How to Find Cheap Last Minute Flights

Last-minute trips are part and parcel of life. Whether it’s an urgent family trip or business obligation, sometimes things just happen and you need to be there yesterday. Though it's easy to save on flights by booking them months in advance, finding cheap last-minute flights can present a challenge.

In this article, we'll share a few tips and tricks you can use to turn pricey last-minute purchases into savvy deals.

Look beyond Changi Airport for departure options. Sure, you may have limited options when it comes to inbound flights, but it pays to be flexible with your outbound options. With the astounding abundance of budget airlines available today, you’d be able to easily find cheaper flights using tools such as SkyScanner and Google Flights.

For example, say you’re bound for Chiang Mai, Thailand. If you don’t mind the extra hassle of crossing the causeway, you can leverage cheaper flights departing from Johor Bahru Senai International Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport. Or if you’re heading to Tokyo, Japan, you might be able to find cheaper flights from Changi Airport if you don’t mind a layover in Hong Kong International Airport before reaching your destination.

Are you okay with having your forty winks mid-air? If so, make use of red-eye flights, which airlines may struggle to fill up. Don’t forget to check flight prices for Wednesdays and Thursdays, which crop up surprisingly often when it comes to good deals.

» Learn more: The cheapest routes to popular destinations in Asia

Long weekend vacations are great for a quick reset. They also come with another benefit: if you’re travelling in the region, chances are you have access to a slew of budget airlines. This gives you the chance to compare prices between booking a round-trip flight and 2 one-way flights.

Wait, you can save on 2 one-way flights? That’s right. If you’re flying a short-haul route with a budget airline, the price of 2 one-way flights can work out to be on par with, or even cheaper than booking a round-trip flight. 

Another advantage of one-way tickets is that they give you flexibility on your return flight. Fell in love with egg coffee in Ho Chi Minh City and want to extend your trip? Anticipating delays with your Home Improvement Programme (HIP)? You can always return at your convenience, by booking a return ticket when it is time to do so.  

Another thing you can do is to break your trip down into legs. Websites like kiwi.com and skiplagged.com are great tools for finding cheap flights which land nearby but not directly at your destination. Think of it as a gift to adventurous travellers who like to do side-quests before proceeding to their main destination.

Let me paint you a picture. Say you’re headed to Chiang Mai to tour its many famous temples and have no solid itinerary in mind. A quick search on kiwi.com reveals that while yes, you can fly from Singapore straight to Chiang Mai—you can also opt to fly for less by landing at destinations in a 250km radius around Chiang Mai. For example, you can choose to land in Phitsanulok City instead and visit Chan Palace before going to Chiang Mai. Or you could fly from Singapore to Sukhothai province, and tour Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before you depart for Chiang Mai.

Itching to book your flight already? Don't get too excited about this hack yet. After all, your cost savings could disappear into thin air if you miss any connecting flights. Travel agencies like kiwi.com book flights in bulk from airlines for discounted rates, which gives them the ability to sell cheap flights. The catch is that as a third party, they are not responsible for any flight delays and you might end up being the unlucky person who has to fork out extra for an additional ticket.

Here are 2 more things about single-leg flights you should think about: baggage restrictions and having to get your baggage re-checked. The former is extremely complex and differs from airline to airline. Now, what if your journey involves more than one airline and one of them is a budget airline with a website that doesn't mention anything about baggage restrictions? This is where the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) rule on the Most Significant Carrier (MSC) kicks in. According to this, the MSC takes precedence in a journey with more than one airline involved. As for having your baggage rechecked, this is simply an unavoidable process of getting onboard another flight. Keep this in mind if waiting around isn't your forte.

»  Learn more: Round trip vs. one-way flights

Gather your party before venturing forth or go at it alone? When it comes to air travel, there’s no definite yes or no answer. This is because when you book as a group, airlines will strive to make sure everyone’s tickets are price-matched. This means that if the cheapest tickets aren’t available, they will move you up a tier, and so on. Another reason why group bookings can be expensive is because charging everybody a premium to sit together is a good way to maximise revenue. 

