Last-minute travel is one of the most exciting, yet difficult forms of travel. The excitement comes from the lack of plans and hectic style of travel. The nerves and difficulty can spur from attempting to find affordable, last-minute travel deals. Fortunately, there is a whole culture of last-minute travelers and travel hackers. There is a wealth of knowledge out there on how to make these sort of trips. Here are five must-know secrets to successful last-minute travel.
Tap into your rewards.
Several airline companies and even some credit cards offer loyalty programs where spending money can translate into free points. These points can later be redeemed for discounted rates on flights or 1st class seats. The possibilities are endless. Airlines and credit cards set up these programs to encourage customers to spend more money. However, if spent correctly, this money can be turned into free flights. If you're considering last minute travel, take a look at your reward programs and see if there are any points leftover. You may just have yourself a free trip waiting to be claimed.
Call the airline.
Most people think that the days of calling to reserve flight tickets is long past. While these people are right, it doesn't mean that this isn't still a possibility. Airlines may have last minute options and deals that aren't being promoted. The only way to find out about them is to ask. While email takes a while to get through, calling will be more immediate. After all, time is of the essence with last-minute travel. Call your airline and see what kind of options are available and you may be surprised what answers they provide.
Use a flight map.
If you're eager to take a last minute trip and are open to the destination, than finding an affordable trip will be much easier. Some flight comparison websites, such as Skyscanner.com, have flight maps that will show the cheapest destinations to fly to from a particular origin. Specific dates can be set or a whole month can be selected. Either way, these search engines will help travelers find the cheapest destination and airline for a last-minute flight.
Don't splurge for airline upgrades.
Sometimes there is a vast difference between an airline's basic fair and your final checkout price. What's the catch? Airlines have found a tricky way to make their deals seem much more affordable. They'll strip costs such as seat selection, baggage fees and other amenities from the flight price and show you a 'basic fare'. For a last-minute flight, you can save a lot of money by taking this basic fare and forgoing those upgrades. This strategy can help you save hundreds of dollars per ticket. After all, the flight is going to the same location regardless of what seat you're in.
Check cruises for last-minute deals
Airlines aren't the only sources of last-minute deals. Cruises may also drop their prices just before departure in an attempt to fill their capacity. These discounted rates may be advertised on their website or newsletter. These are both great places to check. However, calling the cruise liner or checking comparison websites are both excellent strategies as well. After all, some websites or booking agencies will have cruise tickets that they're also trying to sell.
Traveling at the last-minute doesn't have to translate in expensive tickets are hotel rooms. The key is to be flexible and keep an active eye looking for cheap deals. In some ways, this form of travel takes more dedication that preparing ahead of time. The excitement of an unplanned trip can cause some unneeded anxiety. Take a deep breath, employ these secret strategies and you'll be on the way to a successful last-minute trip.
