a safe and stress-free way to increase your chances of snagging a good deal.

Related: Could You Fall Victim to This Airport Scam?

2. Scam: Sweepstakes offers on Facebook

image

Clicking a link on Facebook will not win you free airline tickets. (Photo: iStock)

I’m going to put this really bluntly: You are never going to get free airline tickets by sharing or liking something on Facebook.

If you see an airline offering free tickets, it’s likely a copycat page that’s just trying to get likes in a practice called “like farming.” Essentially they rack up as many likes as they can in a short amount of time before they replace the page with a scam, or even worse, malware.

Solution:

Instead of following the scammers, be sure to follow your favorite airline on their VERIFIED social media accounts. Verified means that they will have a blue check mark next to their name.

This distinction will ensure that if you see a deal, it’s real.

Related: WATCH: The Online Hotel Booking Scam That’s Costing You Money

3. Scam: False booking

There have been a lot of stories lately about travel agents scamming travelers. Horrible stories where people hand over thousands of dollars and are promised a trip that they never get to take. Don’t let this happen to you.

Solution:

If you’re not confident booking your own travel, a travel agent can be a great source to get you good deals and help you solve problems. But don’t get scammed by just choosing an agent who promises you the cheapest tickets.

Instead, interview your agent ahead of time. Ask about the fees up front and ask if they are certified with the American Society of Travel Agents or the Travel Institute. Also, if they are affiliated with a group like AAA, that’s a bonus.

More Brittany’s Travel Hacks:

WATCH: The Online Hotel Booking Scam That’s Costing You Money

5 Ways to Avoid Common Hotel Scams

5 Airport Hacks You’ve Never Heard Of (That Work!)

Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Check out our original adventure travel series, “A Broad Abroad.”