5 Tips for Scoring Last-Minute Flight Deals

Typically, last-minute flights can be pricey. Airlines have long counted on business passengers with corporate expense accounts to buy last-minute plane tickets at premium prices, which can drive up costs.

As a leisure traveler seeking a last-minute getaway, you may expect to be priced out of the market. But, you can still find last-minute flight deals if your plans are adaptable and you use some smart search strategies. Here’s how.

1. Be flexible

A little flexibility in your plans could open the door to great last-minute travel deals.

First, be willing to travel on less-popular travel dates, such as departing on Tuesday instead of Friday.

Second, be open to alternative destinations. For example, you may want a beach vacation and initially think of The Bahamas; however, flight searches might identify another beach spot, such as Jamaica, with cheaper airfare.

Finally, be flexible on routing. When booking, price out the cost of flying into nearby airports. For example, if you want to travel to Miami, consider flying into nearby Fort Lauderdale and taking the train to Miami. This travel combo could prove cheaper than flying into Miami.

This last type of flexibility can prove very cost-effective for European vacations. If your desired destination is Paris, but you find cheaper flights to London, Amsterdam, or Brussels, consider flying to one of those cities first. Once in Europe, you can travel to Paris by train or plane at a reasonable cost.

2. Use Google Flights

Google Flights is a robust search platform to help you find a flight that meets your budget.

To begin your Google Flights search, click on the “Explore” tab if you are flexible with your destination or dates. Instead of entering a specific destination, you can use broad search terms such as “Europe” or “anywhere.”

Instead of searching for specific travel dates, you can search broader time ranges, such as “a weekend this month.” Once search results are displayed, pan around the map to find destinations and prices that work for you.

If you have a specific city in mind, use the “Flights” tab to choose that as a destination and enter in your preferred travel dates. Once the results are displayed, scroll down and click on the “Price graph” or “Date grid” to help decide the best time to travel. The Date grid shows you prices for the days surrounding your desired date, so you’re able to easily see the cheapest fare. The Price graph is a bar graph that helps you find the most affordable travel date across many months.

3. Pay for flight tips

If you're flexible on destination and date, leave the web search to someone else. Matt's Flights and Going are paid services that specialize in finding last-minute flight deals. When you sign up, they monitor airfare prices and alert you when deals become available from your home airport.

It might be a mistake fare, fare sale, or just a drop in pricing. Whatever the reason, you'll get a text or email alerting you to the discounted flight, ensuring that you never miss a last-minute travel opportunity.

4. Don't delay

When you find a last-minute flight deal, book it right away. If you delay, that deal could disappear. Many airlines offer free cancellation within 24 hours for tickets purchased at least seven days before a flight’s scheduled departure date and time. Most offer no change fees after that. Therefore, there is little harm in booking a flight right away and sorting out details later.

5. Save money by bundling flight and hotel

Discounts are often available when you book your hotel and airfare together for a last-minute travel deal. On your airline’s website, look for a tab labeled “Packages” or “Vacation Packages.” Choose your preferred destination and travel dates, and then review the list of available options that bundle airfare and hotel at a savings. Before paying, double-check the price of purchasing the hotel and airfare separately to ensure that you're getting a good deal. And always remember to keep any applicable AAA discounts in mind to save even more.