Flight maps and social media accounts can help you get a good price on airline tickets, even if you’re flying at the last minute.
One of the best ways to save money on a flight is to plan ahead. But sometimes, you don’t have the luxury of advance notice.
Google Flights and Skyscanner have handy map tools that can help you find the cheapest flight.
If your destination is set in stone, use the map to compare fares at nearby airports as well. It may be cheaper to fly into a location a few hours away and rent a car to reach your final stop.
If your destination is open-ended — i.e., “anywhere with a beach” — use the map to pick the most economical locale. Select your dates and home airport(s), and then scan the map for an affordable flight. Google Flights will even show you potential destinations; all you need to do is pick your travel dates and interests, whether they be wildlife, food, beaches or nature.
“Go on a red-eye or crack-of-dawn flight,” says Elizabeth Avery, the founder of the travel website Solo Trekker 4 U. These flights tend to have unfilled seats and often will be less expensive than midday flights.
If you can’t find an affordable fare or skip the trip, consider redeeming credit card rewards or airline miles to subsidize your flight.
Not sure whether to use rewards or cash?
You can calculate the value of your rewards for a given flight using this formula: (ticket price – taxes and fees) ÷ rewards cost. Then multiply that number by 100 to find out your rewards value.
Several airlines post last-minute deals to their Twitter accounts.