How to Get Cheap Last-Minute Flights: A Complete Guide to Snagging Unbeatable Prices

Key takeaways 

• Last-minute flights are, contrary to popular belief, more expensive than booking in advance.
• Book between 2-8 months in advance for international flights and 1-3 months for domestic flights.
• There are several strategies you can follow to get great deals despite the typical trends, including using flight price trackers, being open to date and destination changes, and being ready to take advantage of mistake fares when they pop up.
• It is not true that booking last minute is always cheaper, that clearing cookies will get you lower prices, or that there are specific moments when flights are offered at cheaper rates.
• Downloading Going’s app can get you special deals on domestic and international flights, advice to use miles efficiently, newsletters with travel advice, mistake fare tracking, and many other benefits. 

Understanding the basics 

The key to snagging last-minute flight deals is understanding a bit about how airline pricing works. Airlines use dynamic pricing, which basically means that prices change based on variables like demand, how many seats are left, booking trends, and other factors. That means in order to catch cheap flights, you need to match your booking strategies to this dynamic pricing. This is not rocket science: There are several strategies that can make this process easier.

Strategies to score cheap last-minute deals

Getting a decent deal on last-minute flights is possible with the right strategies and tools. Here are some expert tips to help you save on spontaneous travel.

Use flight price trackers

Flight tracking tools are very useful tools that allow travelers to simply enter where they are, where they want to travel, and when and receive the best offers based on those filters. There are several flight price trackers available out there, so it is good to take a look around to see which one suits you best. Keep reading to learn more.

Set up airfare price alerts

If you are planning to go on a trip and have the time to wait for cheap prices, you can set fare alerts to track the price of a specific flight or route so that you’ll receive an email (or notification on an app) when the price of the flight changes. This way, you will be the first to know when to book those tickets. Additionally, it will let you analyze how prices change over time and detect patterns to score the best prices.

Subscribe to newsletters from preferred airlines

Airlines love to drop special promotions or flash sales through their newsletters. By subscribing, you can get early access to these juicy deals; while airline promotions and flash sales aren't always the best place to score a deal if you have time on your side, they can be useful if you need to fly somewhere at the last minute.

Travel during off-peak seasons

Try to avoid peak travel times like holidays and summer vacations because that’s when prices usually skyrocket. Instead, go for off-peak vacations, such as late fall or early spring, when demand is lower and you’ll have a better shot at finding discounted last-minute flights. 

If you have flexible dates for traveling, you might want to move your vacations to off-peak seasons for the best deals. This happens because, during these months, airlines cannot guarantee they will sell all seats as in the high season, so they lower prices to increase demand.

Consider regional airports

Flying out of smaller regional airports can sometimes score you the best last-minute deals compared to the big hubs. Take a moment to compare prices from nearby airports—you might save a few bucks just by switching up your departure or arrival spot. Then you can easily make combinations with regional flights or other forms of travel to get to your desired destination. (Or add this small town to your trip and take a tour around!)

Search for one-way flights

In most cases, a roundtrip ticket is often cheaper than two one-way tickets, but when you're booking at the last minute, it doesn't hurt to keep your options open and check the prices for one-way tickets. Pretty much all the budget carriers like Ryanair and Air Asia usually have one-way flights priced at about half of what you’d pay for a round trip.

Compare individual vs. group tickets

If you’re traveling as a group, compare the price of booking tickets individually versus all together, as booking tickets one by one (or in small groups, at least) could save you some money. In some cases, searching for individual tickets rather than for a larger group may not change the fare at all, but it is a good idea to take a look, just in case.

Use points and miles

Using your travel points or airline miles is a smart way to cut costs on last-minute flights. Airlines love to make points super confusing, but if you’ve got some frequent flyer miles ready to go, see if they can help lighten the financial load. You can often get great value from points on last-minute flights.

Catch error fares

Mistake fares are uncommon and unpredictable (but we do find them!). Users can subscribe to different tools in order to catch these rare deals, but you have to act fast as they can disappear in a flash! However, these are extremely rare, so do not wait for them to book your next flight.

Utilize airline rewards programs

Frequent flyer programs can offer last-minute redemption options, especially if you have elite status. Keep an eye on reward availability, and use your miles strategically for spontaneous traveling.

Book at least 21 days in advance 

As you get closer to your departure date, every day matters. Booking 21 days in advance is almost always cheaper than booking 14 days in advance, which is almost always cheaper than booking 7 days in advance. If you can nail down your plans a few days earlier, you’ll save some cash!

