Student Discounts For International Flights: What You Need To Know

Students and young adults often have limited budgets, so saving money on travel is always a bonus. Luckily, many airlines offer student and young adult discounts, which can range from 5% to 70% off, depending on the airline and cabin class. Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) are just a few of the airlines that offer student discounts on international flights. Some booking platforms, like Kayak, also have student-specific portals for flight discounts. Students can also use websites like Momondo to find the cheapest available international flights, even if they aren't specifically student discounts.

StudentUniverse and other flight deals

Turkish Airlines offers student flight ticket discounts to students who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye and those who are foreign nationals studying in the country. To benefit from the discount, students must create a Miles&Smiles membership and register as a student. The discount is 15% for round-trip and one-way international transit flights and 10% for round-trip and one-way flights departing from or arriving at TR/ECN.

StudentUniverse is a platform that provides exclusive student discounts on flights to top destinations worldwide. They have partnerships with top airlines like British Airways, United Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. StudentUniverse caters to students and young adults aged 18-25, offering cheap flights, hotels, and rental cars. They offer flights to various destinations, including Asia, Europe, Central and South America, and Australia.

StudentUniverse provides deals on flights to popular cities such as Rome, Paris, Madrid, Seattle, Shanghai, and London. They also offer discounts on flights to specific regions, such as Scandinavia, known for its stunning natural beauty, and Thailand, renowned for its vibrant cities and golden temples.

In addition to flight deals, StudentUniverse assists students in finding affordable accommodation and transportation options. They provide information on cheap hotels and rental cars, ensuring that students can explore the world on a budget.

StudentUniverse also caters to students studying abroad, helping them secure affordable flights to their host countries. They understand the significance of studying abroad and aim to make the experience as smooth and cost-effective as possible. Whether students are heading to London for a semester or embarking on a journey to Australia, StudentUniverse is dedicated to making their travel dreams a reality.

Turkish Airlines' student discounts

Turkish Airlines offers special discounts and advantages for students who are members of their Miles&Smiles frequent flyer programme. The discount is 15% for round-trip and one-way flights on international transit flights and 10% for round-trip and one-way flights departing from or arriving at TR/ECN. The discount does not apply to taxes and the discount rate may vary depending on the route, class, date, etc. There is a 40 kg baggage allowance for tickets purchased within the student passenger type. The baggage allowance is 2x23 kg for flights with the per-piece concept. The longest length of stay between outbound and return flights is 12 months.

To access the discount, students must first create a Miles&Smiles account and verify their student status. Students can verify their status by uploading documents in the appropriate format to the Miles&Smiles website. Students who are Turkish citizens and studying in Turkey can register automatically as a student to benefit from the discount. Foreign nationals studying in Turkey or students studying abroad can also benefit from the discount but must first create a student profile.

Students can follow the approval status of their application from their Miles&Smiles account or via notifications to the email address registered to their membership. Once approved, students can purchase discounted tickets by logging into their Miles&Smiles account and selecting "Student" as the passenger type.

Lufthansa's student fares

Lufthansa does offer student fares for both one-way and return trips, but they are only available for bookings departing from selected countries and are only offered in Economy Class. To book a student fare, you must register for a Travel ID and verify your student status. You can then search and book flights from a dedicated page on the Lufthansa website. Student fares are clearly identified with a "Student" icon, and you must book these specific fares to receive the benefits.

To verify your student status, you will need to provide proof of enrolment in a higher education institution or proof of acceptance into one. This can be done in the ''Profile' section of your Travel ID account. You will also need to use your official student email address and present a valid student or youth ID upon check-in. Failure to produce proof of student status when requested may result in additional charges.

Lufthansa student fares offer a checked baggage allowance of up to two bags, each weighing no more than 23 kg. However, for flights originating in the USA or Mexico, the allowance is reduced to one bag. It is important to note that student fares are only offered when all flights in the itinerary are operated by Lufthansa Group airlines. If your itinerary includes a flight operated by a different airline, the student fare will not be available.

Student fares are subject to change without notice and are based on the most direct routing to each destination. Additional transfers will increase the fare, and the price may also be impacted if you alter your route. While the fares include applicable taxes, fees, and charges, additional baggage fees may apply. Seats for student fares are limited and may not be available on all flights.

Scandinavian Airlines' SAS Young initiative

Several airlines offer student discounts for international flights. For instance, Turkish Airlines offers special discounts and advantages for students with Miles&Smiles memberships. Students can verify their student status in their Miles&Smiles account and enjoy domestic and international flight opportunities. Similarly, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has an initiative called SAS Young, which offers discounted deals and extended flexibility for travellers between the ages of 12 and 25. SAS Young tickets can be booked up until your 26th birthday and offer a minimum of 10% discount on all SAS flights, with discounts of up to 70% on less popular flights. Additionally, SAS has shown a commitment to sustainability by compensating for CO2 emissions generated by customers flying on its Youth Ticket. This initiative, which began on April 1, 2018, is part of SAS's environmental and sustainability work, demonstrating their commitment to making aviation sustainable in the long term.

Scandinavian Airlines SAS Youth Initiative:

Scandinavian Airlines, or SAS, introduced the SAS Youth initiative, now known as SAS Young, to offer discounted deals and increased flexibility to young travellers. This initiative is available to individuals between the ages of 12 and 25, with bookings accepted up until one's 26th birthday. The SAS Young programme provides a minimum discount of 10% on all SAS flights, with potential discounts of up to 70% on flights with greater availability. This flexibility allows young travellers to change the time and date of their flight up until departure without incurring a change fee, although they would need to pay the fare difference between the original and new flight.

The SAS Youth initiative is more than just discounted fares. It also reflects SAS's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. As part of this initiative, SAS voluntarily compensates for the CO2 emissions generated by customers flying on Youth Tickets. This effort is aligned with SAS's environmental and sustainability programme, which focuses on reducing emissions and transitioning to a more fuel-efficient fleet. By investing in renewable energy projects and promoting the commercialisation of biofuel for aircraft, SAS strives to make aviation more sustainable for future generations.

The SAS Youth initiative not only provides financial relief to young travellers but also demonstrates SAS's dedication to the planet's well-being. By choosing SAS Young, travellers can explore the world while supporting sustainable practices, knowing that their carbon footprint is being offset. This initiative sets a positive example for the aviation industry, encouraging other airlines to follow suit in creating environmentally conscious travel options for the youth and beyond.

Booking platforms with student-specific portals

Some booking platforms have student-specific portals that offer flight discounts. For instance, StudentUniverse offers flights, hotels, and tours to students. It has a wide range of cheap domestic and international flights to choose from. It has partnerships with top airlines like British Airways, United Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. It also offers exclusive student deals for flights to popular study-abroad destinations like London and Australia.

CheapOair is another booking platform with a special section dedicated to student travel. It offers discounted student airfare, making international and domestic travel more affordable.

Turkish Airlines also has a student-specific portal. It offers special discounts and advantages to students with Miles&Smiles memberships. Students can verify their student status in their Miles&Smiles account and enjoy domestic and international flight discounts.

Additionally, Singapore Airlines offers "student privileges," including discounts on economy, premium economy, or business-class flights. To get these discounted fares, prospective passengers must become KrisFlyer members and be enrolled at an eligible college or university.

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