Fly standby. Standby flights are available to the public and can help you save money. A standby flier will purchase tickets without being guaranteed a seat on a specific flight. In return for this agreement the buyer is given a significant discount. The would-be traveler agrees to arrive at the airport and wait for a seat to open up. Use this option if you have some leeway within your travel plans. Waiting even 24 hours can lead to much cheaper tickets.
Research online options. The internet is an ally in your search for last minute cheap airfares. Online travel consolidators are companies that can do the investigative legwork for you. Put in data about your desired day of departure, preferred airport and favored return date into the site's data fields. Many online travel consolidators will instantly pull up a list of flights for you to review. Last minute travelers can use this tool to compare and contrast potential flights from many different airlines. Once you see a flight you like you can book it online.
Call airlines directly. It may surprise you but getting in touch with an airline even last minute can lead to bargain airfare. Airline officials may have vastly overestimated the number of purchased seats for any given flight. A tour group may have decided to cancel a specific tour leading to dozens of open seats. Airline officials would rather see such seats filled than see a plane take off with empty seats. In return for agreeing to fly last minute they can offer you a steep discount.
Work with a travel agent. Travel agents are professional travel advisors. A travel agent often works with people who need to fly last minute every single week. As a result they understand your needs and help you leave quickly and still save money. A travel agent can find flights for you that are not listed on an airline website, work with travel consolidators on your behalf and even direct you to lesser known airports that often have cheaper tickets available.
