Last Minute Deals

[bitteeinbit]

Has anyone actually ever gone to the airport and bought a last-minute ticket? Or is that an urban myth? I know they sometimes have last-minute deals on a few holiday destinations (packages), but I don't know anyone who has done this before. Seems rather unlikely, but possible (I suppose). Even online, last-minute flights are usually ultra expensive rather than ultra cheap.

[tch7]

Airlines caught on to the fact that most last-minute trips are business related, so they rape you shamelessly.

Might get lucky with more of a holiday destination, but you'll still probably be better off booking in advance. None of the deals I've ever seen are all that special.

[Tik-Tok]

Yeap. Cheap last minute flights were a thing of the pre-millenium.

[Xtrema]

AC flights are mostly overbooked. Not likely to have last minute deals.

[A790]

I book last minute vacations, but I also run my own show so I have the flexibility of not having a set departure time.

[bitteeinbit]

Thanks guys, that's what I figured. A790, where do you get last minute deals from? Is it for flights or packaged deals?

[Isaiah]

Selloffvacations, itravel2000, expedia: all pretty similar when it comes to booking a discount fare. Chris Myden suggested farecompare which is an aggregator for all the online sites so you can compare all on one place.

[A790]

Originally posted by bitteeinbit
Thanks guys, that's what I figured. A790, where do you get last minute deals from? Is it for flights or packaged deals?

I use RedTag.ca simply because I like the layout/design. All the common travel package sites sell the same vacation packages, so it's six in one hand, a half dozen in the other.

Originally posted by Isaiah
Selloffvacations, itravel2000, expedia: all pretty similar when it comes to booking a discount fare. Chris Myden suggested farecompare which is an aggregator for all the online sites so you can compare all on one place.

I have never used that for vacations. How is it?

[CompletelyNumb]

Going to the airport and hopping on a plane is definitely a thing of the past. These days you're likely to be charged 5x the normal ticket price. I've had several airline reps tell me straight up "If you're buying a ticket last minute, odds are you really need it, so the airlines charge more knowing you will still pay".

Seldom do you see all inclusive last minute deals like you used to. You can get lucky though, and if you're like A790 and can come and go as you please, then you will have more luck. But booking a few months in advance seems to always be the cheapest way.

I'm a big fan of heading south for the winter, so over the years I've kept pretty good track of prices. Take it with a grain of salt, this is just my experience.

Originally posted by Isaiah
Chris Myden suggested farecompare which is an aggregator for all the online sites so you can compare all on one place.

I actually find that his website is pretty good for finding deals. Between him, redtag, and itravel, all your bases are covered.

[ExtraSlow]

for all inclusive trips, if you are really flexible, you can still get deals. Like if you don't care Mexico vs Dominican, and you can leave any time within a week window.
Deals do pop up, but for me, I'm so picky about what flights I get, it's not likely to work out.

[natejj]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
for all inclusive trips, if you are really flexible, you can still get deals. Like if you don't care Mexico vs Dominican, and you can leave any time within a week window.
Deals do pop up, but for me, I'm so picky about what flights I get, it's not likely to work out.

Do you just use redtag/expedia to find your deals?

[toyboy88]

My personal favourites for 'deal' searches are: SkyScanner (flights), Expedia (packages), and FlightCentre (AIs).

Posted in travel deals thread earlier this week, found flight YYC to Kelowna for $183 RT on WJ.


As extraslow mentioned above, often times you can see get quite decent deals on last minute all-inclusive type vacations.

Here's one that just popped up, $666pp all in for a week in Cuba (4.5*), leaving in 2 days: http://secure.redtag.ca/se_2.00/step...11267&type=new

Also, there was one deal back in October (for 1 week in Mexico, during November), through FC, for $590pp all in (4*).

[timdog]

this isnt really what you are asking, but just last week i did jump on a plane last minute. I had a layover in chicago for 2 hours, but there was an earlier flight so i went straight to the gate and asked them, they switched my ticket no problem and put me on the earlier plane immediately.