TWA used to have student coupons similar to senior coupons. In the olden days (pre 9/11) the coupons were a good deal pricewise, and offered flexibility such as staying beyond 30 days for your return trip. This can be important when you fly out in the fall and return at christmas or in June (which makes most tickets outrageously expensive). But that was then TWA is very different now and so are fare options.United has a student flyer plan but I see no advantage to it. I'd go the priceline/hotwire route or use miles if it were me.