The guy at the bus station in Boulder set me straight about buying last minute flights

I used to think booking flights 2 weeks out was the safest bet but after 3 trips I realized I was paying double what everyone else was. He pointed out that airlines drop prices 72 hours before departure if seats are empty and I just sat there feeling dumb. Has anyone else actually had luck with this or is it just a myth for certain routes?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wren13d ago

Read something similar on a travel blog last month, said the trick works best on Tuesday and Wednesday flights when business travel drops off. Tried it myself for a Denver to Portland trip and snagged a seat for $89 three days out. Might depend on the route though, busy city pairs probably don't play nice with last minute deals.

finleym4313d ago

Eighty nine bucks? That's insane.

jana_scott13d ago

Nah, I actually think $89 is a steal for a flight these days. Last minute or not, you're lucky to find anything under $150 on most routes out of my city. I booked a Chicago to Nashville trip three weeks out and paid $140 and thought I was getting a deal. Maybe it works on the smaller regional airlines like Breeze or Avelo, but with the big carriers it's rare.