Refare 2025 Recap: $218 Average Savings, 98% Success Rate, and the Routes We Watched Most

TL;DR

In 2025, Refare members who submitted itineraries saved an average of $218 per eligible booking. When we found a price drop, we successfully negotiated the refund 98% of the time. Nearly 1 in 3 itineraries submitted were eligible for savings. American Airlines travelers saw the biggest wins at $396 average savings, while the West Coast corridor between San Francisco and Seattle was our busiest route. All savings were credited directly to frequent flyer accounts, keeping loyalty perks intact.

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We just closed the books on 2025, and honestly? The numbers blew us away.

If you're someone who books flights and then crosses your fingers hoping the price doesn't tank the next day, this recap is for you. We spent the entire year monitoring thousands of itineraries, negotiating with airlines on behalf of our members, and proving that yes, you actually can get money back when fares drop after you book.

Here's what happened when real travelers let us watch their flights 24/7.

The Big Number: $218 Average Savings

Let's start with the stat that matters most. Across all eligible itineraries in 2025, Refare members saved an average of $218.

That's not theoretical savings from booking at the "perfect" time. That's actual money credited back to frequent flyer accounts after people had already booked their flights and moved on with their lives.

Here's the thing about averages: they hide stories. Some members saved $50 on a quick domestic hop. Others saved $600+ on international routes. The $218 figure represents what happened when thousands of real bookings met real fare drops and our system did the heavy lifting.

Important context: This average only includes itineraries where we found a qualifying price drop and successfully negotiated a refund. It doesn't include the roughly two-thirds of submissions where prices either stayed flat or increased. We'll talk more about that success rate below.

98% Success Rate: When We Find It, We Lock It In

Here's the stat we're most proud of: When we detect a qualifying price drop, we successfully secure the savings 98% of the time.

Let's be clear about what that means. This isn't a "98% of all flights get cheaper" claim (they don't). This is our execution rate once we've identified an opportunity. When our system finds a legitimate fare drop that meets airline refund policies, we almost always get it done.

The 2% where we don't? Usually edge cases like itineraries that changed after submission, flights that departed before the negotiation completed, or rare airline system hiccups. But for the vast majority, if there's money on the table, we're getting it back to you.

This success rate is why we built Refare to be fully automatic. You shouldn't have to chase airlines, fill out forms, or spend 45 minutes on hold. Submit your itinerary once, and we handle the rest.

1 in 3 Itineraries Found Money

Nearly 33% of itineraries submitted in 2025 were eligible for refunds. That's one out of every three flights our members booked.

Think about that for a second. If you're a frequent traveler booking 10-15 flights per year, statistically 3-5 of those tickets are leaving money on the table if you're not monitoring them.

The two-thirds that didn't qualify? Prices either stayed the same or went up. That's the nature of airfare. It's volatile, unpredictable, and moves constantly. But that one-third hit rate is exactly why passive monitoring beats manual tracking. You can't watch every flight manually. We can.

The Airline Breakdown: Who Delivered the Biggest Wins?

Not all airlines behave the same way when it comes to post-booking price drops. Here's how the top five carriers shook out for our members in 2025:

American Airlines: The Heavy Hitter

• 25% of itineraries eligible

• $396 average savings

American topped the charts for average savings. When AA fares dropped, they dropped hard. Business class routes and transatlantic flights were particularly strong performers.

Delta Air Lines: Consistent and Reliable

• 29% eligibility rate (highest of the group)

• $232 average savings

Delta had the highest percentage of itineraries with qualifying drops. Their hub-to-hub routes and premium cabin inventory showed consistent movement.

United Airlines: The Steady Performer

• 20% of itineraries eligible

• $235 average savings

United delivered solid savings, especially on West Coast departures and routes connecting major hubs.

Alaska Airlines: Regional Powerhouse

• 28% eligibility rate

• $131 average savings

Alaska's shorter-haul focus meant lower absolute savings, but their eligibility rate was strong. West Coast travelers benefited most.

Southwest: The Wildcard

• 13% eligibility rate (lowest of the group)

• $34 average savings

Southwest's unique fare structure and travel credit policies resulted in fewer qualifying opportunities and smaller average wins. Still, savings are savings.

Quick note: These figures represent 2025 member averages and reflect the specific mix of routes, fare classes, and booking windows our members flew. Your mileage may vary (literally).

The Routes: San Francisco to Seattle Led the Pack

Geography matters. SFO (San Francisco) was our top departure airport, and SEA (Seattle) was our top arrival. The West Coast corridor dominated our 2025 activity.

Why? A few reasons. Tech workers traveling for meetings. Families visiting the Pacific Northwest. Competitive airline pricing on these routes creating more fare volatility. Whatever the cause, if you flew between California and Washington in 2025, there was a good chance Refare was watching your ticket.

Other busy routes included transcontinental hops to New York, flights to European hubs, and connections through major airline bases like Atlanta, Denver, and Dallas.

How It Actually Works: No Drama, Just Results

If you're new to Refare, here's the basic flow that made all these savings possible:

1. You book your flight (anywhere, any airline in our partner network) 2. You submit your itinerary to Refare (no credit card required to start) 3. We monitor the fare 24/7 using automated tracking 4. When we detect a qualifying drop, we immediately negotiate with the airline 5. Savings get credited to your frequent flyer account (you keep your miles, status, and original seat)

The whole thing happens in the background. You don't forward emails. You don't check dashboards obsessively. You just fly your trip, and if the price drops, money shows up in your airline account.

Loyalty Double-Dip: Keep Your Perks, Get Your Savings

Here's something most people don't realize: You can save money on price drops while still earning your full loyalty benefits.

When we negotiate a refund, the credit goes straight to your frequent flyer account with the airline. Your original booking stays intact. You keep:

• Your seat assignment

• Your earned miles

• Your elite status credits

• Your upgrade eligibility

It's the best of both worlds. You're not rebooking. You're not losing your spot. You're just getting back the difference when fares fall.

This is a big deal for business travelers and loyalty program members who can't afford to mess with their bookings just to save a few bucks. With Refare, you don't have to choose.

Our Airline Partners: Who We Work With

In 2025, we maintained direct partnerships and automated integrations with: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

These partnerships let us move fast when opportunities appear. We're not scraping websites or relying on manual processes. We're plugged in, which is why that 98% success rate holds up at scale.

If you fly other carriers, we're always expanding. But these nine represent the backbone of domestic and international travel for most U.S.-based flyers.

What 2026 Looks Like

We're not done. The 2025 numbers proved the concept works at scale, but there's more room to grow.

Here's what we're focused on:

• Expanding airline partnerships to cover more routes and carriers

• Faster detection so we catch drops within minutes, not hours

• Better transparency so you can see exactly what we're monitoring and when

If you submitted itineraries in 2025, thank you. You helped us build something that actually works. If you haven't tried Refare yet, now's a pretty good time. Those numbers aren't theoretical anymore.

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Bottom Line

In 2025, Refare proved that airfare doesn't stop moving after you book, and that automatic monitoring beats manual price-watching every time. Our members saved an average of $218 per eligible itinerary, with a 98% success rate when we found qualifying drops. Nearly 1 in 3 flights submitted had money hiding in them. American Airlines travelers saw the biggest wins at $396 average savings, while West Coast routes between San Francisco and Seattle dominated our activity. All savings were credited directly to frequent flyer accounts, keeping loyalty perks fully intact. If you're booking flights in 2026, the question isn't whether fares will drop after you book. The question is whether you'll be watching when they do.