TL;DR
Understanding Last-Minute Pricing
The general consensus is that last-minute flights tend to be more expensive rather than cheaper [1:1]
[5:1]. Airlines typically do not offer discounts for last-minute bookings because they don't want to incentivize this behavior
[1:1]. Flights are often overbooked, and business travelers frequently book last-minute, which keeps prices high
[5:3]
[5:4].
Flexible Travel Options
If you are flexible with your destination, there might be opportunities to find cheaper last-minute flights. Websites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak Explore, and Kiwi.com allow users to search for flights to "anywhere" from a specific departure airport [3:1]
[3:3]
[3:5]. This approach can reveal unexpected destinations at lower prices, especially if you're open to package deals
[1:4].
Tools and Resources
Several online tools and platforms can help find last-minute deals. Mighty Travels Premium and Airfare Watchdog are recommended for their comprehensive search capabilities [4:1]
[4:2]. Scott's Cheap Flights is another resource mentioned for finding inexpensive travel solutions
[4:4]. Additionally, some apps and websites have mailing lists specifically for last-minute deals
[4:2].
Test Searches and Visa Considerations
Conducting test searches on platforms like Google Flights or Kayak can provide insight into available deals [1:5]
[1:8]. It's important to remember visa requirements for international travel, as some countries require electronic authorizations that can take time to process
[1:6]
[3:6].
Realistic Expectations
While the idea of spontaneously heading to the airport and finding a cheap flight sounds appealing, it's largely a movie trope and not reflective of reality [5:5]. Flexibility and planning are key to finding affordable last-minute travel options.
I have about 10 days off from work and would like to travel somewhere last-minute. I know that generally speaking, the closer you get to the departure date, the higher ticket prices will be, but what about last-minute flights (e.g. the day of)? If the airline realizes that it will have a bunch of open seats, will it sell their open seats at a discount?
Context: I'm in the United States and have a passport.
Assuming a reasonable sized airport, there's usually somewhere you can go cheap last minute, even if not everywhere is dumping inventory last minute.
As a rule, no. Airlines don’t want to incentivize this behavior by making it cheaper to wait until the last possible moment.
Hahaha who needs parents when you have the airlines. Thank god they care so much about our purchasing behavior. Otherwise who would teach us these valuable lessons on being proactive
It certainly doesn’t have anything to do with maintaining obnoxious flight costs which are far more profitable and easier to manage than a bunch of cheaper tickets
That's understandable.
If you’re indiscriminate about destination then you could find some bargains.
I’ve found package deals getting sold for less than the costs of the flight before.
Why don't you just do a test search?
Put your home airport and put today's date or tomorrow as your departure date
https://flights.google.com/?curr=usd
And hit explore or type Everywhere as your destination.....
That's a good idea. I've never done this before so I didn't think about doing a test search.
Just remember that some countries require a visa or an electronic authorization - which can take a few days but generally is quick (for example: the UK just started the ETA this year. It only took me a few minutes but some have said it took them 2-3 days)
Depends on the route.
There are very few generalizations with airline ticketing and pricing.
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I want to book a last minute trip for next week, preferably cheap, to pretty much anywhere but can’t find a website where it lists destinations for you, they always ask you to input a destination. I want a list of random destinations with last minute cheap tickets I can pick from, any sites offer that?
People have already answered with the Skyscanner [your airport] to [everywhere] but I just want to add this is a really fun way to travel. I’ve done it loads and been to some places I would never have chosen and had a great time
Google flights, put “anywhere” for destination, can look at entire world map
Oh didn’t know that, will try it, thanks!
Make sure you don't need to apply for a visa before you book!
Kayak has an explore option that just lists places and prices around the world based on where you're leaving from and I think you can filter your budget.
That's almost exclusively how my wife and I travel. We both have jobs that allow us full flexibility, and there are so many places we want to visit. We just go on Kayal Explore and see what's already good deal.and start from there. We've found some amazing deals by being able to travel whenever
You can try Kiwi.com They have great search engine and as the destination you cam state Anywhere and than list the options based on price.
