Buying Same-Day Flights

A common rule of thumb when it comes to traveling is you should book flights as far ahead in advance as possible in order to get the best rates. Sometimes that just isn’t possible. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a good deal, though.

Check Airline Websites

Often airlines will have unsold tickets on last-minute flights for cheaper than what you’d normally find. For that reason always check the airline’s site before booking on a platform like Priceline.

Go Regional

Smaller, regional airports are often cheaper to fly into than larger ones. Opting for one of these might help you save some cash on a last-minute flight. Have a look around and see what airlines are within reasonable driving distance and try booking a flight to them. The trip might be longer, but sometimes it’s worth it to save money.

Red-Eyes

Flights that lift off early in the morning and late at night are most likely to have unfilled seats. Be flexible when you can (and if you’re buying last-minute tickets you might not have a choice) and go with the red-eye. It’ll be the cheapest of the expensive last-minute flights.

Bid on It

Airlines will often use online bidding sites to unload leftover seats. Try your hand at one of these to see if you can snag a deal. They don’t always go much lower than normal cost, but every penny counts.

Flight Back Mid-Week

If you can, book your flight back in the middle of the week. Last-minute flights usually happen when you have to be somewhere in a hurry, but that doesn’t mean you have to return quickly. You might shave off a few bucks by returning home on Wednesday instead of Saturday.