Another good rule of thumb for travelers figuring out how to get cheap last-minute flights: There is no secret time to score the perfect deal. But generally, the best prices tend to drop off once the flight is less than three weeks away.
Buying Tickets At The Airport Last Minute
Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by. Conventional wisdom might lead you to believe that airlines drop prices to fill seats as it gets closer to the departure date, but the reality is demand is usually strong enough for airlines to overbook many of their flights. Instead of offering last-minute flight deals, airlines can usually sell their cheapest fares first. Then they increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who need to fly immediately and are willing to pay for it.
Search for last-minute flights on aggregators like Google Flights for upcoming flights. If you are flexible about where to go, only input the dates you want to travel and leave the destination field blank to see a map of some of the best deals. You might also want to consider flying at off-hours or to a different airport.
But that's not always possible. Whether it's an unexpected schedule change, a death in the family or something else, sometimes booking a last-minute flight is unavoidable. Here's how to do it without breaking the bank.
Read our guide to all things Google Flights and you'll see why it's easily the best search tool out there, whether you're seeking a last-minute flight or planning months in advance.
Or maybe you've got a big cache of credit card points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card? Find the best deal you can with Google Flights, then book it using your points through the Chase travel portal. You may not get outsized value, but it sure beats paying a small fortune for your last-minute fare.
In days gone by, it was common to wait until you arrived at the airport to purchase tickets. You can probably think of several movie scenes where the harried hero squares off against an unhelpful airline worker at the departure gate. Yet outside of the movies, most airport service desks exist to provide services other than selling flight tickets. The focus of their job is mainly checking in passengers, assisting passengers with checking bags, arranging upgrades, helping passengers find new flights and other services.
There is one notable exception: you can often find Spirit Airlines deals by buying tickets at the airport. When you book Spirit Airlines flights in person, you can often avoid additional service charges. Most other tickets purchased at the airport will come with added fees.
Note: When we are talking about buying tickets at the airport we are talking about buying last minute tickets and not advance purchase tickets (which would be tickets for flights several days, weeks, or months out).
Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to save money on last-minute flights. Having miles and points from the best travel credit cards will help, and knowing where and how to book can sometimes make the difference between an affordable trip and a painfully expensive experience.
Meghan redeemed 25,000 United Airlines miles for a last minute, round-trip domestic ticket for her sister when she realized she had a few days off to visit family before starting a new job. That same ticket was selling for over $700, and Meghan was able to quickly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines to book the flight.
Yes, booking airfare at short notice can be pricey, but with miles and points from the best travel credit cards (and a few tricks), you can save money and get deals on last-minute flights. To score cheap (or free) last-minute airfare, you can take steps such as:
The way that we find and book airline tickets has changed significantly. Rather than walking into a travel agent, the majority of travellers now book flights online. Another way of booking tickets, which has become almost obsolete, is to book your flights at the airport kiosk. Although many might not even consider this as an option, rumours can still circulate that this is a good way to get a bargain. So, truth or myth? Keep reading to find out whether you can save money by booking your tickets at the airport.
Our conclusion is short: yes, you can book your flight tickets at the airport for some airlines; but, it will be significantly cheaper, easier and more convenient to book your flights online instead. Again, in some instances you may arrive at the airport kiosk to be redirected to go online to book your flights yourself anyway.
The popularity of a destination during a specific time of year can also cause fares to surge. For example, visiting New Orleans in February during Mardi Gras or flying to New York City in December to see the holiday decorations can make it harder to find a good, last-minute deal.
It used to be that airlines saw any empty seat at takeoff as lost potential revenue. But now, as pricing algorithms have gotten more complex and forward-thinking, airlines have realized they make more money by jacking up prices and taking advantage of business travelers willing to pay full price for a last minute or even same-day flight.
Some other airlines offer tickets with more flexibility than the typical last minute flight or lower-than-normal change fees if a sudden death means you need to cancel or change a planned trip (American Airlines and United Airlines among them).
Life changes like the seasons, and even if all the signs point to a full flight with no possibility of an upgrade, there could always be a last-minute upgrade opportunity. Another passenger could be delayed, detained, or canceled their flight. Or, a business class seat could open up due to an upgrade higher up the chain.
The cheapest way to get a business or first-class ticket is to buy an economy ticket then buy an upgrade. You can either do this immediately after booking or look for last-minute upgrades as your travel date approaches.
