Jun
08
What is the best way to save money when buying domestic airfare at the last minute, (24-hours or less)?
Posted ByCalling the airline directly? Something like travelocity, orbitz, etc.? Travel agency (guessing not). I’ve heard something about airfare consolidators… don’t know a thing about that.
I will be buying a last minute ticket on Thr, Fri, Sat, Sun… whenever I get to the States…
4 Comments
June 8th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
try http://www.cheapoair.com
June 8th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Depends where you’re flying from, and where you’re going.
1. Check last-minute offers direct from airlines here: http://www.smartertravel.com/last-minute/ — These change weekly.
2. Run your itinerary through a mega-search such as http://www.bookingbuddy.com — which can also check Hotwire and Priceline (sometimes better for last-minute offers).
3. Check your airport’s website to see if Southwest, Allegiant, USA3000, Sun Country, or other less-well-known airlines serve it. These don’t show up in 3rd party booking sites (that’s why I said depends where you are, and where you’re going).
4. Consolidators are best for coast-to-coast fares, New York to Los Angeles, for example, and they will show up when you search with BookingBuddy.
5. If none of this is working, then check http://www.site59.com — a little-known secret is that last-minute airfare is cheaper if booked together with hotel or car.
Good luck–I hope you find something good with these tips!
June 8th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Hiya Ange!
I am flying to Los Angeles in a couple weeks for the weekend, and had not booked my flight yet as I wasn’t sure if I was going although I had planned on it more than 6 months ago.
I decided to ask my sister whom lives/works in Washington, D.C./Maryland, and she gave me the link to a great site that searches the other bargain sites simutaneously….such as Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline, etc.
Anyway; the site is called Sidestep.com – I found some great rates to either fly from Detroit non-stop to Los Angeles, or Traverse City, MI. with one-stop in Minneapolis then on to Los Angeles and same as a return. My rate for the latter from TVC to LAX via MN/SP was $395 + taxes and fees which came to be $436.00 for the round-trip ticket which is pretty good in my book. Especially since Traverse City is not a main Airport or Flight Route.
http://www.sidestep.com/
You may also want to check with your Husband’s base travel or logistics officer. I believe that besides active duty Officers and Enlisted men, their Wives and Children can get free or real cheap flights on Military Passenger flights for at most a surcharge.
I know you said you were going to look for a flight when you get to “the States”. You possibly can be hooked up via your Husband’s base logistics or travel personnel and connected with their counterparts in MN., or wherever it is you may be going to at the nearest base. Even some major airports, or most of them have a military flight wing connected to them, and, you might have some luck there.
Anyway; there are some discount and cheaper airfare Airlines out there also such as Spirit Airlines http://www.spiritair.com – Southwest Airlines http://www.southwest.com – AirTran Airlines http://www.airtran.com, Jet Blue Airways http://www.jetblue.com – Midwest Airlines http://www.midwest.com
-Or- You can go to this website for a list of all Air Carriers in the Domestic United Staes, but, will be a painstaking task as many are shuttles, regional carriers, and for air freight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Airlines_of_the_United_States
I think the best site would be SideStep.com or one of the air Carriers I listed separate that are discount air carriers, and some that serves the Great Lakes/North Plains since I assume that may be where you may travel from.
Hope this helps!
The Sylvan Wizard
June 8th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
angie!!!! coming stateside are ya??? i hope its for a good, happy occasion. hope you and that precious little one are ok.