Sachin Walls
Last-minute flights are often more expensive than those booked in advance, but there are ways to find deals. While it's rare to find cheap last-minute flights directly from an airline at the airport, there are strategies to find cheaper fares, such as being flexible with dates, destinations, and departure airports. Many travel platforms like Kayak, Google Flights, and Skyscanner have features that notify passengers when prices drop on preferred routes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flexibility with dates | Choosing dates with the cheapest fares or travelling during the off-season can lead to significant savings. |
| Flexibility with airports | Considering multiple airports in your area or near your destination can yield different results on pricing. |
| Flexibility with destinations | Being flexible with your destination may help you find cheaper flights. |
| Flexibility with airlines | Searching for one-way routes on different airlines can help you find budget-friendly trips. |
| Alerts and notifications | Using price alerts on flight-booking sites can help you find flights within your budget. |
| Charter airlines | Charter airlines sometimes sell leftover flight tickets at a discount. |
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What You'll Learn
Be flexible with dates and destinations
Being flexible with your dates, destination, airlines, and airports is key to finding affordable flights. Airfare is often one of the biggest expenses when it comes to travelling, but there are ways to save money, even when booking at the last minute.
Firstly, consider being flexible with your dates. Most flight-booking sites have price alert functionality, so you can plug in your destination and receive a notification when prices have dropped. Skyscanner, for example, offers a “Whole Month” search feature that allows travellers to find the most affordable dates to fly within a specific month. This can be a great way to save money, as flying on certain days can be much cheaper than others. For instance, Expedia's 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report found that flying on a Thursday can save you up to 17% compared to flying on a Sunday.
Secondly, being flexible with your destination can also lead to significant savings. Many travel platforms like Kayak, Google Flights, and Skyscanner have features that allow you to search for flights to multiple airports within a certain radius of your chosen city. This can be a great way to find cheaper flights, as prices can vary significantly depending on the airport. For example, if you're travelling to Paris, it may be cheaper to fly into Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) or Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA) rather than the main international hub, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
Thirdly, consider being flexible with your choice of airline. Booking one-way flights with different airlines for each leg of your trip can often lead to lower prices. This approach allows travellers to take advantage of flash sales, budget carriers, and flexible routing options that may not appear in traditional round-trip searches.
By being flexible with your dates, destination, airlines, and airports, you can maximise your budget and find spontaneous travel opportunities.
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Consider charter airlines
While last-minute deals are hard to come by these days, charter airlines can be an exception to this rule. Charter airlines typically do not sell individual flight tickets. Instead, they are often operated by holiday companies that aim to fill up the planes with package-holiday customers. When there are leftover seats, these companies may offer flight-only tickets at significantly discounted prices, usually between one and three weeks before the flight. In the UK, TUI is known for offering lower prices on charter flights, even providing a webpage dedicated to their lowest-priced flights.
When considering charter airlines, it is important to be mindful of the travel date, routing, and aircraft requirements, as these factors can impact the availability and pricing of last-minute charter flights. For instance, securing a deal on an aircraft that needs to fly in your desired direction can result in significant savings. These deals often involve empty leg charter flights, where the aircraft needs to return to its base or reposition for the next client. The typical turnaround time for a last-minute charter flight is between 2 and 4 hours, which allows for swift booking and immediate departure once the process is finalized.
International last-minute charter flights may require additional considerations, such as obtaining government-issued permits for certain destinations. The time frame for obtaining these permits can vary, typically ranging from a few hours to several days or even up to 30 days in some cases. It is important to be aware of these requirements and plan accordingly to avoid any delays or complications.
Last-minute charter flights can also vary in pricing, especially for one-way bookings. While you may find great deals, it is essential to be cautious and flexible due to the dynamic nature of pricing and availability. Charter airlines can be a viable option for those seeking last-minute flight deals, but it is always a good idea to stay informed about the specific requirements and potential variations in pricing and availability.
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Use price alerts
Price alerts are a great way to stay on top of the latest deals and discounts on flights. They are a useful tool to ensure you receive the best deal possible, and several websites offer this feature for free.
To set up a price alert, you will need to enter your departure airport, dates, and destination. You can also choose to be flexible with your dates and destinations to increase your chances of finding a good deal. You can set up multiple price alerts for different routes and dates to compare prices and find the best option for you.
Once you have set up an alert, you will receive a notification, usually via email or text, when a flight that matches your search criteria has dropped in price. This allows you to book quickly and take advantage of the lower fare.
Some popular websites that offer price alerts include Skyscanner, Kayak, Google Flights, Airfare Watchdog, and Expedia. These platforms also offer additional tools and features to help you find the best flight deals, such as calendar views to compare prices on different days and filters to refine your search.
It is worth noting that the earlier you set up price alerts, the better your chances of finding a great deal. Seat sales, error fares, and early-booking opportunities can often result in significant savings.
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Search for one-way flights
Booking last-minute flights can be stressful and expensive. However, there are some strategies you can use to find cheaper fares. Being flexible with your dates, destination, airlines, and airports is key to finding affordable flights.
One-way last-minute flights are usually booked due to emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. They can also be great if you have a sudden desire to travel without intending to return home for a while. Booking one-way flights can lead to lower prices, especially if you're open to mixing different airlines for each leg of the trip. This approach allows travellers to take advantage of flash sales, budget carriers, and flexible routing options that may not appear in traditional round-trip searches.
You can also search for one-way routes on different airlines, allowing you to mix and match airlines and airports to create a budget-friendly trip. Many travellers avoid taking redeye flights, but this option can work in your favour as they are often cheaper than their daytime counterparts.
Most flight-booking sites have price alert functionality. Plug in your destination and you'll receive a notification when prices have dropped.
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Look at flights to/from multiple airports
When searching for last-minute flights, it is important to be flexible with your dates, destination, airlines, and airports.
For example, if you are travelling to Paris, check the city's various airports, not just the main international hub, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Expand your search to include smaller airports like Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) or Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA). Similarly, London has Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, and other airports. To search for multiple airports on KAYAK, input your destination and you’ll see an option to pick all airports, usually within 70 miles of your chosen city.
Platforms like Google Flights or Expedia also offer the option to include nearby airports when searching. For example, if you're flying to New York City, you may think of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as the obvious option, but Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or LaGuardia Airport (LGA) are sometimes cheaper.
Booking one-way flights can also lead to lower prices, especially if you're open to mixing different airlines for each leg of the trip. This approach allows travellers to take advantage of flash sales, budget carriers, and flexible routing options that may not appear in traditional round-trip searches.
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Frequently asked questions
Generally, last-minute flights are more expensive than booking in advance. However, there are ways to get around this.
Being flexible with your dates, destination, airlines, and airports is key to finding affordable flights. You can also set up price alerts on sites like Kayak, Google Flights, Skyscanner, Airfare Watchdog, and Expedia.
Plug in your destination and you'll receive a notification when prices have dropped. You can also set alerts for specific routes on an opt-in basis with some providers.
Yes, you can try booking one-way flights with different airlines for each leg of the trip, allowing you to take advantage of flash sales and flexible routing options. You can also try looking at flights to and from multiple airports near your origin and destination.
Try to avoid flying during peak periods, as airfare and accommodation prices tend to be higher during these times.
