View Full Version : Cheap flights



nik4411
02-25-2010, 01:42 PM
Does anyone know any tips or secrets to getting cheap, last minute flights?
Are there any sites that offer last minute flights really cheap just trying to fill them up?

kevinpate
02-26-2010, 08:36 AM
Haven't flown but once in the last decade. I assumed last minute tickets were more expensive, under a theory that anyone who seeks a ticket last minute really needs a ticket.

Could be wrong.

positano
02-26-2010, 11:36 AM
Hard to provide a short answer, and in fact there are books devoted to the subject (Peter Greenburg writes a series - something like the "Travel Detective" - that gives pretty good info). Kayak is a great site that searches multiple travel sites for airfares and lets you provide a variety of search parameters. I've found good last minute deals with them, and you can sign up for "Fare Alerts" that will notify you by email when a special pops up.

However...most "good" deals come at a cost. Some of those last-minute deals are certainly cheaper, but scheduling is most often the compromise. Flight may be cheap, but you may have multiple stops and layovers. For instance, you could buy a $1200 ticket to Costa Rica that gets you there in 5 hours, or a $400 ticket that takes 16 hours plus an overnight stay, so be wary of jumping on what appears to be a great deal without researching it.