Finding cheap last-minute flights has always been a difficult, confusing process — and that was before the pandemic changed the travel industry and compelled airlines to change their business models in response to new supply and demand trends.
First of all, keep in mind that airline costs are determined by how full the flight is at a given time, which means that identical seats on the same route can be sold for a variety of prices. Finding the lowest cost can be a full-time job in and of itself, but it seems like everyone is getting into the game these days. This includes keeping track of the flight deal newsletters to sign up for, the best days of the week to book, and more.
Don’t worry if you think you’re the only traveler still paying full price for airfare. Whether you’re flying in business class (where it’s simpler than ever to find a decent deal), economy class, or both, we’ve compiled the finest tips from seasoned travelers and flight bargain experts to assure you’ll never again overpay for your seat.
Be flexible with destinations
Although it’s always a good idea to check if flying a day later or from a nearby airport can result in lower airfares, consider extending your flexibility to the destination for significant savings. Browse your possibilities on travel sites, which allows users to enter “anywhere” as the destination, if your travel dates are set. Then you can scan for the greatest deal on last minute flights tickets. When traveling to Europe, keep in mind that your final destination does not have to be your first stop. For example, if direct flights to Paris are expensive, investigate if possibly routes to Amsterdam are less expensive on those dates (though be sure to double-check entry restrictions).
If you’re flying domestically, then Hydra Travels suggests keeping an eye on popular tourist destinations like New York and Los Angeles, where leisure travel has recovered and there are typically more flights available.
Take advantage of waived change fees
What is one perk of the new post-pandemic landscape for travelers? The good news is that a lot of airlines have permanently eliminated the hated change fees. Therefore, if you come across an offer that is too good to pass up, act quickly to take advantage of it. If you decide to change your mind later, you won’t suffer greatly.
Search for fares individually
Search for a single seat at a time, even if you are traveling with a family of four. The cause? These badly designed automatic fare systems that manage that alphabet soup of rates will only search for four seats at the exact same price, giving you an estimate of, say, $400 per seat. It will disregard this in favor of consistency if there are one or more in a lower fare class — say, a $320 seat — because it is unable to divide the inquiry. However, if you only search for one seat, the system will discover that less expensive option, providing savings that, on a four-person trip, can really add up. Just be sure to connect the reservations once you’re done so the airline is aware that you’re all flying together.