Can I get a discount for student status?

Yes. StudentUniverse (now Byojet), STA Travel, and some airlines offer 10 to 20% off for verified students.

  • Must verify with student ID or .edu email
  • Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa: student discounts on select routes
  • Not available on basic economy fares in most cases
  • ISIC card (International Student ID) gives additional benefits globally

Traveling soon? See our Travel Essentials page.

Want a deeper dive? ↓

Detailed Answer

How It Works

Student flight discounts work through two main channels: specialist student travel platforms that negotiate bulk rates with airlines, and individual airlines that offer their own verified student fare programs. The savings range from 10 to 20% off standard economy fares and occasionally include additional perks like extra baggage allowance, flexible change policies, or waived fees.

The most reliable platform for student flights globally is StudentUniverse, now operating under the Byojet brand. It aggregates student fares from multiple airlines and verifies student status through a .edu email address or official student ID upload. Once verified, the discounted fares are accessible for all searches. STA Travel, where still operational in your country, follows a similar model.

Individual airlines handle student discounts differently. Some like Emirates and Lufthansa have formal student programs with verified discounts on specific routes. Others offer youth fares for travelers under 25 or 26 that overlap significantly with student demographics but do not require enrollment verification. Comparing both student-specific and youth fare options before booking gives you the best chance of finding the lowest price.

What You Need to Know

  • StudentUniverse by Byojet: largest student flight booking platform globally, verifies with .edu email or student ID, discounts of 10 to 20% on hundreds of airlines
  • STA Travel: still operational in some markets, check availability in your country before relying on it
  • Verification: most platforms require a valid student email, official student ID scan, or enrollment letter, international students qualify
  • Age limits: most student flight programs accept students up to age 26 or 32 depending on the platform and airline
  • Basic economy exclusions: student discounts rarely apply to the cheapest basic economy fares, they typically apply to standard economy and above
  • ISIC card: International Student Identity Card, globally recognized, accepted for student discounts at airlines, accommodation, museums, and attractions in over 130 countries, annual fee around $25
  • Emirates student program: verified student discount on select international routes, requires proof of enrollment
  • Qatar Airways: student fares available through partner platforms and occasionally directly
  • Lufthansa: student and youth fares available on select European and international routes
  • United Airlines: no dedicated student program but partner discounts available through college travel programs
  • Tax and fees: student discounts apply to the base fare, not to taxes and fees which remain at full price

Best Platforms for Student Flight Discounts

  • StudentUniverse by Byojet: best overall, widest selection of airlines, global coverage, straightforward verification
  • STA Travel: strong in UK, Australia, and select markets, good for round-the-world tickets and multi-stop itineraries
  • ISIC Travel: discounts bundled with the ISIC card, useful for travelers who already have the card for other student benefits
  • Unidays: partners with select airlines and travel brands, free to join with a student email, occasional flight discount codes
  • Student Beans: similar to Unidays, free verification, flight and travel discounts from partner brands
  • Direct airline websites: always check alongside platforms, some airlines offer better student rates when booking direct

By Airline: Student Discount Availability

  • Emirates: student program with verified discounts on international routes, extra baggage allowance sometimes included, book via Emirates website or StudentUniverse
  • Qatar Airways: student fares on select routes via partner platforms, check StudentUniverse for availability
  • Lufthansa: youth and student fares on European and international routes, available on Lufthansa website and platforms
  • British Airways: no dedicated student program, occasional youth fares for under 26s
  • Air France and KLM: youth fares for under 27s on select routes, overlap with student demographic
  • Turkish Airlines: youth fares available for under 26s, no separate student verification program
  • Singapore Airlines: no formal student program, check StudentUniverse for negotiated rates
  • United, Delta, American: no dedicated student programs, check via StudentUniverse for negotiated fares on these carriers
  • Ryanair and EasyJet: no student discounts, fares already positioned as low-cost baseline

ISIC Card: What It Gets You

  • Internationally recognized proof of student status accepted in over 130 countries
  • Flight discounts via ISIC travel partners
  • Discounts at museums, galleries, and attractions globally including many that do not accept a university ID card
  • Accommodation discounts at hostels and partner hotels
  • Transport discounts including rail and bus in many countries
  • Annual fee approximately $25 USD, available online at isic.org
  • Physical and digital card both available, digital accepted at most participating venues

Real Traveler Experiences

"Used StudentUniverse for a flight from New York to London. Saved $140 off the best price I found on Google Flights. Verification took about 2 minutes with my .edu email. Worth checking every time before booking." Reddit r/solotravel

"Emirates has a proper student program. Booked direct through their website with my enrollment letter. Got an extra 10kg baggage allowance on top of the standard economy allowance. Genuinely useful for longer trips." TripAdvisor forum

"ISIC card paid for itself on the first day with museum discounts in Rome. Also used it for a rail discount in Italy. The flight savings through ISIC partners are smaller than StudentUniverse but the card earns its value in other ways." Flyertalk forum

Pro Tips

  • Always check StudentUniverse alongside Google Flights before booking any flight as a student, the platform regularly beats public fares by meaningful amounts on popular international routes
  • Verify your student status on StudentUniverse before you need to book, the process takes a few minutes and having it done means you can book quickly when a good fare appears
  • If you are under 26 but not a student, search specifically for youth fares on Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines, these do not require student verification and produce similar savings
  • The ISIC card is worth buying if you are traveling internationally for more than two weeks, the combined savings on transport, attractions, and accommodation almost always exceed the $25 annual fee
  • Student discounts typically apply to economy class only, they rarely stack with sale fares or promotional codes, compare the discounted student fare against the best available public sale price before assuming the student rate wins
  • Keep your student ID accessible when traveling internationally, some airlines ask to see proof of student status at check-in even when you booked a verified student fare online

Related Questions

Sources

AskTravel.org is an information website only. Always check local regulations and app availability before traveling, as rules change frequently.

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