Can You Get Cheap Flights At The Airport?

Yes, you can sometimes find cheap flights at the airport but it is generally not the best or most reliable way to find a bargain. Airlines do occasionally reduce fares to fill empty seats, but the cheapest flights are usually found by spotting a deal before you arrive at the airport and being ready to book it quickly.

There is something quite appealing about turning up at the airport with a suitcase and asking where you can fly for next to nothing. It sounds like the ultimate spontaneous travel hack. And while last minute flight deals do exist, relying on this method can be a bit of a gamble.

Do Airlines Sell Cheaper Flights At The Airport?

Airlines do not usually have a special pile of cheap tickets sitting at the airport waiting for passengers to ask for them. Flight prices are constantly changing based on demand, availability, seasonality, competition and how many seats are left.

If a flight is struggling to fill up, an airline may reduce its price. However, the opposite can also happen. If a flight is nearly full, the remaining seats could become more expensive because the airline knows there are fewer places left.

This is why simply turning up at the airport does not guarantee a bargain!

Can Last Minute Flights Actually Be Cheap?

They can, and this is where things get interesting. Airlines sometimes need to fill seats quickly, so genuinely cheap last minute fares can appear. 

That does not mean waiting until the day of departure is the secret. In fact, it can be the opposite. The trick is spotting the price drop while it is available and having enough flexibility to take advantage of it.

Why Is Booking Ahead Usually Better?

The biggest advantage of finding a cheap flight before you get to the airport is choice. You can compare different dates, departure airports, airlines and destinations rather than simply accepting whatever happens to be available that day.

Being flexible can make a huge difference too. A flight can be considerably cheaper if you are able to travel on a different day, use another nearby airport or choose a different route. The same applies to destinations, with some countries and cities offering much better fares depending on the time of year and current demand.

This is where being open minded can really pay off.

What About Empty Seats On Flights?

It makes sense to assume an airline would rather sell a seat cheaply than fly with it empty. Sometimes that does happen, but airline pricing is much more complicated than simply discounting every unsold seat as departure approaches.

Airlines use sophisticated pricing systems to adjust fares according to demand and availability. A flight can therefore become cheaper, but it can also become more expensive as departure gets closer. There is no guaranteed moment when every airline suddenly thinks “Let's make all the remaining seats £20.”

Is The Airport The Best Place To Find Cheap Flights?

For most travellers, no. The airport is where you take your cheap flight, not necessarily where you find it.

The better approach is to have cheap flight deals come to you. At Secret Flight Club, we track thousands of routes and find limited time fares, special offers and error fares, then sends the deals directly to our members. That means you can discover a bargain while sitting at home rather than wandering around the airport hoping someone has a spare seat going to Spain.

And the savings can be substantial! Our members can save up to 81% on selected fares, with deals covering everything from short haul European escapes to long haul trips and even premium cabins.

Should You Wait Until The Last Minute For A Cheap Flight?

If your plans are completely flexible, keeping an eye out for last minute deals can certainly pay off. But if you have specific dates, a particular destination or need to travel during a busy period, waiting until the airport is rarely a good strategy.

Instead, keep your options open and watch for fares that are significantly lower than usual. When the right deal appears, that is often the moment to book.

After all, the best cheap flight is not necessarily the one you find at the very last minute. It is the one that gives you a brilliant trip without an eye watering airfare.

If finding cheap flights is the goal, Secret Flight Club is the place to go! We do the searching, spot the unusual fares and hand pick the deals so that you can spend less time hunting for flights and more time planning where you are actually going.