Sneaky Ways To Book Last-Minute Flights That Won't Break The Bank

Is there anything more satisfying than scoring a cheap last-minute flight? Doesn't it make you feel like you slipped through a system loophole, laughed in the face of corporate America, and threw a glass of ice water in the face of your pessimistic aunt who claims that travel costs are just an impossible barrier these days and everyone should stay home? 

Finding cheap last-minute flights isn't always the easiest thing to do. If it was, everyone would be doing it. So, where do you start when looking for that elusive, cheap airfare? With the help of some sneaky know-how, your trip doesn't have to break the bank. Extra-cheap flights don't have to be a myth either. Generally, you just need patience, flexibility, and a little resourcefulness. Let's dive into the sneakiest, best ways to snag your next last-minute flight.

The affectionately named "Goldilocks Window" is considered to be the time period when the most awesome flight deals are most likely to appear. Different sources have different opinions on this golden time. For example, Kayak has claimed that 44 days is the sweet spot for finding low fares while other popular travel experts will give more of a two- to three-month range.

Your first weapon in scoring last-minute deals is utilizing the plethora of online tools for finding flight deals and learning how to navigate these efficiently. Start with browsing today's biggest flight search engines: Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak, Priceline, and Hopper (which is an app that does not have a desktop version). If you are hoping to score the lowest price, browse all of these and shop around –– sometimes they will offer different deals. Certain search engines may not include all flights, especially budget airlines.

Another step to take is signing up for price alerts from one or several of these websites so that you receive regular, real-time updates on price fluctuations via email. This can be a convenient strategy that allows you to act quickly on any reported price drops for the destination and dates you were hoping to fly (as long as you keep an eye on your inbox). All the major flight search engines offer this. 

Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) is another source where you pay a low annual fee and receive cheap flight alerts departing from your home airport. It takes some of the guesswork out of your planning, and with little effort on your side, a great deal could fall in your lap. If you're specifically in Provo, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, or Idaho Falls, Flights from Home is another popular tool with a free subscription that will email you cheap flights departing from your home airport. This resource is not "searchable," but the deals they do discover and send your way are always a pleasant surprise, and could be a great bet in sneakily snagging discounts.

One of the best ways to find a budget last-minute seat is to be flexible with your timing. If you're willing to work with when you fly, your options will drastically expand. If you are extremely particular about your preferences, then the odds are that you are going to pay for it. Being open to flying at odd times of the day, or even a day or two earlier or later than you had anticipated, will take some pressure off your wallet. Red eyes and eye-twitching 5 a.m. flights may be your cheapest options if you can handle the hassle of a weird sleeping schedule. What are you willing to sacrifice in terms of comfort?

Additionally, all major flight search engines offer you the option of toggling your dates to be flexible within three days. You can usually see prices in the calendar view on Google Flights. Some sites also might have a price comparison tool that's fairly easy to find. This allows you to easily hunt for the cheapest arrival and departure dates. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are statistically the least expensive days to fly, due to the lower demand of weekday travel. Saturdays can often also be a good day to fly internationally. If you are flying during holidays and peak travel periods, your cheapest bet could be traveling on the actual holiday (if you're willing to do that).

If it happens that you can't be flexible in terms of when you fly, your next hack in searching for the best last-minute deals is to be open to flying out of a different or less popular airport. By adding multiple airports to your search for flights, you cast a wider net and increase your chances for a lower fare. Many major cities have two or more major airports. Budget airlines often operate at a lower cost out of less popular airports, at locations that are maybe farther from the city's center. If whoever is picking you up doesn't mind the commute or you don't mind hopping on public transport to the city center, then you could score much lower fares. 

You also can widen your city selection and open your search to cities outside of your ideal destination. If you are trying to get to an out-of-the-way destination and it is home to a smaller airport, the odds are that prices will be higher since flights are limited. Consider flying into a larger hub, even if it's farther away. For example, if you're trying to fly to Milwaukee but prices are crazy, then fly into Chicago and take the $30 bus up to Milwaukee. Getting the best deal is often all about letting go of some of your control and going with the best opportunities available to you.

Honestly, there may never be a better time to cash in those credit card points than right now. In fact, specifically saving those points for last-minute trips could be one of the greatest techniques that you have the power to use. There are a ton of major credit cards that promote their travel perks and sign-on bonus miles, offering you two to four times the points on travel miles. You could even sign up for a credit card from a specific airline if you want to invest solely in one company that you like. However, using a credit card that can be cashed out towards many airlines is not as limiting and would allow you to shop around more. Some of the top travel-friendly credit cards include Chase Sapphire, Capitol One Venture X, and American Express Platinum, to name a few. 

Otherwise, if you have lingering frequent flier miles or flight credits leftover from some past flight disaster, so now would also be an advantageous time to utilize those if they haven't expired. Saving those credits for your next last-minute getaway could be a good strategy instead of cashing them in on trips that are easier to book. Save those credits for when you really need it. 

Why not let the cost dictate your destination? If you are feeling the pull of wanderlust or just want to get out of town for the long weekend, you could choose your best destination by following the lowest price tag. Paris is a great trip to save up for but that doesn't mean you can't fly somewhere domestic or less popular for a last-minute getaway. It also feels pretty liberating to just let fate decide. 

Most of the major competing flight search engines, Google Flights, specifically has an "Explore" option, so all you have to do is hit that button and let your possibilities be endless. The "Explore" option shows you an eye-opening and travel-triggering world map. Different selections and filters will toggle the results to find you the best destination for your wallet. You can select flexible dates to break it down by the desired length of trip: a weekend, a week, two weeks, a month, etc. You can also look at a specific continent and country. Finally, you can filter the price as well if you have a budget to stick to. The search engine even lets you explore by interests, such as outdoorsy locations or the best places for museums. Kayak has a very similar tool that works like that as well. 

Here are a few more last-minute budget travel hacks that we had to tell you about. First, consider booking your trip in two, one-way segments as opposed to one roundtrip. Sometimes the cheapest option is to make separate purchases. Most flight comparison tools also let you select a "multi-city" option so you can buy two different flight arrangements from different cities. Flight search engines group together certain flights and do their best to pair flights that match all your filters. If you remove these restrictions going both ways, then it may open up your options. It goes back to the previous suggestion of flying into one airport, and then departing from another.
Another flight hack that Google Flights announced last year is that it will reimburse up to $500 if the price of your flight drops after booking it. Check whether the price of your already-booked flight has decreased.

When it comes to your standards for your flight experience ask yourself what your expectations are. Do you want to be treated like sky royalty, or do you want to get there on a dollar that's stretched as far as the runway will allow? It almost goes without saying that budget airlines like RyanAir, Spirit, and Frontier can be your best low-fare friend. The downside is that they often have additional baggage fees and that they depart at odd hours. Our last sneaky tip is that the best deals disappear within 24 hours, so when you discover a deal, snatch it up. Don't let the best opportunities pass you by –– your next flight deal awaits you.