Still, there you should definitely explore group rates for peak periods like school holidays or long weekends. Just don’t forget to review them along with individual bookings to ensure you’re getting a good deal. If you’re travelling from Changi Airport, Singapore Airlines has 4-to-go round-trip fare deals to destinations like Bali, Kuala Lumpur & Penang, London, Frankfurt and more. Travelling with at least 9 other people? Take a look at Scoot’s Group Flight Bookings instead.

If you’ve settled on booking your tickets individually, even though you’re travelling with your besties—another way to get cheaper flights is to sit separately. Since cheap tickets sell out fast, sometimes you’ll only see the cheapest ticket when you search for single tickets. Book it when you see it and be mentally prepared to fly separately together.

» Learn more: The best days to book your flights

Your options when things go wrong depend on 2 things: your airline and travel insurance plan policy. Airline policies can differ according to your flight’s origin or destination. Passengers of flights originating from, or bound for the European Union and the United States have a higher chance of being reimbursed for their troubles, as there are currently no rules on compensation for flight delay or cancellation according to Singapore law.

So what happens when you have travel insurance and your flight is cancelled? According to the General Insurance Association (GIA), trip cancellation and delays are usually covered by comprehensive travel insurance. You will be reimbursed for prepaid travel expenses if you are forced to cancel your travel plans, subject to conditions. If your trip is delayed, you may be offered cash benefits. Of course, there are exceptions, such as cancellations or delays due to natural disasters, war and civil commotion and so on.

To quickly rebook your flight, you need to keep your ear to the ground. Enable alerts for your SingaporeAir or Scoot mobile app for the latest information on your flight, so you can adjust your plans if necessary.

Travel protections: 

• Personal accident coverage up to $1,000,000 for cardholder and accompanying spouse.

• Overseas medical expenses coverage up to $40,000 for cardholder and accompanying spouse.

• Emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $100,000 for cardholder and accompanying spouse.

• Travel inconvenience coverage of up to $500 for trip cancellation, $500 for flight delays. (For cardholders only.)

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Travel protections: 

• Public Conveyance Personal Accident coverage of up to $500,000 for cardholder and accompanying spouse.

• Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation coverage of up to $50,000 per insured person or family member. Includes coverage for COVID-19.

• Travel delay coverage of up to $200. (For delays lasting more than 6 hours.) 

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Travel protections: 

• Accidental death or Total Permanent Disablement coverage of up to $1,000,000.

• Missed flight connection and luggage delay coverage of up to $400.

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» Learn more: When to book cheap international flights

Now that you know last-minute air tickets don’t always equate to high prices, here are some useful tips to help you save even more. Check out Scoot’s travel deals and Jetstar’s promotions page to see if cheap flights to your destination are available. It’s never too late—after all, budget airlines routinely release leftover inventory closer to departure. For offers on Singapore Airlines flights, look up their KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes page and check if you have the miles for claiming discounted flights. 

Some insurance benefits for Citi Rewards Card members extend to spouses and dependent children. To be eligible, the spouse must also be a Citi card member.

• The insurance policy for the Citi Rewards Card is underwritten by HL Assurance Pte Ltd. 

Some insurance benefits for UOB PRVI Miles Card members extend to immediate family members, such as the card member’s legally married spouse and legally dependent children. 

• The insurance policy for the UOB PRVI Miles Card is underwritten by United Overseas Insurance Limited.

Some insurance benefits for Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card members may extend to family members, which includes the cardholder’s spouse and dependent children under the age of 23.

• The insurance policy for the Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance.

Vacations are great but don’t last forever. Get the most out of your holidays with the best cards for overseas spending and travel: 

• 2.16% cashback overseas & 2.8mpd overseas spend: Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card

• Unlimited 3% cashback & 3 complimentary airport lounge visits per year: CIMB Visa Infinite Card

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• 0.83% cashback, 2.2mpd overseas spend & 2 complimentary airport lounge visits per year:  DBS Altitude American Express Card

• 1.32% cashback, 2.2 mpd overseas spend & 2 complimentary airport lounge visits per year: Citi PremierMiles Card