Tips for Booking Last-Minute Travel

Booking travel at the last minute is never ideal.

But there are ways to avoid paying hefty last minute booking fees and sky-high prices, according to Forbes, which just released a list of tips for saving money on last-minute travel.

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Skip the Close-In Airline Booking Fees

Some airlines, including American and United, charge a close-in booking fee of $75 when you pay for a flight via rewards points within 21 days of travel.

Forbes suggests to pay cash for the flight and avoid the fee, saving your points for a different trip.

Alternatively, you can avoid the American Airlines close-in booking fee entirely by using British Airways Avios. “American Airlines is a partner of British Airways so you can book flights on them with Avios miles,” states the article.

Avios miles are easily obtained either through transferring points from a Chase Ultimate Rewards card or from American Express Membership Rewards, to British Airways.

In addition, a handful of airlines don’t even charge that pesky close-in fee, among them Alaska Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest.

Research ticket prices on multiple sites

It's important to know where to look for bargain airline prices.

Momondo is among the top choices, according to Forbes. The site conveniently compares the prices of direct airlines and third-party booking sites in just seconds.

Skyscanner is another great choice when searching for the best ticket price. This popular travel fare aggregator allows you to add nearby airports to searches. Opting to arrive and depart from alternative airports can often make costs cheaper. Skyscanner can also provide information regarding the cost to fly to a destination for every day of the month, meaning you can pinpoint which day will be the cheapest to fly.

Other sites to check out include Google Flights, CheapOair and more.

READ MORE: The Most Budget-Friendly Destinations for 2018

Travel Mid-Week

If your travel dates are flexible, opting to travel mid-week is always a good bet for reducing costs. When booking at the last minute, even a 24-hour shift in a departure date can save quite a bit of money.

Also look at the social media accounts for the various airlines and websites to find last minute deals. Finally, red-eye flights that depart early or arrive late are often discounted by airlines. If you have any flexibility in your schedule, this may be a way to cut costs and still travel on the days you want to.

All of Forbes tips for last minute travel can be viewed here.