Finding Deals

• 1
  Find a cheaper departure or destination airport.Girl in airport image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
  
  Choose a different airport. Making last minute travel plans is stressful and sometimes people lose sight of their options. Maybe it's cheaper to fly out of a nearby airport rather than the one closest to home. Go to Orbitz.com to search for flights and check the box that says "incl. nearby airports" and all airports within 80 miles of your departure and destination will be scanned for the best deals.
  
  
• 2
  Be flexible in your travel.Airplane image by Elzbieta Sekowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Can you fly out a day early or return a day later? Kayak.com scans several travel sites like Hotwire and Travelocity looking for the best deals. Sign up with them to add "flexible dates" to your search criteria. Make sure you consider the cost of accommodations. Extra days spent in a hotel will quickly eat up any savings you may have gotten on your flight.
  
  
• 3
  Roll the dice--you never know where you may end up.red dice image by Steve Marquez from Fotolia.com
  
  Gamble. Maybe you just need to get away. If you don't have a particular destination in mind, you can find some really great last minute deals at Airfarewatchdog.com. The site employs real people who look for the absolute lowest fares on flights originating from your area. And, unlike most travel sites, they include Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Air in their searches. Sometimes gambling on a last minute flight can really pay off---especially if you don't have a particular destination in mind.
  
  
• 4
  Read the fine print.the fine print image by blaQ from Fotolia.com
  
  Read the fine print. Sometimes what sounds like a good deal isn't. Airlines now charge for things that many people assume are included with the price of the ticket---like meals or even a pillow. Some airlines charge up to $100 for checking only two bags. Throw in taxes and "convenience fees" (like checking in at the airport instead of online) and that good deal may just end up being a ripoff. Anxious last minute travelers may not take the time to read the fine print. Don't make that mistake---find out what your flight will actually cost before you book.