Expert Strategies for Cheap Last-Minute Flight Deals

Airfare is often one of the biggest trip expenses, but fortunately, there are still ways to save, even when booking at the last minute. But before reading on, it’s important to define what we mean when we say “last minute.” Generally, explains Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, “We think of last-minute as booking zero to six days from departure.” Additionally, while booking a last-minute flight can be stressful and expensive, Fish tells Travel + Leisure that “there are some strategies you can use to find cheaper fares.” Kyle Maltz, COO and partner at Dollar Flight Club, a travel membership service that saves members up to 90 percent on flights, echoes these sentiments. “There are a lot of methods to score cheap last-minute flights, but the strategy is to combine multiple methods and, if possible, get ahead of things sooner rather than later.” Overall, says Maltz, “Being flexible on dates, destinations, and departure airports will yield the best results.” With all this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of expert-approved tips to help you score cheap last-minute flights.

Don’t get locked into specific dates.

“If you’re looking for highly discounted flights, you’ll generally need to choose unpopular days to travel and travel outside of the highest-demand seasons for your destination location,” explains Maltz. 

Kayla Inserra DeLoache, Kayak’s consumer travel trends expert, says it can pay to be flexible. Her company and other travel sites, such as Skyscanner and Expedia, offer ways to search for flexible flight deals. The former has a flexible dates calendar view that “easily shows you what flight prices look like over the next week so you can see the cheapest days to fly (in green) vs. the most expensive days (in red).” 

Be open to different destinations.

A simple way to save more on flights? Keep your destination flexible.

Airlines use dynamic pricing, meaning fares can fluctuate frequently based on availability and demand. Skyscanner’s global travel trends expert, Laura Lindsay, previously told T+L, “As some dates are more popular than others, prices will vary depending on peak travel seasons, holidays, and events.” So, if a destination has lower demand during your preferred travel dates, you can often find discounted fares. Being flexible with your destination allows you to target the best value options.

Fish is quick to call out Expedia’s Flight Deals tool. Available exclusively on the Expedia app, the new feature shows travelers where to fly “for at least 20 percent less than typical fares.” Many travel platforms like Kayak, Google Flights, and Skyscanner have similar features.

This flexibility helps travelers maximize their budget and find spontaneous travel opportunities.

Use price alerts and fight deal services. 

DeLoache advises utilizing flight price alerts to stay in the loop when prices drop “for all the dates around your desired departure.” Kayak offers free, user-friendly price alerts, as do sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Airfare Watchdog, and Expedia, which let you price and compare flights to find the best deal. 

Maltz shares similar sentiments: “We obviously love this option because we work in the space, but there are services and product features that can do a lot of the work for you to find highly discounted last-minute flights leaving your home airport. Put simply, these digital tools work by sorting through vast amounts of data to identify the best available deals.  

Bundle your airfare and lodging. 

For extra savings, consider booking your flight and hotel together. “Companies like Expedia offer great package deals where bundling your hotel and flight can save you money,” says Fish. Similarly, Christina Bennett, Priceline’s consumer travel expert, previously told T+L, “Packaging your travel bookings leads to the best deals, and bundling flights with hotels or hotels with rental cars helps maximize savings,” which, according to her, saves travelers an average of $240.

Search multiple airports.

According to Maltz, flexibility with airports can lead to significant savings. “Looking at flights to the same destination from multiple airports in your area can yield substantially different results on pricing, and the same is true with your destination,” he explains. Per the pro, “There are usually a few options in major cities, and pricing can change substantially based on your destination airport.” 

Look for one-way flights.

“Booking one-way flights can lead to lower prices, especially if you’re open to mixing different airlines for each leg of the trip,” says Maltz. This approach allows travelers to take advantage of flash sales, budget carriers, and flexible routing options that may not appear in traditional round-trip searches.

Be strategic about when you book and when you fly.

According to Fish, “when you book and when you fly matters” when it comes to saving money. For the best airfare savings, she recommends flying on a Thursday, which can save you up to 17 percent compared to flying on a Sunday, based on Expedia’s 2025 Air Travel Hacks Report. 

Meanwhile, Maltz recommends booking flights midweek—specifically on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. “Generally,” he explains, “demand for flights is lower midweek, so prices tend to drop to encourage more bookings.”

With all this in mind, it’s important to remember that airlines use dynamic pricing, and prices can fluctuate due to demand at any time. 

Opt for a red-eye flight.

As previously mentioned, airfare is primarily driven by demand, and red-eye flights can be the least desirable option, depending on the destination. As a result, these overnight flights, which depart late at night and arrive early the following day—can be an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers willing to sacrifice some sleep for significant savings.

Add a layover or stopover.

If you don’t mind the extra travel time, ditch your nonstop flight in favor of one with a layover or stopover (a longer connection that may require an overnight stay), which are almost always cheaper. Since the latter may have potential accommodation costs to factor in, layovers are generally more cost-effective; however, be sure to leave enough time to account for any mishaps or delays. 

It’s also worth noting that many airlines have stopover programs, offering travelers the chance to spend a day or two (or even longer) at said stopover destination with no additional fee. Depending on the airline, this may include discounts on lodging and attractions. 

Look to budget airlines. 

While major domestic airlines like Delta, American, United, and Southwest offer extensive route options and reliability, budget airlines will likely provide cheaper fares. These no-frills carriers—which include Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Breeze, among others—provide budget travelers the opportunity to forgo extras like seat selection, checked baggage, and in-flight amenities in favor of lower fares. Just make sure you read the fine print and understand the true total cost of your ticket (fees included) before you book.