"Last Minute" Flights Deals. Is There Really Such a Thing?

omghi2u on 25/07/2022 - 19:20

Sites like lastminute.com.au seem like just another meta searching site like WebJet or Skyscanner. They bring up exactly the same results so far as I can tell. Hardly "last minute" deals.

Intuitively it makes sense to me that last minute deals should exist….I mean if a flight finds itself with available seats close to the departure date surely it would make sense to flog them off at a cheaper rate to fill them….

Is there some way to seek out actual last minute deals on flights? Or is this a bygone concept?

Travel Airfare

Comments

  • mskeggs on 25/07/2022 - 19:25
    +3

    It used to be mainly for accommodation before lots of places were online, but now you can update any site with a last minute price, so it has lost its purpose.

  • neyo on 25/07/2022 - 19:25

    It does not make sense because business will lose share

  • holdenmg on 25/07/2022 - 19:27

    Hi,
    I have been watching Virgin Australia's site after Midnight.
    Occasionally when nobody caves to pay the Hundreds (or Thousands) you see a One Way flight drop considerably.
    Often it is a single seat on the first flight out or maybe a cancellation.

    To make it work, you need to be logged in, have an idea of your destination, and not expect to be guaranteed a cheap flight back.

    • Mechz on 25/07/2022 - 19:58

      Also they like to hedge their bets that a % of people that buy seats to any flight will not actually check-in or after they check-in won't make the gate. So they oversell based on historical data. That way, like a casino, they rarely lose.

    • omghi2u on 25/07/2022 - 20:33

      Cool thanks for the tip.

      When you say "logged in"…you mean I need log in to the Virgin website if I want to see the deal? It won't show if I'm not?

      • holdenmg on 25/07/2022 - 20:54

        Hi,
        You don't have to be logged-in (but it saves time) I also use the Browser Extension Easy Auto Refresh to refresh the browser page.
        There must be some separation between VirginAustralia.com.au and the others as I went to see if I could use Flybuys on https://www.flybuystravel.com.au if the flight price-drop carried across, but no.
        Anyhow assuming you are flying from BNE or OOL to somewhere?

        • omghi2u on 25/07/2022 - 21:23

          Yep I'm trying to fly from either BNE or OOL to ADL this week!

          • holdenmg on 27/07/2022 - 08:50
            +1

            @omghi2u: OOL-ADL via SYD on Virgin Australia 0600 on 28 JUL is @ $291.60

  • capslock on 25/07/2022 - 19:39
    +1

    It's all about dynamic pricing these days. The algorithm constantly adjusts pricing to try and fill up every seat by the time it departs.

  • Seraphin7 on 25/07/2022 - 20:02
    +6

    I mean if a flight finds itself with available seats close to the departure date surely it would make sense to flog them off at a cheaper rate to fill them….

    Or just cancel the flight (due to "operational reasons") and shove everyone on the next half full flight. Seems to be the Australian way.

  • pharkurnell on 25/07/2022 - 22:17

    Mystery flights used to be a fun thing… dunno if they exist anymore.

    • StarvingOat on 25/07/2022 - 23:42

      ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

    • coxjon on 26/07/2022 - 09:22
      +3

      It’s a mystery if the flight you book will actually depart

      • pharkurnell on 26/07/2022 - 12:00

        mystery if you can check in before the flight might actually depart

  • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 00:21
    +1

    Revenue management software sometimes does it when there's large group cancellation, but it's pretty rare and as someone mentioned before if flight is half-empty close to departure they can just cancel it if there's no operational requirements for it to be at destination.

  • slow on 26/07/2022 - 08:23

    I always thought sites like lastminute were more for accommodation. I have had a few good deals in the past, but seems not so anymore these days in the Internet age - as you say it seems the prices are the same as other sites and everyone

    I remember in pre-internet days when I lived in London if you were flexible and weren't too fussed where you went you could go to certain travel agents on Thursday or Friday and get ridiculously cheap package deals leaving on Saturday that included flights and resort style accommodation in some exotic destinations

  • Tech5 on 26/07/2022 - 11:38

    Kris flyer has spontaneous escapes at a large discount. It does mean that you need to fly in the next four weeks though

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