By Allison Martin
December 13, 2013 6:30 AM
A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft
sits on the tarmac at Kandahar air base, Afghanistan December 8, 2013.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel flew on the aircraft to the air
base to thank the troops for their dedication and for being deployed
during the holiday season. REUTERS/Mark Wilson/Pool (AFGHANISTAN - Tags:
TRANSPORT MILITARY)
It’s no secret
that airfare during the holidays is sky high and continues to steadily
climb as the years progress. The Wall Street Journal reported in late
October that Christmas week fares were 7.3 percent higher than they were
in 2012.
With such bloated
rates, how in the world are you supposed to go home for the holidays
without going broke? We all know that great deals can be found when
booking ahead, but do you have any alternatives when you wait until the
last minute?
Why, of course you do!Here are five ways to find cheap last-minute holiday flights without breaking the bank:
1. Comparison shop
Prior
to booking, use an online search engine such as Kayak, Expedia,
Priceline, Orbitz or Travelocity to get an idea of how much flights are
going for across the board. Once you have an idea of the most affordable
rates, head over to the websites of the airlines to view their prices.
Check to see if they have any holiday sales or promotions.
Once
you’ve found your top choice, go ahead and book with the airline
directly. The airline may offer a price adjustment benefit, typically in
the form of a voucher minus a re-booking fee, if you notice that the
ticket price declines after you’ve made your purchase.2. Set up price alerts
A number of travel websites, including FareCompare, Airfarewatchdog, Yapta and CheapAir, offer tracking tools that alert you once your desired flight reaches an optimal price point. For all you Southwest Airlines fans, they offer this service through Ding. However, it is important to understand that you must be prepared to take advantage of the offer as soon as you are alerted because the seats usually don’t last long.3. Mix and match
Even
if you are a diehard fan of a particular airline, don’t be afraid to
select different carriers for the departing and returning flights if the
rates are lower. You may have to give up the television or Wi-Fi for a
few hours, but switching it up a little may well be worth the cost
savings realized in the end.
4. Be flexible
Even
if you would really like to depart and arrive on a particular day,
being open to other travel dates that vary slightly from your original
itinerary can help reduce the cost of last-minute holiday airfare. When
conducting your search, look for flights that are not popular with
travelers, such as those that depart early in the morning or late at
night, or have long layovers.
According to CheapAir.com,
you should refrain from searching for flights on the Saturday and
Sunday after Christmas or New Year’s Day. Instead, try looking for
flights on the Monday leading up to or on the actual holidays, as the
rates appear to be cheaper.
5. Consider alternate airports
While
a small commute will probably be required to reach your final
destination, it is possible to save a substantial amount of money by
flying to smaller airports in outlying cities and catching the train or a
cab upon arrival to be with your loved ones.
Of
course, it may be tempting to sit around and wait until the last minute
to snatch up an unfilled seat at a rock-bottom price. Unfortunately,
this tactic is a thing of the past, and airlines are handling scheduling
in the most economical way possible to cut costs and be more efficient.
This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as 'How to Find Cheap Last-Minute Holiday Flights'.
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