Top 10 best sites for last-minute flights (pros & cons)

As mentioned before, there are lots of tools that can help you find deals, track prices, and catch mistake fares. To make it easier for you to pick one, here are the top 10 platforms with their key features, pros, and cons.

Insights from seasoned travelers

Let’s face it: Hunting for last-minute travel deals can be a total headache. But when the chance for a spontaneous (and budget-friendly) trip pops up, who can resist? No need to freak out—experienced travelers have shared their top hacks for scoring cheap, last-minute trips without the stress. From jumping into awesome travel communities to using the right platforms, these insider tips will have you booking that perfect getaway for way less, and fast. 

Platforms and communities to follow

Engaging with travel communities and platforms is an excellent way to stay updated on the latest deals and travel hacks. These forums and social networks are rich sources of information shared by seasoned travelers.

• Subreddits like r/Flights and r/Shoestring are great places to start. Members frequently share last-minute deals, travel hacks, and personal experiences. You can also ask for advice on specific routes or destinations.
• A popular forum among frequent flyers, FlyerTalk covers everything from mileage runs to the best credit card offers. It's an invaluable resource for finding hidden tricks and loopholes for last-minute bookings.
• Join Facebook groups like "Travel Hacking 101" or "Cheap Flights and Travel Deals." These communities share flash sales, error fares, and last-minute travel opportunities that you might not find elsewhere.
• Bloggers and YouTubers often post real-time updates on last-minute deals and travel tips. Follow channels like “Nomadic Matt” and “The Broke Backpacker” for insider advice and reviews of airlines, routes, and booking strategies.

Flash sales and promotions

Flash sales and promotions can sometimes come up with amazing last-minute deals. Although airlines have tight control over these sales, limiting the number of seats and the duration of the promotion, they can still be worth checking out in certain situations.

Mobile apps for great deals

Mobile apps are a game-changer when it comes to scoring last-minute deals, often offering exclusive discounts and real-time notifications. 

Want the best deals handpicked by a team of experts? Join Going and save up to 90% on airfare with cheap flight alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Bereavement fares 

For those who find themselves in the unfortunate circumstances of having a family member pass away while being far away, it can be difficult to afford last-minute tickets, especially in unexpected situations. In the past, many airlines offered “bereavement fares” with special pricing for these cases, but very few still do it nowadays. 

Here are the details and requirements for bereavement fares on the airlines that offer them in North America. Mind you that each airline requires different documentation, so check out their policies before calling.

• Air Canada: Offers reduced fares for an imminent death or death in your immediate family. The fare applies within 10 days of travel (7 days for international trips), and refunds can be requested within 90 days if you traveled without a bereavement ticket.
• Alaska Airlines: Mileage Plan members get a 10% discount on the lowest available fare for a death in the immediate family. The fare applies within 7 days of travel and must be requested by phone.
• Delta Air Lines: SkyMiles members can access flexible tickets with no service fees for a death in the immediate family. The fare can only be booked by calling the airline and providing documentation.
• WestJet: Flexible tickets with no service fees are available for a death in the immediate family. You must call the airline, and tickets apply within 14 days of travel.

Airlines like American and United offer flexibility for trip changes or cancellations in the event of a death even if they don't have a specific bereavement fare policy. It's worth contacting airlines directly to ask about possible fee waivers, even if they don’t offer bereavement discounts.

Flight booking myths debunked

Let’s be real: Booking flights comes with a whole bunch of myths and misconceptions that travelers often fall for (we’ve all done it). These can totally mess with your plans and even cost you more in the long run. So, let’s bust three of the biggest myths about last-minute flight bookings and online pricing.

Booking at the last minute is always cheaper

We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: No, it’s really not cheaper to book a flight at the last minute. Airlines used to see any empty seat at takeoff as lost cash, but now, with their fancy pricing algorithms, they’ve figured out they can make more money by cranking up prices and cashing in on business travelers who are desperate to pay full price for a last-minute or even same-day flight. 

In fact, due to advance purchase requirements, airlines often raise their prices 21, 14, and 7 days before the trip, so make sure to book your flights before these timeframes.

Clearing your cookies lowers prices

Another common belief is that airlines and travel websites use cookies to track your browsing behavior, raising prices if they see you repeatedly searching for the same flight. This has led to the popular advice of clearing your cookies or using incognito mode to get lower prices. But does it really work?

The myth likely stems from confusion about dynamic pricing, where airlines adjust prices in real-time based on factors like demand and booking pace. These changes can happen quickly, making it seem like prices are increasing due to your browsing activity.

