You’ve heard of booking flights with airline miles, but what about doing the same, only with cryptocurrency?

Bitcoin has exploded in popularity in recent years, with some people using it to buy everything from a small cup of coffee to a trip around the world. Here’s how it works.
<h2>Bitcoin Is Becoming One’s Ticket to the World</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-252864 size-large" src="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Bitcoin-Cash-Ticket-AirBaltic-1024x576.jpg" alt="bitcoin cash air ticket" width="730" height="411" />

Not everyone has jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon quite yet, but <a href="https://onlywanderlust.com/online-travel-booking-statistics/">according to a recent survey from Only Wanderlust</a>, 22 percent of flyers have expressed interest in using crypto to book fights or pay for other travel expenses like hotels and rental cars. The majority of those travelers (70 percent) then said that they would prefer to use Bitcoin for their purchase as opposed to other cryptocurrencies.

At the moment, Bitcoin is being used most in luxury travel, with customers booking private jets and other high-class, high-cost items and experiences, but some traditional and low-cost airlines and travel agencies are getting in on the trend as well. A few airlines (both luxury and otherwise) already accept Bitcoin as a payment option, and others allow payment with crypto in a more indirect way.

Sound complicated? Don’t worry, it’s as easy as clicking a mouse!
<h2>Option 1: One-Step Booking with Your Bitcoin Wallet</h2>
While not all airlines have this capability, some airlines and booking sites allow customers to pay directly with their crypto wallet. Here are a few of the most notable:
<ul>
 	<li><strong>airBaltic</strong>
AirBaltic is currently one of the only airlines that accept Bitcoin payments directly through their website. As per  their FAQ section, the airline accepts several cryptocurrencies via BitPay.</li>
 	<li><strong>Vueling</strong>
<a href="https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Technology/Vueling-to-introduce-cryptocurrency-payments" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">According to multiple reports</a>, Vueling will start accepting payment via crypto sometime during the second half of 2023, allowing customers to book cheap flights from one European city to another using Bitcoin. Although this low-cost airline won't get you the transportation-galore of having built seat entertainment screen with an <a href="https://www.spinfever.com/games/crypto-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">option to play games</a> or watch movies in-flight, you can spent the extra money on your destination.</li>
 	<li><strong>CheapAir</strong>
As it proudly proclaims on its website, CheapAir was the first flight booking site to begin accepting crypto as a payment method. While it is not technically an airline itself, this service allows you to research, compare, and book flights with numerous airlines all from one website.</li>
 	<li><strong>Alternative Airlines
</strong>No, we’re not talking about airlines that use alternative methods of transportation, like flying cars or magic carpets. We’re talking about Alternative Airlines, a booking site that lets you book flights from over 600 different airlines using Bitcoin. While the name may sound a bit odd, nearly 15,000 reviews and an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot make this appear to be a trustworthy choice.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Option 2: Give Yourself the Gift of Flight with Gift Cards</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-252865 size-large" src="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Vueling-BTC-1024x576.jpg" alt="vueling btc" width="730" height="411" />

Let’s face it: while Bitcoin is popular among some groups of people, it is still relatively new to the public and not every business wants to commit to accepting it as a payment option quite yet. That would involve a lot of setup and a lot of integrating new services and platforms… and no one’s got time for that! So, sometimes it is just easier to pay for flights with crypto in a more roundabout way, rather than staying on the ground only wishing your <a href="https://www.spinfever.com/game/aviator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">occasional aviation sim hobby</a> could "come alive" to take you outside the virtual space.

One of the easiest ways to do that is via a service like Bitrefill, which, according to a couple of sources, gives you 400 gift card options for airlines that can fly you to nearly 1000 different locations around the world. These gift cards aren’t just for low-cost or lesser-known airlines either: even Delta Airlines gift cards can be bought with Bitcoin via services like this one.

And, if there’s not a gift card for the specific airline you want to use, you can always buy a Mastercard gift card with crypto, which is good anywhere Mastercard is accepted (which is pretty much everywhere).

Once you’ve exchanged your Bitcoin for a gift card, it’s as simple as selecting the “pay with gift card” option (or equivalent) on the airline’s website. If you have a Mastercard gift card, you would instead carry out the transaction the same way you would with a regular credit card.
<h2>Option 3: Use a Crypto Debit Card (Yes, That’s a Thing Now!)</h2>
Many people already pay with flights with their debit card, which draws money from their bank account to make the purchase. But did you know that you can do that same thing with Bitcoin?

Some <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/telegram-ceo-durov-plans-to-build-crypto-wallets-and-dex/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crypto wallets</a> like Bitpay give you a crypto debit card, which can be used much in the same way as a regular debit card. In fact, you can even use it to book flights by selecting the “credit or debit card” option at checkout on any airline website that accepts Mastercard (in the case of Bitpay’s debit card). This includes all of the big players in the airline industry, such as Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, British Airways, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and more.

So, as you can see, even if an airline doesn’t list cryptocurrency as a payment method on their checkout page, it is still possible (and relatively easy) to pay for your travel adventures with Bitcoin.

Have Crypto, Will Travel: How to Buy Airline Tickets with Bitcoin

Bitcoin has exploded in popularity in recent years, with some people using it to buy everything from a small cup of coffee to a trip around the world. Here’s how it works.

Sujit received his Bachelors in Science from the LNMU Darbhanga. He is currently working as a Content Strategist. He has more than three years of professional experience in information systems, security policies, technologies, and Cryptocurrency. He has published 6 books in the area of information security and assurance. He has published more
than 50 research articles in leading journals Regarding the Latest and Breaking Crypto News and updates. His research interests include access control, computer forensics, Digital Marketing, Web development, business hacks, player experience, and virtual storytelling.

Have Crypto, Will Travel: How to Buy Airline Tickets with Bitcoin

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