How to Buy Airline Tickets at the Last Minute

Purchasing airline tickets at the last minute can often cost a great deal more than purchasing several weeks in advance. Even so, it's still possible to save money on last minute tickets if you are flexible and know where to look. Shopping for last minute airline ticket deals means doing a lot of research, keeping your eyes open all the time for deals and realizing that you may not get to travel where and when you would prefer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Be flexible. More often than not, the best travel deals can mean taking a red-eye flight or multiple stopovers. It can also mean needing to stay a weekend or having to drive to an airport that's further away to take advantage of the deal. Or, you may end up flying to a different destination. For instance, you may be hoping to spend time on Lake Geneva but Bern may be a much cheaper option. The more flexible that you can be with your travel, the more you'll be able to take advantage of the deals that come along.

Step 2

Determine how much time you really have. Do you have to travel within the next couple of days or do you have a week to do some research. Knowing how much time you have to shop around will help you to know where to direct your research.

Step 3

Research thoroughly. If you do plan to travel within a couple of days, and you want to get a good deal on an airline ticket, consider visiting a site like mobissimo.com which has prices from a variety of sites like Orbitz and other airline websites. If you still can't find a good deal, consider a name your own price site like Priceline. If you know you want to go skiing but don't care where, then consider visiting a site like Sherman's Travel which has a listing of all the best deals of the week to a variety of destinations. If you have more time to research, consider also looking at your local paper for deals and getting onto a mailing list. Smarter Travel will email you once a week with the current best airfare deals.

Step 4

Act quickly. Once you do find plane the right plane tickets, don't hesitate to get them as they will go very quickly. If it's at a travel agency you may be able to get them to hold the tickets while you take care of other arrangements but if it's online, you will need to make your decision quickly.

Tips & Warnings

Don't start looking for last minute plane tickets until your passport is ready. You don't want to have to let a good deal go because you're not prepared.

Article Written By Shiromi Nassreen

Shiromi Nassreen has been writing professionally since 2005. She specializes in travel and outdoor topics, and her articles have appeared in various print and online publications, including "DISfunkshion Magazine" and Matador Travel. Nassreen holds a Bachelor of Arts in theatre studies from Rose Bruford College of Speech & Drama.

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