Surprisingly enough, one of the best ways passengers can save money with Frontier is by buying their tickets at the Frontier Airlines ticket counter. Other options, like third-party sites or purchasing through the Reservation center, could subject you to an additional $5-$35 fee. So, to make your cheap flight even cheaper, consider traveling to the airport and booking with an agent at the counter.
Join a mailing list: Airlines often notify subscribers first when they have last minute flights to promote. By subscribing to JetMail, you can rest assured that you'll be the first to know about great WestJet offers.
CheapAir.com's survey on airline ticket prices recognizes six booking periods. The best time to book an airline flight is the prime booking window, which is 21 to 115 days in advance. Airfares generally average 5% of their lowest prices during this period. Compare that to last-minute bookings (between 0 and six days in advance) when you'll pay an average of $220 more than the prime booking window."}},"@type": "Question","name": "Why Do Airline Prices Fluctuate?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "There are a number of reasons why airline prices fluctuate. These factors include booking and flight seasons, holidays, seasonal changes, and overall volatility. For instance, the travel restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic pushed prices down as demand for travel waned. Similarly, higher fuel costs and consumer demand can push ticket prices higher.","@type": "Question","name": "How Do I Find the Best Airline Ticket Prices?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "The best way to find the cheapest airline ticket price is to shop around. Price your tickets with different airlines and agents. You can always consult individual airlines and traditional travel agents, or search online for the best price yourself. We know that emergencies arise but the earlier you book your ticket, the better. The best time to book your ticket is the prime booking window, which is between 21 to 115 days in advance.","@type": "Question","name": "What Is the Best Day of the Week to Book Airline Tickets?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "You may have heard that there is a cheap window of time during the week to book your airline tickets. According to CheapAir.com, that's a myth. The day and time of the week have no impact on ticket prices."]}]}] Investing Stocks Bonds Fixed Income Mutual Funds ETFs Options 401(k) Roth IRA Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Markets View All Simulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard Economy Government Policy Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy View All Personal Finance Financial Literacy Retirement Budgeting Saving Taxes Home Ownership View All News Markets Companies Earnings Economy Crypto Personal Finance Government View All Reviews Best Online Brokers Best Life Insurance Companies Best CD Rates Best Savings Accounts Best Personal Loans Best Credit Repair Companies Best Mortgage Rates Best Auto Loan Rates Best Credit Cards View All Academy Investing for Beginners Trading for Beginners Become a Day Trader Technical Analysis All Investing Courses All Trading Courses View All TradeSearchSearchPlease fill out this field.SearchSearchPlease fill out this field.InvestingInvesting Stocks Bonds Fixed Income Mutual Funds ETFs Options 401(k) Roth IRA Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Markets View All SimulatorSimulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard EconomyEconomy Government Policy Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy View All Personal FinancePersonal Finance Financial Literacy Retirement Budgeting Saving Taxes Home Ownership View All NewsNews Markets Companies Earnings Economy Crypto Personal Finance Government View All ReviewsReviews Best Online Brokers Best Life Insurance Companies Best CD Rates Best Savings Accounts Best Personal Loans Best Credit Repair Companies Best Mortgage Rates Best Auto Loan Rates Best Credit Cards View All AcademyAcademy Investing for Beginners Trading for Beginners Become a Day Trader Technical Analysis All Investing Courses All Trading Courses View All Financial Terms Newsletter About Us Follow Us Facebook Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Twitter YouTube Table of ContentsExpandTable of ContentsAirline Ticket PricesBooking ZonesSeasonal ConsiderationsAdditional TipsFAQsThe Bottom LinePersonal FinanceBudgeting & SavingsWhat Is the Cheapest Time to Book a Flight?ByRajeev Dhir Full Bio Twitter Rajeev Dhir is a writer with 10+ years of experience as a journalist with a background in broadcast, print, and digital newsrooms.Learn about our editorial policiesUpdated June 08, 2021Reviewed byAndy SmithFact checked byKimberly Overcast Fact checked byKimberly OvercastFull BioKimberly Overcast is an award-winning writer and fact-checker. She has ghostwritten political, health, and Christian nonfiction books for several authors, including several New York Times bestsellers. Kimberly also holds a Class C private investigator license.Learn about our editorial policiesWant to get the cheapest flight possible? You're not alone. We're always trying to lock in the lowest price for airline tickets, whether it's to visit family or for that next great vacation. Thanks to the internet and online travel agencies and discount providers that replaced traditional agents, we now have access to a broader range of prices and options and all at our fingertips.
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