Source: Orbitz.com

In case you guys didn’t know, I’m a huge fan of Orbitz and their rewards program. However, I’ve been a bit bummed of late because I have a few trips lined up for next year but am unable to book hotels (i.e. use my supply of Orbucks) because Orbitz hadn’t released any promotional codes valid for 2016 stays.

Thankfully, that changed last weekend with the release of code:

PACKYOURBAGS

which is valid for 15% off stays of 2 nights or more. Using a coupon code generally invalidates portal cashback, but it’s great for use with Orbucks since you don’t earn portal credit on Orbucks-based purchases anyway.

However, the above code is only valid through the end of March, 2016. If you’re like me and like to plan further out than that, then you’d be stuck, unless you do the following:

  1. (Optional): Make a second Orbitz account isolated from your primary account.
  2. Make a flight booking on that second account. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it shows the 24-hour cancellation window on the booking page. (Frontier flights don’t, for example).
  3. Wait for an email to arrive with a custom promo code good for 15% off hotel stays through the end of 2016!
  4. Cancel your flight booking within the cancellation window and get a full refund. In practice, it’s unlikely the charge will even get processed in the first place.
  5. Profit!

I verified that the coupon code, though it is generated uniquely for each flight purchase, works on another account even after you cancel the booking.

Happy hacking!