Summary of Last-Minute Flight Tips
Understanding Volatile Airfare
Airfare is notoriously volatile—prices can fluctuate dramatically. A flight can be priced at $300 one day and $600 the next due to increased demand or a significant percentage of seats sold, which can trigger algorithms to raise rates. This scenario is particularly challenging for last-minute travelers.
Moreover, if you’re a leisure traveler trying to book last minute, you often bear the cost burden unless you can utilize award miles or airline points.
Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, stated, “When cash prices are high, which is usually last minute, you get the most value when using awards. It can often mirror the price you would have paid months in advance.”
As long as there are available seats, airlines usually allow point redemption until the day of departure. However, limited award seats may be available as flights fill up. Additionally, some airlines impose close-in booking fees and may increase mileage costs for flights within 30 days.
Award Seating Release Patterns
Airlines typically release their flight schedules a year ahead of time, which includes award seating shortly after. For instance, Air France often releases award fares 359 days prior, while Delta Air Lines waits until 331 days before departure. For last-minute travelers, award seats may still be accessible, but availability can vary significantly by flight or class of service.
Optimal Use of Miles and Points
It’s important to note that most airlines belong to one of three major alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, or Skyteam. This means that the airline where you hold miles might not provide the best value. For example, booking a United flight through Air Canada might offer a cheaper fare.
Consequently, it’s common for travelers to find better award prices via partner airlines rather than through their original airline’s loyalty program. Nastro and her colleagues emphasize the need to explore different booking options even if your points are with a particular airline.
Navigating Smaller Airports
If you’re departing from a smaller airport and connecting through a major hub, be aware that your initial airport can limit award availability. For instance, when searching for flights from Indianapolis to Frankfurt, starting your search solely from Indianapolis may hide potential connections from larger hubs.
Finding Best Award Fares
For an effective search strategy, exploring the three major U.S. airlines—United, American Airlines, and Delta—can be a good foundation. Since each airline is part of a different alliance, this increases the chances of displaying broader flight options.
If your miles are flexible, consider using sites like point.me or seats.aero for a comprehensive search across various airlines and loyalty programs. However, it’s beneficial to double-check with the airlines directly, as third-party sites may not have the latest information.
Utilizing Award Flight Services
If you prefer not to engage in constant searches for award flights, consider reviewing membership services that notify you of good fare opportunities. For example, Going’s “Elite” membership tier provides notifications along with complete fare breakdowns and booking links to streamline the process for you.
