Flight affiliate programs: a practical guide
This guide explains which flight affiliate programs to consider, how to choose the right one for your audience, and the simple steps to implement them so they start earning.
How to monetize your blog with flight affiliate programs
If you’re a travel blogger looking to diversify your income, flight affiliate programs are a straightforward way to earn commissions. By linking to flight search tools and booking sites that match your content, you help readers find the best routes while earning from completed bookings.
Why flight affiliate programs?
A flight affiliate program lets you earn commissions when readers use your links to search for or book flights. They’re helpful for:
• Helping readers find current fares
• Monetising destination guides and itineraries
• Earning passive income when people book after reading your content
Top-flight affiliate programs
Skyscanner affiliate program
Best for: Metasearch and global flight coverage
What to promote: Deep links to exact routes or airport pairs mentioned in your post
Kiwi.com affiliate program
Best for: Complex multi-city itineraries
What to promote: Deep links to multi-city or connecting search results
Travelpayouts (flights)
Best for: Managing multiple flight brands through one dashboard
What to promote: Widgets or deep links to flight searches aligned with your post
Expedia flights
Best for: Flights paired with hotels or packages
What to promote: Route-specific search links that match your guide
Trip.com affiliate program
Best for: Asia-focused coverage and competitive fares
What to promote: Deep links to popular Asia routes or airline partners
How to choose a flight affiliate program
Use this simple checklist:
• Audience geography and coverage of your most-linked destinations
• EPC and cookie window, not just the headline commission
• Ability to deep-link directly to routes you mention
• Reporting tools and payout reliability
• Program reputation and support availability
Where Stay22 fits
Stay22 complements your flight affiliate setup by helping you monetise the accommodation and activities in your posts. By pairing your flight links with high-intent hotel and experience links, you increase total EPC and reduce leakage.
Let Me Allez (links tool)
Creates context-specific deep links to accommodation and activity partners, aligning naturally with itineraries and destination guides. It improves conversion by surfacing the most relevant options for readers.
Nova (planning and booking)
Supports trip-planning flows that keep users engaged from research through to booking, helping lift conversion rates across accommodation and activities.
Tips to get started
• Map flight programs to the posts with the highest search-intent traffic
• Place flight links in the opening paragraph, mid-section, and CTA positions
• Use UTM parameters to track which pages and placements convert
• Replace low-EPC partners after 60–90 days of testing
Key takeaways
• Pick 2–3 flight programs that match your audience geography
• Use deep links to specific routes instead of homepage links
• Measure EPC monthly and adjust programs and placements based on performance
FAQ
Which is better for flights: metasearch or OTA programs?
Metasearch tools offer broader coverage and flexible search options, while OTAs provide direct booking paths. Many bloggers use both to match different types of reader intent.
How many flight affiliate programs should I join to start?
Most bloggers begin with two to three programs. This avoids dilution while giving you enough options to match different destinations and reader needs.