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Meet the Reddit user whose hobby is finding people cheap flights for free

Sept. 29, 2019
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3 min read
Airplane's shadow over a crowded beach
Meet the Reddit user whose hobby is finding people cheap flights for free
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It's no secret that we here at TPG love flying. More than that, we love finding the best deals to get you where you need to go — whether it's with points or cash. So, when we began seeing Reddit user u/delta777er, otherwise known as Nick Doyle, offering to find people cheap flights out of nothing but the goodness of his heart, we knew we had to talk to him.

It turns out that Nick is a fairly normal guy. He's a young man who just graduated college and began a career as a software developer. Originally from Pennsylvania, he attended Cornell before moving to the Bay Area for work.

As for what piqued his interest in travel? Although a lover of aviation since he was a child, summer internships with Southwest meant that every weekend he and fellow interns jetted off around the country for free. If that's not a way to get into flying, I don't know what is.

Image courtesy of Southwest

When asked why he started offering to find flights for people, Nick explained that he used to spend all his time looking up random flight itineraries for imaginary vacations. So, rather than continuing to search for flights that would never be purchased, he thought he'd offer his services to those looking for a little help. This isn't a one-time thing, either. He's been doing it for the last eighteen months, helping hundreds of people score cheap tickets.

The hardest time he's had trying to find flights? As should surprise no one, people asking to travel within the US during the holidays are nearly impossible to help, with limited travel dates and minimal flexibility on destinations. The worst offender is Thanksgiving, where folks are looking to leave the Tuesday prior and return the Sunday after. He suggests taking Monday off and returning a day later to chop the fare in half.

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Of course, not all the flights he prices out are for others. Nick has traveled a fair bit himself, using sites like Google flights and The Flight Deal to book some jaw-droppingly low fares, like Washington D.C to Europe for $200 roundtrip and even a flight to Japan via Beijing with Air China.

Anyone would love exploring Tokyo. (Photo byYukinori Hasumi/Getty Images)

As an avid reader of TPG, Nick has just recently gotten into the credit card game, snagging the Citi® Double Cash Card, as suggested by our article on the best cards for college students. Now that he's got his career started, he has lots of opportunities for points and miles. Maybe that'll mean a business class ticket in his future?

Bottom line, Nick Doyle is an awesome guy. There are tons of agencies that'll charge to find you good fares for tickets, but he's here, doing it for free. And he's got some recommendations for you so that you can find cheap flights too:

  • The most important thing is to be flexible, in both dates and destinations.
  • Keep looking, as fares fluctuate throughout the month.
  • Figure out where the budget airlines fly and search their hubs.
  • Make sure you're using the right websites to search.

Thanks, Nick. You rock.

(Feature photo by Orbon Alija via Getty Images)

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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 $6,000 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.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.