Omaha and Des Moines, perfect destination this time of the year/s
I’d check out airfare watchdog. They use human searches as well as scripted, and, as a result, it often provides deals other sites cannot. I believe they have a mailing list for last minute flight deals.
Another option is GTFO. They have a sight and there’s also a phone app with the same name.
Just be aware that those tickets that use hidden destinations (layovers as final stops) can get you banned from an airline
Look up “Scott’s cheap flights” it’s a user on here who loves finding the inxpencive travel solutions to Redditors
He did an ama recently.
Kayak has a varied option, where you can set a date, then choose '"anywhere"... or your location, and it'll pop up with various options. I think EasyJet has something similar too.
https://www.kayak.co.uk/explore/STN-anywhere/20220519,20220601
Skyscanner too.
Really being flexible in time and destination is where you get the best deals I think.
Not sure about Last Minute but I love Mighty Travels Premium. They allow search from anywhere to anywhere and I never found a deal that they did not have first. I think the rest of the Internet just copies from them. LOL
Legal
I was wondering if anyone has a website or resource they use to find ultra last-minute flight deals. I’m talking like the scene from a movie where you decide to go to the airport with your bags packed last minute. I was hoping to find something where I type in the starting airport and dates I need with no destination just to see what comes up with the cheapest price. I tried to find something like that online with no success.
I don’t really have a destination in mind, and I’m flying out of NYC. I realize it may not work out for this weekend, but in the future it would be cool and it may help someone else too. Thanks y’all!
This is asked a lot, and it isn't a thing. It almost always way more expensive to book things last minute.
This is especially true in that most flights now are overbooked, and even if they aren't, there tend to be last minute passengers due to other flight IRROPs.
And a lot of business travellers need to go last minute. I booked a one way 800 (Canadian) Toronto to Philly flight this year, when a client was having serious issue . I paid less to go to China than that.
But when travelling for work, price is secondary, timings are most important.
>I’m talking like the scene from a movie where you decide to go to the airport with your bags packed last minute.
It's the movies, not real life. In movies people always find a convenient parking spot right in front of the place they're going to.
Do a search. This gets asked all the time.
That is not a thing.
Last second flights are almost invariably the most expensive. Good luck.
Definitely no trick Use Google flights. Sign up for price drop notifications
Give Mighty Travels a try. They accumulate all public and private fares including low-cost airlines. It seems like the whole Internet just copies off their search engine.
I will third Google Flights. Easiest way to find cheap tickets
Impossible. Unless you go with a very bad airline, or a veeeeeery long layover (like 23 hours).
There's no real trick. Your best bet is to look at travel aggregator sites like Kayak, google travel, travelusave, and etc. to find the best available prices for flights.
I've heard of websites that do this. I have a bit of a flexible schedule right now and would love to make use of it by traveling on a budget.
If you fly southwest and take the inconvenient times (like 5am) you can get last minute flights for like $100 each way. I just did a Friday at 8am-Monday 5am trip from San Francisco to Denver for $235 round trip including fees and taxes. I booked on Wednesday night of the same week.
Edit: “better” flights (like 11am Friday or Sunday night) were like $400 each way. Inconvenient times are the way to go if you can make it work with your schedule.
Google Flights is great for searching. You can sign up for alerts on Hopper and Slickdeals to notify you of relevant flights. I believe Frontier usually updates their sales on Tuesday - sometimes there are coupons which make it cheaper than the price you'll see on Google. Also note that Google (or anyone else) doesn't search Southwest so that's gonna be a manual check. For Spirit - this has been a little YMMV lately, but they charge a "convenience fee" (used to be $17 per person per leg - not sure what it is now) for booking online. If you go to the airport counter and buy your ticket in person, that fee goes away - might be worth it if you're buying tickets for a group because those $17 legs add up quick.
