Last minute deals via Travel Agents? Do they exist?

Vini123

In the past I've used Teletext Holidays for last minute deals, quality has never been 5* but has always been adequate. This year my partner and I have set aside 3 weeks in September, we're flexible and we'll go anywhere with sun, as long as its decent value for money.

I've often heard people talking of going to the airport and jumping on the next plane, for pennies. Does this kind of thing actually exist? Do agencies still offer last second deals? Or have these kind of 'deals' been killed off by the websites?

I've been keeping an eye on various sites, and before summer there were some crazy deals... but now our summer months are here, the deals have dried up. Presumably because its;

a) peak season
b) school holidays

We're not looking to travel until AFTER the 9th of September, but I'm getting a bit twitchy that the prices don't seem all that great... Balearics are cheaper than the Greek islands - presumably due to fuel/distance, but we're easy on destination. We've kind of picked Balearics/Greek based price/weather, believing the Greek islands will have a little better weather in September..?

We're literally in a position to fly same/next day, so do last "second" deals still exist? Most sites seem to offer last "minute" deals that are actually in 3 or 4 weeks time...

Am I just looking too soon?
Are the prices just being held high for the holiday/summer period, to try and get as much $ as possible?

deva

Turning up at the airport no longer works so please don't do that!

For many, especially those who like Greece, Portugal, Croatia etc. September is THE best time of year to go away as less crowded but good weather and warm seas. Bargains will exist but often flights to Greece in particular have been snapped up.

Www.olympicholidays.co.uk is worth watching

dzug1

Budget and scheduled airlines are very unlikely to discount at the last minute. Stories of people just turning up at the airport are years out of date


Package holidays using charter flights can do so if they've unsold inventory - but it's chance as to what if anything is left at the last minute


And your last question - yes. It would be naïve in the extreme to think otherwise

spursman

Hi Vini123 try holidaypirates, heres a link to their september deals.

http://www.holidaypirates.com/search?term=september
I went to Grenada in July after finding a deal on their site, price was £730 for 10 days, cheaper than going to a lot of places in Europe & it was all inc
all the best
Larry

Vini123

Hi all, thanks for the messages.

I guess I just need to keep checking my favourites then

Olympic Holidays
Holiday Pirates
LowCostHolidays
LastMinute.com
ThomasCook
Thomson
Teletext
IceLolly
Holiday Hypermarket
TescoCompare
A1Travel

I'm just hoping that the prices drop a little/more becomes available in the coming weeks.

richardw

Why should they drop?

Vini123

They don't have to, but I'd imagine 8th Sept on, there should be a few deals kicking around, given schools go back etc...

I could of course be completely wrong.

InsideInsurance

dzug1 wrote: »

Stories of people just turning up at the airport are years out of date

Not sure I would use the phrase out of date?

You can just turn up and get a flight but its the most expensive way to do it - though have been guilty of doing it a couple of times. I'm not convinced it was ever a cheap way of doing it unless you mean buying from a package holiday on the phone or such whilst at the airport which then could be cheap.

Packages can become very cheap last minute where the holiday has undersold, cruises are one example which almost always gets cheaper as you get closer. Obv your choice goes down as time goes on and that is not only venue but room grade etc - last room on a cruise to go will be down in the bowels of the ship with no windows and twin beds.

Once a package has hit is critical mass of cause the prices then may start rising again because the operator has sold their prepaid for rooms and are having to reserve additional rooms for you from the open market. Obv again once the planes full no more bookings are going to be taken.

The last cruise we took was supposedly worth £2,500, when we looked the first time they were around £1,800. Forgot about it totally and about 6 weeks before looked again and it was down to £900. 4 weeks before our nerve gave out, esp as the Mrs needed a visa and we bought at £750. I did look a week before leaving and the price for the lower cabin was down to £500 (I booked the one above this but at the time of booking it was only £50 difference or so) but our class of cabin, and all above, were all gone.

richardw

Vini123 wrote: »

...I'd imagine 8th Sept on, there should be a few deals kicking around, given schools go back etc....

Sept has significant demand from those who wait for the Children to go back to school and want a holiday before Strictly starts on the TV.

It's less than six weeks away, so perhaps look now for that late holiday.

Vini123

InsideInsurance wrote: »

...

The last cruise we took was supposedly worth £2,500, when we looked the first time they were around £1,800. Forgot about it totally and about 6 weeks before looked again and it was down to £900. 4 weeks before our nerve gave out, esp as the Mrs needed a visa and we bought at £750. I did look a week before leaving and the price for the lower cabin was down to £500 (I booked the one above this but at the time of booking it was only £50 difference or so) but our class of cabin, and all above, were all gone.

That's where my heads at now. I keep seeing some decent deals, such as this, from today; Deluxe Porto Drach Aparthotel w/Flights, Transfers, Hotel & Meals from £199

Though I can't help but wonder what it'll be like if I give it 4 weeks... Or what else might be around the corner.

It's the nerve game.

Given we're not set on destination, or hotel, then I guess we can hold out for as long as possible...

Voyager2002

Vini123 wrote: »

That's where my heads at now. I keep seeing some decent deals, such as this, from today; Deluxe Porto Drach Aparthotel w/Flights, Transfers, Hotel & Meals from £199

Though I can't help but wonder what it'll be like if I give it 4 weeks... Or what else might be around the corner.

It's the nerve game.

Given we're not set on destination, or hotel, then I guess we can hold out for as long as possible...

If the deals are decent, then snap them up.

The travel industry needs to make a bit of money in order to survive.