Can last minute flights be done anymore?

Shicky

Shicky

Shicky

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Joined
13 Jan 2007
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Belfast,Northern Ireland
Was looking at easyjet there to head over to edinburgh for the weekend to see some friends. Was sitting at around £100 return there whereas 2-3weeks ahead was over £200. I figured if things stayed the same or went lower I would purchase them.

My question is basically that they have crept up a little but not much, suggesting to me they arent the most popular. Can you still go down there last minute and expect to get a £50 return or will they try and push a hefty price while risking leaving some empty seats. Would like to get over in the next 3weeks but think the prices are a bit steep, especially considering a friend is visiting home for a short while from spain for 50euros return..
 
Rotty said:
Generally it will cost a fortune
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This, last minute to them means you're desperate.

Their strategy is get bums on seats initially (that's why they start off cheap) to stop the plane running at a loss, then make money.
 
Why would airlines encourage passengers to buy tickets at the last minute, it's more risk for them and would lead to more last minute cancellations (ie. not enough passengers revenue to justify the cost of flying)
 
Perfect example being when I wanted to get a flight to Dam for the FC Twente vs Spurs game in December.

Initial seat price around £18
As soon as the fixture dates were announced ticket prices went up to £24
Then after about 4 hours the next prices £34
Then it went up to like £55
 
fretted said:
Why would airlines encourage passengers to buy tickets at the last minute, it's more risk for them and would lead to more last minute cancellations (ie. not enough passengers revenue to justify the cost of flying)
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They don't encourage it, it's just the simple fact that if there are spare seats going when the flight is ready to leave, they'll take whatever money they can get for them. The risk is on the passengers, because there's a high chance there won't be any space on the flights.

That said, I have absolutely no idea if this is even the case any more. It did used to be, but the only time I've ever been on standby was when I asked to switch to an earlier flight on the same route.

EDIT: It seems Edinburgh is one those places that is just unfortunately expensive to fly to. Shame, I have the same problem constantly. Seeing my mates in Birmingham is more expensive than flying to London, probably due to the lack of airport competition. :\
 
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Liquid_Entity said:
Perfect example being when I wanted to get a flight to Dam for the FC Twente vs Spurs game in December.

Initial seat price around £18
As soon as the fixture dates were announced ticket prices went up to £24
Then after about 4 hours the next prices £34
Then it went up to like £55
Click to expand...

what does that say about Spurs, tickets usually go to £200+ as soon as fixture announced :p
 
Weebull said:
They don't encourage it, it's just the simple fact that if there are spare seats going when the flight is ready to leave, they'll take whatever money they can get for them. The risk is on the passengers, because there's a high chance there won't be any space on the flights.

That said, I have absolutely no idea if this is even the case any more. It did used to be, but the only time I've ever been on standby was when I asked to switch to an earlier flight on the same route.
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it did used to be but they realised this encouraged people to leave it late and cost them money so now they do all they can to discourage it
 
Yeah I was just reading up on it actually, since I'm in the process of booking flights myself. Basically the big airlines might occasionally still do late discounts, but the low-cost bods do the complete opposite, and start cheap, but rise over time.
 
I believe that you can rock up at the airport and ask to be put on standby, which won't cost you much - no guarantee as to when you'll get a flight though.
 
Charter flights can often be picked up last minute at reasonable prices, but with scheduled and low cost scheduled airlines they almost always go up rather than down as the flight date approaches.

Edinburgh is generally an expensive destination to fly to, I'm not honestly sure why.
 
As said, the more notice you give the better with budget/no frills airlines.

They basiclaly sell for the first 10 seats for a tenner, then up the price for the next 10 seats etc.

Once when I was booking a trip for a party of 10, flying out almost a year in advance the return flights were £10.99 yet when I selected them, the total price came out at £173.90. I worked out I could have 6 seats at £10.99 but seats 7 to 10 were costing £26.99 each.
 
Have a look at Ryanair flying from City to Glasgow Prestwick. I use that when going home but I think they are stopping the route soon.

It still usually works out cheaper even including the extra train fares to get to Edinburgh. Plus it's an easy trip to make from Prestwick to Edinburgh.
 
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