Have a friend or family member who partakes in a lot of traveling and searching for the perfect gift to buy for them? An airline gift card is a great choice, as it allows freedom to choose the flights and destination personally. Almost all major airlines offer gift cards and gift certificates, which can be used on their website, at travel agencies, or in person at the airport. Gift cards work similar to cash and can be used to purchase airline tickets and upgrades for flights.

Some airline gift cards also give the purchaser extra perks in frequent flyer miles or incentives. http://airtravel.about.com/od/giftoftravel/a/got2.htm Gift cards are always a nice way for people to personalize the gift to make it have the most value to them. Instead of trying to guess what kind of travel experience the person might want, the recipient gets to choose the destination, the times and dates, and also whether or not they want to sit in first class!

Many people feel that gift cards are not "personal" enough as gifts, but airline gift cards are a gift that has immense value to people who travel and will always be used at some point. Since they don't generally expire, it's a great thing to have handy.

Depending on which airline you are purchasing a gift card for, the stipulations and rules will change. Some gift cards have to be used within one year of purchase, and others may have lockout dates or destinations. Some airlines sell gift cards for specific mileage in flight distance, others simply sell by cash value and equivalent. Make sure to check the travel site specifically and read all of the details and small print to avoid being surprised by any restrictions or limitations.