How to maximize Freebird, the service that protects your domestic flights
Earlier this year, I utilized a service called Freebird that protects your domestic itineraries in case your flight is canceled, you miss a connection or your flight is delayed four hours or more. If you meet any of those wickets, you will be rebooked on the next nonstop flight to your destination on any carrier for $19 per leg, per person for your domestic itinerary.
In my case, my sister missed her connecting flight on a Southwest-operated Houston to Atlanta to Fort Meyers itinerary. The only seat left on the next flight from Atlanta to Fort Meyers was a first class seat on a Delta flight that cost almost $1,200. Freebird rebooked her without question onto the flight — the greatest return on any $19 I'll ever spend.
After recognizing the incredible value and peace of mind the service provides, I've continued to utilize the service this year in specific situations where $19 is a low price to pay compared to the alternatives of something happening with my flight. Here are a few situations when you should consider utilizing the Freebird service to maximize your potential return.
Low-cost carrier irregular operations
I can routinely score fantastic fares out of Atlanta on Spirit and Frontier, but the sticking point is the route may operate only a few times a week. If the flight is canceled, the low-cost carriers will offer to rebook you, but it might be a few days in the future. Best case scenario, you could find yourself in a similar situation to Senior TPG writer JT Genter who had to kill 11 hours in the Tampa airport a few months ago and wait until the next Spirit flight to his destination. (Note: Spirit actually has the highest on-time arrival percentage of any U.S. airline.)
$19 is a small price to pay on top of sub $100 fares to ensure you will reach your destination on the date of intended travel. I have booked a few Spirit flights recently for less than $40 and if my flight is canceled or delayed four hours or more, I would miss my meeting or have to kill a very long time in my home airport of Atlanta waiting for the next Spirit departure. The peace of mind I have the night before knowing that I'll be on the next Delta departure if my low-cost carrier flight is canceled is incredible, and all for the grand price of $19.
Large weather system looming
You have to book Freebird at least two days before departure, preventing passengers from gaming the business and buying the protection last minute when it is obvious there will be a delay. That said, during winter or hurricane season, it's often possible to see a large weather system possibly affecting your departure or arrival destination more than two days in advance.
While these systems may affect the entire airport operations, having the freedom to look at all airlines and co-located airports (which Freebird supports) is probably worth $19. The key to being successful with weather systems is being as proactive as possible and rearranging your schedule before fellow passengers take up any available seats.
You have to be there
Even if flying a legacy carrier, if you have to arrive at a destination at a specified time, then $19 is worth it to avoid the hassle of dealing directly with the airline or trying to use built in credit card trip cancellation/delay protection. Freebird will rebook you through text in about five minutes.
Airline computer systems crash, mechanical delays occur and you can easily miss a connection on a legacy carrier. Here in Atlanta, United is often a cheaper choice than Delta to reach Washington Dulles or Houston. If I book a United ticket and have to arrive at the specific time I have scheduled, but United has an IT systems crash, Freebird would put me on the next Delta flight out.
You booked separate tickets for an award booking
If you want to be an award travel pro, you'll often have to position from your home airport to an international gateway to fly where you want to go on points and miles. If you cannot tag a positioning flight to or from your home airport on the same ticket as your international leg, I always recommend arriving the day before your departure or planning your final leg home a day after you are supposed to arrive back in the U.S.
This isn't always possible for the working professional with limited vacation days or students who cannot miss class. If you are going to take a domestic hop on a separate ticket to get to your international flight, I'd highly recommend paying $19 to ensure you have every option available to get to your award booking in case of delay or cancellation on your positioning flight.
Bottom line
Freebird is an ingenious service with some smart people behind it. It has actually been around for several years but I only recently came across it. I hope the folks at Freebird have done the math correctly to see the likelihood of having to rebook passengers versus the income generated and I hope they have the model right allowing the service to stick around for years to come. It has already saved many of my friends and colleagues trips.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.