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.
Posted By: KristaDoll
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