It has been many years since you could find any discounts on last minute domestic flight bookings. Consolidation (as intended) has massively reduced competition, and with most flights running at 90%+ load factors airlines have no need to discount last minute inventory. In fact their business model is based on being able to charge last minute travelers through the nose--the presumption being they are mostly business people where someone else is paying for the ticket (and thus don't care much about price) or last minute emergencies where people have to go regardless of price.
One suggestion, which may not be helpful in your case, is to remember that Southwest still allows you to cancel bookings for free. Thus if there's a possibility of a trip in a couple weeks, you can book an advance purchase fare on SWA and cancel it if it doesn't happen as planned. You can't get your money back, but you can apply the full price to future tickets. Any other airline would charge $150-200 cancel/change fees. Separately, if you fly for an employer who pays for the tickets, you are still entitled to frequent flyer miles. Employers may dictate which airlines you fly on but no employer is allowed to keep frequent flyer miles earned by employees under any of the major airline programs. The flip side is that unless you do a huge amount of business flying, these programs have become virtually worthless. The number of miles needed to fly anyplace you want to go rises steadily, the number of seats available for award travel keeps shrinking, and there are now lots of fees charged for redeeming your "free" ticket.Would like some help or suggestions if your a frequent traveler or Pilot...
I usually travel (TO MUCH) for work, but they arrange all travel. Wish they built me some frequent flyer miles up, as much traveling as I do for them. I might have to ask them about that LOL.
I am looking to book a last minute flight and would like to know if anyone has any suggestions on certain Airlines, or when is the best days/ or times to book, or even best place to look for a reasonable last minute flight.
Thank you all, please also feel free to PM as well.
Much Love XOXO
Good Morning Everyone!!
Would like some help or suggestions if your a frequent traveler or Pilot...
I usually travel (TO MUCH) for work, but they arrange all travel. Wish they built me some frequent flyer miles up, as much traveling as I do for them. I might have to ask them about that LOL.
I am looking to book a last minute flight and would like to know if anyone has any suggestions on certain Airlines, or when is the best days/ or times to book, or even best place to look for a reasonable last minute flight.
Thank you all, please also feel free to PM as well.
Much Love XOXO
It has been many years since you could find any discounts on last minute domestic flight bookings. Consolidation (as intended) has massively reduced competition, and with most flights running at 90%+ load factors airlines have no need to discount last minute inventory. In fact their business model is based on being able to charge last minute travelers through the nose--the presumption being they are mostly business people where someone else is paying for the ticket (and thus don't care much about price) or last minute emergencies where people have to go regardless of price.
One suggestion, which may not be helpful in your case, is to remember that Southwest still allows you to cancel bookings for free. Thus if there's a possibility of a trip in a couple weeks, you can book an advance purchase fare on SWA and cancel it if it doesn't happen as planned. You can't get your money back, but you can apply the full price to future tickets. Any other airline would charge $150-200 cancel/change fees.
Separately, if you fly for an employer who pays for the tickets, you are still entitled to frequent flyer miles. Employers may dictate which airlines you fly on but no employer is allowed to keep frequent flyer miles earned by employees under any of the major airline programs. The flip side is that unless you do a huge amount of business flying, these programs have become virtually worthless. The number of miles needed to fly anyplace you want to go rises steadily, the number of seats available for award travel keeps shrinking, and there are now lots of fees charged for redeeming your "free" ticket.
Would like some help or suggestions if your a frequent traveler or Pilot...
I usually travel (TO MUCH) for work, but they arrange all travel. Wish they built me some frequent flyer miles up, as much traveling as I do for them. I might have to ask them about that LOL.
I am looking to book a last minute flight and would like to know if anyone has any suggestions on certain Airlines, or when is the best days/ or times to book, or even best place to look for a reasonable last minute flight.
Thank you all, please also feel free to PM as well.
Much Love XOXO
Krista I sent you a PM. Also although the situation is a little grim but not always necessarily as bad as the the other person portrays.
The problem with last minute seats is certainly cost, but also selection. You may end up paying quite a bit for a whacked seat. First class seats variance from first availability to last minute purchase is not that bad. Not only will you have a choice seat, you get the perks of first class(food, more room, free checked bags) and probably get TSA Precheck as well. I recently flew to the Midwest last minute and got a 1st class seat for $210 more roundtrip.
You could also book Southwest. Though you may get a low priority seating pass, they may sell their Business Select upgrade at the gate. If you are the "C" boarding group, it will be the best money you have ever spent.
Good luck to you.
The airline industry is firmly focused on getting as much $$$ from you as possible. the industry uses very, very, very BIG computers chewing a lot of data, which may not be personal, to "calculate" how to get as much $$$$$$ per flight. the computers calculate how high a price has to be before you choose to not fly. the same goes for a seat's dimentions and spacing between seats.
now, consider what penalty they have to pay for overbooking a flight? Virtually nothing. Hence their strategy to maximize dollars per flight is to fly full, or over full and offer incentives for people to give up flying at the time they paid to fly.
Deprived
www.hotwire.com and www.cheaptickets.com
Depends on where and when your flying sometimes they can fine you a deal on flight that's not all booked up.
Good Morning ALL,
Thank you all for taking the time out of you day to give me some suggestions, (LOL) regardless if it was good or bad news. Also thank you all that PMs me. I got a lot of information and it had me overwhelmed with help, and suggestions. Again thank you all, I really appreciate all your help.
Much LOVE
Have a wonderful week XOXO
you have to go into each airline and set up your own accounts. When a client books your flight, you log into your account and add the confirmation number to which ever airline you're booked on.
I've built up tens of thousands of miles this way. You'll want to be sure to check out the expiration date and such, but it's worth it..
This is the same thing you do with hotels... You have to be the one to set up each separate account though...
priceline is great for last minute flights if you do not mind the most ridiculous departure times as well as sometimes more than two stops one way...
xo
Jazz
Depending on where you are flying - I have been finding Spirit Airlines has ok prices if you joint their discount club - I believe it is like $65 for the year - with some pretty cheap tickets, again depending on where you want to fly too...
Em