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Nabbing a cheap last-minute flight deal is definitely not as easy as it used to be. While airlines used to drop their flight prices in the days before to make sure they filled up any leftover seats, now business models are much more complicated, with airlines setting fares using AI and algorithms to determine how full a flight is and setting fares accordingly. But there are ways to get around it – from looking at off-peak return fares and being flexible with your departure dates to setting up alerts to get those last-minute deals, we've found a few ways to cheat the system. Below, we talk to some of the UK's top aviation and travel experts to find out how to beat the system and get the best deals on late-notice flights.
What is the best way to get cheap last-minute flights?
“Generally speaking, booking last-minute flights can be more expensive than booking in advance. But this is where points and miles can be a game-changer,” Madison Blancaflor, senior editor at The Points Guy tells us. “Some airlines drop award flight deals a few weeks or even days out from travel dates. But it’s a risk and a balancing game – these last-minute deals go quickly, and there’s no guarantee you’ll find a deal on the route or dates you are looking to travel.”
Try a last-minute flight search
This is where your miles will come in handy. If you're feeling spontaneous, it's always worth checking directly with airlines in case there are any last-minute deals on flights they are keen to fill up, but it tends to be the case that keeping your finger on the pulse with different airlines will deliver you better results – the more au fait you are with how to use your air miles and points effectively, the better you'll be at finding the best deals. Try a combination of online searches and ringing up the airline customer service – you never know who might be willing to help out if you get lucky and a seat needs filling.
Keep an eye on airline sales
This sounds obvious, but so many people forget to check out the best deals on airline sales – they typically time them for peak seasons, when most have already booked their holidays for the year. It's tricky to do – most of us naturally start thinking about booking holidays at the same time, for example towards the end of January when we're fed up with cold weather and looking forward to summer sunshine – but if you rewire your brain and get ahead of the game, you can nab some great deals on flights. Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency and former Virgin Atlantic Director, advises: “Always keep an eye out for the traditional airline sales at the end of August, as these can save you over 20 per cent of the usual fares for travel between September and early December. There are always bargains to be had, especially on routes known for being leisure-focused rather than business.”
Be flexible with your destination to get better flight deals
If you are hoping to find a last-minute steal, knowing where to look is key. “If you’re dying to get away in the next couple of weeks, and don’t really care where to, you can also use Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere’ function,” Katy Maclure, editor of The Detour, a weekly newsletter from Jack’s Flight Club advises. “Instead of typing a destination in the ‘To’ box, you just type ‘Everywhere’, select your dates, and see what it brings you. You’ll often find that the suggestions involve multiple stops and several budget airlines, but if you’re looking for immediate adventure for less, it’s a great option.”
Be flexible with your dates, too
Similarly, if you're not tied to a particular set of dates, you might find that opting for the day before or the day after could save you valuable pennies. “If you want to score last-minute travel deals, the best thing to do is be flexible," advises Rachel Mumford, KAYAK UK Travel Expert. "By adjusting your travel dates, even by a day or two, you can often find significant cost savings. The next time you search on KAYAK, try changing the ‘exact’ dates to ‘+/- 1/2/3 days’ and you’ll see the difference.”
Finding alternative routes can result in cheaper air fares
Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s resident travel expert agrees with Katy: “Last-minute trips can be exhilarating, albeit sometimes stressful – but what they don’t have to be is expensive. Check out Skyscanner’s ‘month view’ to find the cheapest day to travel to your chosen destination – if you’re travelling last-minute the price difference from day-to-day can be significant. The ‘nearest airport’ filter will capture any cheaper deals if you’re willing to drive a little bit further than your closest airport.”
Set price alerts
Most flight-booking sites have price alert functionality – plug in your destination and you'll receive a notification when prices have dropped. “Don’t skip on price alerts! If you’ve got a fixed
destination and date range for flying, you can set a price alert on sites like KAYAK that lets you know when the airfare gets cheaper to save you repeatedly searching," says Rachel.
Pack light
“You get cheaper flights if you travel with hand luggage only," says Paul Charles. "Whether on BA or the likes of easyJet, you’ll find a cheaper fare without luggage. I know of many travellers who decide it’s cheaper to buy an extra shirt or trousers after arrival, and it’s still much cheaper than paying for an extra bag which pushes up your ticket price.” Of course, packing lightly is easier said than done – it can be challenging to pack for a shoulder-season city break, for example, when you're unsure what the weather may bring. Check out our handy guide on how to pack light when you're only travelling with a carry-on for extra tips and tricks
Always be prepared
Personally, I always get caught out by being too overwhelmed with packing when I'm faced with last-minute travel. It may be the case that you'll nab a cheap flight deal, but only have 24 hours or so to get yourself prepared. I've recently started keeping a few separate packing lists saved on my Notes app, so that if my mind goes blank when it comes to packing, I have something to refer back to. Even just an essentials list is useful (passport, wallet, keys, chargers, adaptors, etc) is good to have in your back pocket – it may sound unnecessary now, but the pre-travel excitement often leads to overlooking seemingly obvious steps in the packing process.
What is the best hack for getting cheap last-minute flights?
“It’s well known that last-minute deals are a thing of the past – no longer can you show up to the airport and get a cheap flight to paradise,” Jack Sheldon of Jack’s Flight Club tells us. “But there is one exception to this rule – charter airlines. These are airlines that don’t usually sell individual flight tickets – they’re often operated by holiday companies that bank on filling up the planes with package-holiday customers. When there’s leftover capacity, these companies will often sell flight-only tickets at a vast discount, with most flights going on sale between one and three weeks before the flight. In the UK, TUI lowers prices on charter flights more than any other airline, and actually has a specific page on its website where you can see its lowest-priced flights. These are nearly always last-minute deals, but they can be priced at half of what you’d pay with another carrier.”