Same day travel/last minute travel. Are there advantages with airline tickets?
07/14/2017
Same day travel, or last minute travel. Are there advantages with airline tickets?
The spontaneity of last-minute flights may appeal to the romantic and the adventurous. Just to drop everything, buy an airline ticket and jet off to somewhere exotic certainly is a dream many may have. It is also important in a wider way, since last minute travel may well be an essential course of action for some people.
Why could this be you may ask ?. Do you pay more on a last minute tickets or you save?
There are several circumstances whereby people may wish to travel last minute or same day:
Bereavement or other family emergencies (such as the birth of a child or illness are obvious examples).In such circumstances, it is likely that price is not a big factor, but when buying your airline tickets, it might be wise to consult a sympathetic travel agent who might be helpful to your situation, and go that ‘extra mile’ to help you with tips and other practical assistance.You might be a bag of emotions, but try and keep your head together and minimize the cost outlay; new kids, funeral costs and medical bills can be huge costs, so save your travel dollars.
Or just the deal?
Of course, you may be up one night browsing for your dream holiday, and suddenly it appears on the screen before your eyes.One problem, it is two days away. The internet makes things easy, as with most airline tickets these days you can pay online and download the boarding cards.
Maybe you just need a break, to relax.
In this circumstance, our advice is to be flexible about things such as destination and accommodation, as well as the length of stay. If you get these factors right, you can get the best deals.
Business Travelers
Business people are particularly significant users of last minute travel. When that late deal beckons, a continent away, that airline ticket must be purchased.Business travelers are particularly beloved of airlines as their travel needs are not price-sensitive (or in simple English, they pay any price because they must travel).Also, the airline ticket tends to be a business one, as it is expected that employees will work on the plane (hence the annoyance with the laptop ban).
Same day return travel?
It may be that the businessman may want to go there and back on the same day.There can be good reasons for that; such as meetings back at the office next day, or that the travel is on a Friday and therefore need to get back to the family at the weekend.There may also be a view taken comparing the cost of a return airline ticket and hotel and other accommodation-related expenses.
Obviously, the bottom line is what can be achieved in a day, if late morning meetings can be booked then late afternoon or early evening departures can be scheduled.But if your day means a series of meetings or changing locations, then same day return is not practical.
Same day travel and return can be risky though.
Meetings over-running, taxi’s not turning up, flight delays and weather are just some of the factors that can crop up.Our top tip is to take all you require as hand luggage.Delayed or lost luggage can ruin a business trip.
Is last minute travel expensive?
It is expected that last minute airline flights are expensive.However, this is not always the case.
How Airlines price tickets
In an earlier post, we advised you about how airlines calculate their fare offers. They do this using a so-called ‘Bucket’ system. In summary, a Bucket system is where air fares are deposited in various buckets priced from high end to budget.According to supply and demand, these fares are moved around to other buckets. This is why sometimes you look at your desired route, and it is price A, you go back to book it later, and it is a much higher Price B.
What has happened is that other customers have bought from your ‘Bucket', the airline thinks it can get more, and transfers it to a higher price.For last minute travelers, this usually means that you are coming to the flight late and therefore the cheap buckets are empty.However, if the flight is undersold, in other words, not a popular flight, then the airline may be desperate to sell the airline tickets and bargains are there to be had.
Conclusion
There are real benefits to be had with last minute travel if you explore all the options.