Trip Planner Map AI FAQ

How to Use Fare Hacker

Every feature explained. From your first search to your boarding pass.

Jump to a feature
1. Fare Hacker Search (start here) 2. AI Trip Planner 3. Destination Map 4. Quick Plan (date-specific search) 5. Build Your Trip (multi-leg) 6. Flight Preferences 7. Deals 8. Your Account 9. Free vs Paid Features 10. Pro Tips

1. Fare Hacker Search

Trip Planner → Fare Hacker tab

This is where most people should start. Just pick a destination — we do the rest.

  1. Enter your airport — where you'll fly from (e.g. LAX, JFK, ORD). Start typing and we'll autocomplete.
  2. Pick a destination — Japan, Vietnam, Europe, Hawaii, etc.
  3. Choose a cabin — Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First.
  4. Enter travelers + ages — ages matter because under-2 flies free and under-12 gets child fares on some airlines.
  5. Hit "Hack It" — we scan 27 hubs, 15 award programs, and every transfer path. Results in under 2 seconds.

Each result shows: the exact routing, which points to transfer, from which card, the cash out of pocket, free stopovers, and step-by-step booking instructions.

Pro tip: You don't need dates. Fare Hacker finds the best option regardless of when you travel. Once you find a scenario you like, THEN lock in dates using Quick Plan.
Try it now →

2. AI Trip Planner

AI Planner page

Talk to our AI like you'd talk to a travel agent friend. It knows every points program, every routing trick, every off-season deal, and every airport scam.

  1. Ask anything — "I have 300k Chase points and 2 kids. Best beach destination in December?"
  2. The AI searches for you — it calls our 22 tools behind the scenes (flight search, weather, activities, airport intel, etc.)
  3. Get a complete plan — flights, hotels, activities, warnings, packing tips, all in one conversation.
  4. Refine it — "Can we add a stopover in Seoul?" "What about private jet options?" "Which card should I open?"
Best for: When you don't know where to go, when you have complex requirements (family + points + budget + dates), or when you want everything planned in one conversation.
Talk to the AI →

3. Destination Map

Map page

Interactive world map showing every destination we cover. Click any pin to see cost estimates, photos, activities, restaurants, hotels, and one-click trip planning.

  1. Browse the map — pins show estimated cost (green = cheap, amber = mid, red = expensive).
  2. Click a pin — see highlights, hotel prices, and tags (beach, culture, food, etc.).
  3. Click "Explore" — opens the side panel with photos, activities, restaurants, hotels, weather, visa info, and family tips.
  4. "Things to Do" tab — curated activities with ratings, reviews, pricing, and Viator booking links.
  5. "Where to Eat" tab — must-try restaurants with reservation tips and Google Maps/TripAdvisor links.
  6. "Hack It" — sends you to the trip planner with that destination pre-filled.
Best for: When you're browsing for inspiration and want to compare destinations visually.
Explore the map →

4. Quick Plan

Trip Planner → Quick Plan tab

Traditional flight search with specific dates. Searches live flight providers (Skyscanner, Duffel, etc.) for real-time pricing.

  1. Enter origins — your airport + nearby alternatives (e.g. JFK, EWR, LGA).
  2. Enter destinations — airport codes or region tags (EU, ASIA, etc.).
  3. Set dates and passengers — specific departure window.
  4. Hit "Plan Trip" — searches live providers. May take 15-30 seconds.
When to use: You already know your dates and want real-time cash fare prices. For instant results without dates, use the Fare Hacker tab instead.

5. Build Your Trip

Trip Planner → Build Your Trip tab

Full control. Add individual flight legs, mix airlines, combine cash and award bookings. Build exactly the itinerary you want.

  1. Add a leg — origin, destination, date for each flight segment.
  2. Mix and match — leg 1 on United (award), leg 2 on a budget carrier (cash), leg 3 on Korean Air (award).
  3. See total cost — combined cash + miles across all legs.
When to use: Complex multi-stop itineraries, round-the-world trips, or when you want to combine different booking methods on different legs.

6. Flight Preferences

Trip Planner → Preferences tab

Want a specific airline product? Set your preferred carrier, cabin product, and stopover preferences. We find the best routing for that exact experience.

  1. Pick an airline — "I want to fly Turkish Airlines business class."
  2. Set stopover — "Add a free Istanbul stopover on the way back."
  3. We optimize — find the cheapest way to book that specific product from your airport.
When to use: You've researched a specific airline product (ANA The Room, Qatar QSuites, Turkish business) and want us to find the best way to book it.

7. Deals

Deals page

Live deals and mistake fares from across the web. Error fares can save 50-80% — but they disappear fast.

Pro tip: Set up fare alerts to get notified when prices drop on routes you care about. Paid tiers allow more alerts.
Check deals →

8. Your Account

Account page

Create an account to save trips, track fare alerts, sync loyalty points, and unlock premium features.

  1. Create account — email + password, or sign in with Google (coming soon).
  2. Track your points — add loyalty program balances to your wallet.
  3. Set fare alerts — get notified when prices drop on your routes.
  4. Refer friends — get a month free when they sign up.
Create account →

9. Free vs Paid

Pricing page

Free is genuinely useful — 3 searches/day, map, activities, restaurants, AI chat, weather. No ads, no tricks.

Paid unlocks power features:

  1. Hacker ($9/mo) — unlimited searches, private jet results, Apple Wallet passes, 10 fare alerts.
  2. Pro ($19/mo) — direct booking, card optimizer, transfer bonus alerts, 30 fare alerts, unlimited AI.
  3. Family ($29/mo) — split cabin booking, 6 traveler profiles, kid tools, 2 free concierge trips/year.
See pricing →

10. Pro Tips

Get the most out of Fare Hacker:

  1. Start with Fare Hacker Search — it's the fastest way to see every option. No dates needed.
  2. Use the AI for complex questions — "I have 400k points, 3 kids, and 2 weeks in July" is a perfect AI question.
  3. Check the map for inspiration — click pins, explore activities, compare destinations visually.
  4. Read the FAQ deep dives — learn how stopovers work, why business class is better value on points, and how to time signup bonuses.
  5. Enter ages for travelers — under-2 flies free as a lap infant. Under-12 gets child fares. We optimize for these.
  6. Ask the AI about airport intel — "What should I know about connecting through JFK?" saves you from terminal traps and scams.
  7. Bookmark the trip planner — or install the app (Add to Home Screen on mobile) for one-tap access.
Still confused? Talk to the AI — it can walk you through anything.
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Fare Hacker — You pick the destination. We hack the fare.