Skyscanner.com & Scott’s Cheap Flights
Breeze, Spirit, Allegiant, and Frontier.
I use Google Flights. I don't find that booking last minute gives you a deal, necessarily, but their flight map is amazing for browsing flexible options in any date range so you can find the best price, whatever it is. I've planned spontaneous trips all over the world using it.
Note that a few "bargain" carriers don't allow their fares to be listed, but they usually don't fly international so I'm less interested in those.
Hey r/travel,
I’m looking for the best websites or apps for scoring last-minute travel deals. Whether it’s flights, hotels, or entire vacation packages, I’d love to hear what’s worked best for you!
I know there are a ton of options out there—Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak, Scott’s Cheap Flights (now Going), Hotwire, Priceline, and even apps like Hopper and HotelTonight. But I’m curious about your personal experiences: • Which website has saved you the most money on a last-minute trip? • Have you had better luck with domestic or international deals? • Any hidden gem websites or lesser-known hacks you’d recommend?
Would love to hear your success stories, horror stories, and best tips for spontaneous travel.
I like Priceline. I can usually find a good deal there.
I’d look into signing up for “Scott’s cheap flights” for the future. I think it’s an email list, and whoever runs it sends out super cheap flights, flights posted by mistake (like half off, or $100 round trips instead of $1,000 that then have to be honored, etc).
My buddies and I have found round trips to a few destinations for dirt cheap. Great for impulse buying flights.
Is it city specific? I don’t need cheap flights out CLE lol
Haven’t used it in a long time. But turns out it’s no longer free (14 day free trial, or $49 / year cheapest plan).
You pick the cities / airports you want to follow and primarily receive deals from, then the different paid plans give you other perks and a greater selection of the flights found by the app.
I second Scott's! I've found some great deals through them.
Try google, add dates and origin and click explore (leave destination empty).
This is the way.
Also don’t book on any website but the airlines, you arnt going to get a better deal and you are SOL if something happens mid transit.
Agree on the booking. If you buy through another site and there’s a problem, that company and the airline will blame each other.
I have had booking problems when I book through Expedia and they were very helpful in resolving them.
Skyskanner allows “ anywhere “ in search
Skyscanner (correct spelling) and try also [Scott’s Cheap Flights](https://app.scottscheapflights.com
And there’s always the map view for Google Flights.
Mighty Travels works well for finding good last-minute flight deals without requiring a specific destination. Give it a try!
Sometimes, the best trips are the ones you don’t plan for months. I’ve been trying to plan a spontaneous weekend getaway, but I’m finding it tricky to get the best deals. Any advice on booking last-minute flights and accommodations?
I usually check travel apps for last-minute deals and go somewhere nearby to save time and money.
how to find last minute flight deals
Key Considerations for Finding Last-Minute Flight Deals:
Use Flight Comparison Websites: Utilize platforms like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak to compare prices across multiple airlines quickly.
Set Fare Alerts: Sign up for fare alerts on travel websites or apps to get notified when prices drop for your desired route.
Be Flexible with Dates and Times: If possible, search for flights on different days or at various times. Midweek flights are often cheaper than weekend flights.
Check Budget Airlines: Don’t overlook low-cost carriers, as they often have last-minute deals that can save you money.
Consider Alternate Airports: If you have multiple airports nearby, check flights from all of them. Sometimes flying into or out of a smaller airport can be cheaper.
Book Directly with Airlines: After finding a deal on a comparison site, check the airline's website directly. They sometimes offer exclusive discounts or better terms.
Last-Minute Travel Apps: Use apps like Hopper or Last Minute Travel to find deals specifically for last-minute bookings.
Recommendation: If you're looking for a last-minute flight, try booking on a Tuesday or Wednesday, as airlines often release deals early in the week. Additionally, consider being open to different destinations; sometimes, flying to a nearby city can be significantly cheaper.
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