Last minute Flights
Most travellers when considering booking a flight are caught in the classic catch-22: do I book early and guarantee the right seat on the right day or do I throw caution to the wind and book late in the hope of securing a last minute deal?
While many might be tempted by the romance of leaving their holiday plans largely up to fate, and perhaps others by the thrill of leaving it all to the last minute, it takes a bit of knowledge to make sure you get it right and is a very risky business.
After all there is nothing worse than sitting in Woking wondering about the rain when where you should really have been was Zanzibar soaking up the sun, and would’ve been if you’d just booked your seat that bit earlier.
If you DO decide to enter the last minute lottery there are a few tips that could increase your chances of finding that holy-grail of tourists everywhere: the basement bargain flight.
What are the options?
Many of the larger carriers (and even some of the budget airlines) are actually cheaper the earlier you book. This is because airlines like to know in advance how many travellers might be flying on a certain route at any time and whether or not these numbers will be enough to keep them in profit. The success of routes is closely monitored, and realistically the industry can’t rely on last minute bookings.
That is not to say that deals can’t be found, it just means that you need to be more creative when searching for them. The ideal place to hunt for last minute bargains is the internet.
Dedicated websites such as lastminute.com are the best places to start. Lastminute can be a lifesaver if your options are rapidly narrowing and pointing you ominously in the direction of Woking. The site has deals not just on flights but on holiday packages, hotels, car-hire and spa treatments. There is of course no guarantee that you will be able to find a seat on a plane for the right date, but some of the late offers can be very tempting.
Other websites worth investigating are Flights Direct and Opodo both of which offer last minute deals to various locations. Expedia is also worth a look in the scramble to find a deal. The site has a good reputation and covers a number of popular destinations. E-bookers offer a similar service and also have deals on hotels and holidays. The travel bite website has a dedicated “late deal” section which features discount flights to popular destinations such as New York. The Pack Your Bags website lists late deals on flights to a host of destinations such as Dubai, Nice, Ibiza, Bangkok and Goa. You can also check out Holiday Hypermarket which offers late holiday packages.
Remember that whoever you choose to book with, flexibility is key in securing a late deal. Investigate places you may not have thought of before and if you’re willing to catch a red-eye flight, you’ll improve your chances even more. Finally, make a note to check out the usual suspects and enquire at the bigger airlines too, it might be a long shot but what would a bargain hunt be without a bit of romance attached?
