Getting last minute deals on airfare is surprisingly easy, as long as you are flexible on your destination and dates of travel. Especially as airlines get desperate to fill seats on a flight, you will find the ticket prices dropping at an excellent rate the closer you get to the date of departure.
Determine your approximate dates of travel and your travel destination. The more flexible you are about your dates and your city (or even country) of travel, the more likely you will find an excellent last minute deal on airfare.
About one week before your estimated date of departure, start searching and comparing last minute airfare online at websites such as Travelzoo.com and Priceline.com. These websites all display last minute travel bargains and package deals, including weekend getaways. Priceline.com actually offers 50 percent off of airfare for travel that will take place in the following seven days. So, on websites such as this, if you plan to travel in the coming weekend, start searching only during the previous weekend, at the earliest, for last minute weekend deals.
Alternatively, you can stop by or call a travel agency the week before you intend to travel, and ask what last minute airfare deals they can offer you. Specialized travel agencies like STA Travel offer youth, teacher, and student discounts, and frequently advertise last minute deals to many cities within the U.S. as well as a range of exotic international destinations. You can call them at 1.800.781.4040, or check their website for agency locations across the U.S. Just remember that, in general, when you book airfare over the phone (as opposed to doing so online), you might be charged a booking fee, so ask the agent before you offer your payment details.
