The reality is that Scott’s Cheap Flights—now known as Going—is not a flight search engine, but a curation service. If you have specific dates and a fixed destination, it will almost certainly fail you. However, if you are the type of traveler who chooses your destination based on the price of the ticket, a membership is arguably the most effective tool in your arsenal.
Scott’s Cheap Flights Review: Is a Paid Membership Still Worth It?
The verdict is blunt: for anyone flying internationally at least once a year, the Premium tier pays for itself in a single booking. For those hunting for $200 mistake fares or business class upgrades, the Elite tier is the only logical choice.
The Friction of Modern Flight Hunting
The travel industry has a habit of romanticizing the “glitch fare,” but the truth is grittier. Airlines have become increasingly sophisticated at catching pricing errors before they go live. This makes the hunt for a bargain a game of seconds. Most travelers spend hours refreshing Google Flights, only to find that by the time they coordinate with their boss or partner, the deal has vanished.
Going addresses this friction by doing the sifting for you. Their team—human experts, not just bots—vet every deal to ensure it isn’t a “junk” flight with three layovers and a 14-hour wait in a terminal that lacks basic amenities. The tradeoff is flexibility. You must be willing to fly when the deal exists, which often means traveling during shoulder seasons or mid-week.
If you find a “Mistake Fare,” book it immediately. You have a 24-hour window by law to cancel for a full refund on most flights touching U.S. soil. Use that time to ask for vacation days, not the hours before you click “buy.”
The Cost Reality: Membership Tiers
| Tier | Annual Cost | Best For | Key Limitation |
| Limited | $0 | Casual weekenders | Continental U.S. only; delayed alerts. |
| Premium | $49 | Annual vacationers | Economy class only. |
| Elite | $199 | Luxury & Points hunters | High annual fee requires active use. |
The Reddit Consensus vs. Reality
If you scour a typical Scott’s Cheap Flights Reddit thread, the skepticism usually centers on one argument: “I can find these deals myself for free.” This is technically true. You can spend your mornings monitoring the ITA Matrix or setting hundreds of Google Flights alerts.
But the reality is that most people don’t. The value of a membership isn’t just the data; it’s the delivery. Receiving a push notification for a $380 round-trip to Tokyo while you’re standing in line for coffee is the difference between going on a dream trip and merely thinking about it.
To get the most out of Premium, follow at least three airports. Your home airport might be quiet, but a hub two hours away could be seeing a price war that saves you $600 per ticket.
Strategic Savings Comparison
| Destination | Typical Price | Going “Deal” Price | Membership Tier Required |
| NYC to Milan | $950 | $410 | Premium |
| London to Bali | $1,200 | $640 | Premium |
| LA to Paris (Biz) | $3,500 | $1,800 | Elite |
| Boston to Iceland | $700 | $190 (Mistake) | Premium/Elite |
The Elite Question: Is $199 Too High?
The most common point of contention is the Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite review score. At nearly $200 a year, it feels steep. However, Elite members get something the others don’t: Points and Miles deals. In a season where cash prices are volatile, being alerted to a “saver” level award seat for 50,000 miles can save you thousands in actual currency.
If you exclusively fly economy, Elite is a waste of money. If you refuse to fly more than six hours without a lie-flat seat, Elite is the only tier that matters. It bridges the gap between the average traveler and the professional “churner.”
Check your “Spam” or “Promotions” folder immediately after signing up. Many users miss the best deals because their email provider thinks a $200 flight to Hawaii is “too good to be true” and filters it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scott’s Cheap Flights legit?
Yes. They have over two million members and a decade-long track record of finding verified fares. They are an alert service, not a booking agent, so you always pay the airline directly.
What is the cost of Scott’s Cheap Flights?
Currently, memberships range from $0 for the Limited version to $199 for the Elite version. The most popular “Premium” tier is $49 annually.
Is there a Scott’s Cheap Flights free trial?
Most tiers offer a limited trial or a “Limited” free account that gives you a taste of domestic deals without requiring a credit card.
How do I find a Scott’s Cheap Flights discount?
They typically run deep discounts during Black Friday or New Year sales. If you can wait, you can often snag Premium for around $35.
Does Scott’s Cheap Flights have an app?
Yes. The app provides faster notifications than email, which is critical for booking mistake fares that may only last for sixty minutes.
Why did they change the name to Going?
The rebrand was intended to move the focus away from a single founder and reflect a broader mission of helping people “go” rather than just finding “cheap” stuff.
What is a Mistake Fare?
It is a price published by an airline due to human error or a technical glitch. These are the “Holy Grail” of deals, often 90% off the standard price.
Can I use Going if I live outside the US?
Currently, the service is optimized for departures from the United States, including Puerto Rico and Guam. It is less effective for those based in Europe or Asia.
How do I contact Scott’s Cheap Flights’ phone number?
Going does not offer a public phone support line. All customer service is handled through their online help center or email support.
Is the Elite membership worth it for families?
Only if the family plans to book multiple tickets on a single deal. Saving $500 per person on four tickets more than covers the $199 membership fee.
Can I get a refund on my membership?
Going typically offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new members. If the deal flow doesn’t match your home airport, you can bow out early.
