How to Find Cheap Last Minute Airline Tickets

With gas prices soaring outrageously, driving is almost impossible, and finding inexpensive flight tickets is equally outrageous, especially when they're a last-minute thing. However, just because it's difficult doesn't have to make it impossible, and there are several ways to get a good flight – without spending the kid's college funds.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access or telephone

Instructions

How to Find Cheap Last Minute Airline Tickets

1. 

   Know Where You Want to Go Flying into Chicago, you have the choice between two airports: O'Hare and Midway. Sometimes, flying into one airport over the other can save you several dollars, and it works similarly in other cities. So, if you know where you're going, check out the surrounding airports, and even consider checking out nearby cities. Sometimes, airports not making a lot of sales will have lower prices to sell more tickets. It's important to be flexible.

2. 

   Know When To GoDestinations and airlines have high and low travel times, during travel peaks, airline tickets are expensive. Sometimes, choosing another day to travel – a Tuesday instead of a Saturday, for instance – can save you money. Also, when you search for tickets online, if at all possible, select the option for flexible dates. That way, you will have more options, and you can search within one to three days of your original choice, so you can easily compare prices, which will often save you money (and time).

3. 

   Buy Round Trip TicketsBuying round trip tickets can often cost as much as buying one way tickets – or less. Even if you're only going one way, this can save you money.

4. 

   Travel LightMore and more airports are charging customers for having more than one bag. If you'll only be gone for a short time, try using only a carry-on or one bag at the most. Make sure your bag doesn't exceed the weight limits, because the fines add up quickly.

5. Sign Up With Travel WebsitesWeb sites like www.shermanstravel.com, www.budgettravel.com and www.bookingbuddy.com can send cheap last minute flight into your email inbox on a regular basis so you can get the best flights for the least amount of money. These often contain hotel, rental car and cruise deals, too. You never know what you might find.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are planning on buying a lot on your trip and will need an extra bag on the way home, stick your second bag in the first one. That way, you will only be charged for a second bag one way.

• Flying on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday will generally save you money, in some cases saving you a couple of hundred dollars.

• Compare flights. Check out several websites that sell cheap tickets so you can easily compare costs: www.kayak.com and www.shermanstravel.com both have access to several websites so you can insert the information once and have them compared for you.

• Compare prices, but when you find the flight you want to purchase, purchase it. It can go up drastically within days and sometimes even hours – even for the same flight.

Resources

• How To Buy Cheap Plane Tickets
• How To Book A Cheap Flight