Airlines base price changes on complex algorithms that include factors like seat availability, time until departure, and historical data—not on your cookie settings. While using a private browsing mode might give you peace of mind, it’s not going to actually lower the price of your flight.

There are specific times which are cheaper

For years, lots of travel blogs and “experts” have said that there are specific days, months, or hours when flights are cheaper. For instance, there is a common belief that you can find cheaper flights when searching late at night. But in fact, none of these are true.

What we can say is that prices are often cheaper during the Goldilocks Window, which is 2–8 months ahead of international flights and 1–3 months before domestic flights. This might be a little longer in the case of high-season flights, so keep that in mind. After this window, it might be a little more difficult to find cheaper fares, as airlines tend to increase prices last minute, but using flight alerts could help you keep prices down, especially if you have some flexibility.

Why use a flight subscription service (to save up to 90%!)

Finding cheap flights can be a time-consuming and often frustrating process, especially when you’re hunting for last-minute deals. This is where a flight subscription service like Going comes in, offering a hassle-free way to find the best fares without the endless searching and uncertainty. Here’s a closer look at why a flight subscription service might be the perfect solution for savvy travelers.

Free and premium memberships

At Going, we have three types of memberships with both free and premium plans available:

Our Limited membership is a great starting point if you just want a taste of what we offer. It’s totally free and gives you a sneak peek at the economy class deals we find for trips around the continental US. You’ll also get our travel expert newsletters and full access to our mobile app so you can stay in the loop with all the best domestic deals.

The Premium plan is our most-selected option, as it is great for both occasional travelers and travel-geeks. Users get access to economy deals not just across the US (including Alaska, Hawaii, and other US territories) but also internationally. On top of that, you also get notified about rare mistake fares for savings up to 90% in all fare classes, plus points and miles deals to help you book using your hard-earned rewards. Premium members also enjoy custom destination alerts (your personal Watchlist for dream trips), together with the benefits included in the Limited plan, like travel expert newsletters and some great membership perks.

Lastly, the Elite plan offers full VIP treatment. Elite members get everything Premium offers, plus deals on premium economy, business, and first-class tickets. Imagine saving thousands on luxury seats! Whether you're eyeing international destinations or looking for the ultimate comfort in the skies, Elite has you covered with points and miles deals for every fare class, custom alerts, travel newsletters, and the best membership perks around.

Custom destination alerts

One of the coolest perks of being a member is setting up custom destination alerts. Pick your favorite routes, and we’ll hit you up whenever there’s a sweet price drop on those flights. It’s like having your own personal travel buddy who’s always on the lookout for you! Want to visit Paris in the spring or take a spontaneous weekend trip to Cancún? Just set your preferences, and we will find a deal that matches your criteria.

Best deals departing from your closest airport

Forget the days of manually hunting for flights from every airport in the area. With any of our subscription services, you’ll get alerts for the best deals flying out from your home airport and previously selected nearby alternatives—easy peasy! This way, you can easily compare deals across multiple airports, which can sometimes have way better prices, without having to jump from site to site.

Mistake fare deals

One of the best perks of going Premium or Elite? You get access to those rare mistake fare deals, accidental pricing errors that let you snag tickets for a fraction of what they normally cost. Mistake fares don’t stick around long, either because they get sold out or corrected by the airline, so having a service that lets you know about them can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars! 

Don’t miss out on once-in-a-lifetime deals! Sign up now and be the first to snag up to 90% off flights when airlines slip.

Roundtrip deals for your credit card points or airline miles

Do you have a collection of miles or points you want to redeem? Instead of spending hours comparing redemption rates, go Premium or Elite so we can let you know about deals where you can use your points effectively. 

Not all points and miles have the same value. We will help you find routes where your points can be stretched further, giving you more bang for your buck. Say goodbye to high fees or suboptimal redemptions by booking flights with low points requirements, ensuring you get the best possible value from your rewards.

Travel expert newsletters

You don’t need to pay a cent to get our newsletter with expert insights. Whether you are Limited, Premium, or Elite, you can receive regular news and insights with travel advice, information about redeeming points and miles, and recommended destinations and experiences.

Get to know about the cheapest last-minute flights with Going!

Scoring cheap last-minute flights can seem daunting, but with the right strategies and tools, it’s totally doable. From setting up fare alerts and using flight price trackers to checking out regional airports and cashing in on points and miles, there are countless ways to find affordable fares, even when you're booking at the last minute. 

Whether you’re planning a spontaneous getaway or just want to stay informed about potential deals, we have got you covered.