The global airline industry is estimated to be worth around $736 billion, encapsulating every corner of the globe. It might seem like all this money is simply kept within the accounts of some of the largest companies in the world, but there are ways that you can get yourself a cut.
Airline companies have adapted quickly to the online marketplace, many creating some stellar affiliate programs. The standards to qualify for airlines can be rather high, and the payout tends to be around 1-2%. If the people in your audience like to travel (which, to be honest, is just about everyone), there’s likely an airline affiliate program out there that you can cash in on.
Another option for those not able to meet the high standard of airline affiliate programs or who are looking to reach a wider audience may be more interested in travel booking websites. Many of these websites have more generous payouts and can be accessed from all over the globe, increasing the potential client base.
With all of these options, you might wonder what’s the best for you. Look no further. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite brands of both airlines and booking websites that can help you cash in on travel.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is the state-owned flagship airline of Qatar. It is a major international airline with over 160 destinations. Qatar Airways is a highly popular and service-driven airline with numerous rewards, most notably the Airline of the Year Award by Skytrax in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019. This airline serves all six continents and is one of the most popular in the world.
The airline claims the average sale on the website is around $1000, meaning you can get some massive commissions if convert just a few successful referrals. All in all, Qatar Airways’ affiliate program is one of the most well-structured and top-performing airline affiliate programs out there, and it’s definitely worth a look.
- Commission: 2%
- Sign Up: https://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=85009
- Cookie: 30 days
British Airways
British Airways is a major international carrier with a far-reaching global route. It is based in the United Kingdom. Their most popular destinations are currently London, New York, and Miami.
All their booking is done through their website BA.com. This not only includes airline tickets but also hotel rooms and car rentals as well.
The application process is very simple. You can either apply through their affiliate page or through their partner network Performance Horizon.
- Commission: 2%
- Sign Up: https://signup.performancehorizon.com/signup/en/british-airways
- Cookie: undisclosed
Etihad Airways
Another one of the world-renowned middle-eastern airlines, Etihad airways serves 100 destinations worldwide. Based in Abu Dhabi, they fly to all six continents. If you’ve got an audience that travels internationally, this affiliate program may be the one for you.
Etihad currently holds a 4 star rating by Skytrax. Although not as acclaimed as Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways still serves 18.6 million passengers a year.
- Commission: 2%
- Sign Up: https://www.etihad.com/en/promotions/etihad-affiliate-program/
- Cookie: 30 days
Qantas
Qantas is the largest and most popular airline both domestically and internationally in Australia. It holds a 65% share of the Australian domestic market, and has a large amount of international traffic. If your audience is interested in travel in Australia, there is no better airline to partner with than Qantas.
- Commission: 2%
- Sign Up: https://www.qantas.com/gb/en/book-a-trip/affiliate-programme-uk.html
- Cookie: undisclosed
KLM Royal Dutch Airways
Currently the oldest airline operating with its original name, KLM is the national airline of the Netherlands. Headquartered in the third-largest airport hub in Europe, Amsterdam, KLM sees millions of passengers per year. This is reflected in their annual revenue being around 10 billion Euros, and you can cash in on some of that income with their excellent affiliate program.
KLM offers variable commissions depending on the flights which customers book.
- Commission: 1-1.5%
- Sign Up: https://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/about/company/klm_affiliate_programme/index.htm
- Cookie: 30 days
Kayak
Kayak is a travel booking website with name recognition and a good reputation, fashioned in the mold of Amazon, compiling the best deals on flights and hotel rooms for travelers. Kayak is ranked as the 5th best travel site on the internet. It compiles prices from almost 100 websites online to give the customer the best deal.
Different to airlines, Kayak also gains revenue through commision, therefore the commission percentage is much higher than airlines, but may not actually be larger in payout.
The estimated average price of purchase on kayak is $257, which is pretty impressive and can translate into some serious affiliate revenue.
- Commission: 50% of Kayak earnings
- Sign Up: https://www.travelpayouts.com/en/offers/kayak-affiliate-program?utm_source=blog.travelpayouts.com&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=en
- Cookie: 30 minutes
Dollar Flight Club
Dollar Flight Club is a newsletter compiling the best airline ticket deals on the internet. Users can sign up for a membership to receive all the best deals right in their email inbox. On average, dollar flight club users save up to $500 on international flights.
If you sign up with Dollar Flight Club’s affiliate program, you’ll have access to a wide library of promotional materials to advertise the service. Plus, you’ll be recommending your audience something that’s valuable.
To fill out an application click here.
- Commision: 50% — up to $20 per referral, recurring commission on renewed memberships
- Cookie: 90 days
JustFly
One of the fastest growing travel sites on the web right now, JustFly is a must-see for any traveler trying to book an affordable flight. They have a deep inventory of flights, advertising over 440 airlines on their website. The site often has flash sales and deep discounts, meaning affiliate marketers can be confident that they are partnering with a great service that is sure to boost revenue and brand confidence.
As an affiliate, you will have access to marketing professionals for support, as well as dynamic banner ads, text links and reporting tools.
- Commission: $8 on domestic, $16 on international flights
- Sign Up: https://signup.cj.com/member/signup/publisher/?cid=4584986
- Cookie: 45 days
Wego
Wego is a website that offers both flight and hotel booking. The Wego Affiliate Network (WAN) is very good for those running websites with high traffic. It pays with a PPC model (pay-per-click) where you get paid by exit-clicks. Exit-clicks are defined as when a user clicks on your affiliate link onto Wego and from there clicks to another page (ex. from Wego to Booking.com).
WAN tracks conversion history for each referral, meaning you can gain more commission per click when your referrals make purchases. This model is great because you can get paid for those not making purchases, however, if your traffic is slow your revenue will be greatly decreased or risk the chance of being banned.
- Commission: $0.05-0.40 per flight click, $0.20-0.80 per hotel click
- Sign Up: Their traditional sign-up method and affiliate program are being overhauled, buy you can email support@wan.travel with your name, email, and website URL to sign up.
- Cookie: N/A (exit click model)
Last Minute Travel
Last Minute Travel, as you can probably tell by the name, was created to suit the needs of someone booking flights and hotels at the last minute. It was started by a couple looking to find the best deals for last minute booking and has since expanded to have a large array of listings including 175 airlines and 120,000 hotels.
It is a very user friendly site which has grown in popularity over the years, amassing nearly 1.5 million bookings in the last five years.
Affiliates have wide access to banner ads, text links, and an affiliate support team to meet all of your needs. Great commissions and a great program make Last Minute Travel a great option for affiliate marketers to consider.
- Commission: 3%
- Sign Up: https://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=69305
- Cookie: 30 days
Be Sure About Airline Affiliate Program You Choose
The airline industry offers numerous programs that can be utilized by any affiliate marketer. Whether partnering with an airline or an independent travel site, there are a multitude of programs that will suit any affiliate marketer’s needs. No matter what you choose, you can be sure that you’re joining a great program with lots of potential.