Last minute holiday booking at the airport

I was wondering if any of you have ever done a last minute holiday? i.e. packing your bags and turning up at the airport for an immediate flight.

How does this work?
I'm not looking for destination suggestions, but tips on how to do it. Is it best to go to the airport 1 day in advance? Book online? (Yes, I know the sites too, but they don't seem that cheap, plus you have to book in advance and can't do it the same day).

What time of the day is best to go?
What's best to pack?

Thanks!

lufthansa ready to fly would be a good way to start..

www.ltur.de and there check out Super Last minute...they have cheap flights leaving the next day...

I was surprised because I tried this one time (it was the airport in Nürnberg not München). I went there with an ex and looked for a three to four day trip that was reasonably priced, ready to go that day...all of these places that advertised "Last Minute Flights"...not one of these had anything available until four or five days. I still don't understand why they advertise at the airport for a last minute and they are not last minute. However, I believe Bonydebbie (eventhough she thinks I am a woman) has the best option, though it is limited!

www.start.de and check out Flug/Charterflüge.

i used this one before, was sceptical but it was really good.
lastminute

Thanks, but as I said, I know all the websites. I was asking about the turning-up-at-the-airport option.

@BrokenM - eep thanks for that info. Maybe I was disillusioned in thinking you could just turn up. So, 'Last Week' would be more appropriate than 'Last Minute'?

That's what surprised me. All of the great deals they advertised could not be used that day or the next two...But once again, this was in Nürnberg, things could be different here, and I did not try any of the actual counters for the airlines, which may have had some nice deals, only the last minute desks.

I went to the counter at the Munich airport looking for a holiday leaving the next day and found plently. Had a great time too. good luck

If you're into cottage holidays, try Michael at Just Travel ... it's one of his specialities.

Ooh, so it can work!
Did you look for a 1 week or 2 week holiday?
Was it much much cheaper?
Did you pack for all types of weather,or did you only look at warm or cold holidays?

I did that last summer, a friend and I rocked up to Liverpool airport and got a last minute package deal to Corfu. We got there at silly am hoping to leave that day but the earliest package we could get was for the next day, leaving at around midnight. The hotel was pretty grotty, the food was awful and it was about a half hour walk to the beach, but we had a good time anyway, all for 99 pounds. It was fun to rock up to the airport and decide then and there where we were going but next time I will book in advance and check out the hotel online before I go.

Do it, pack now!

wanted warm, wound up in Turkey. absolutely beautiful! left 18 hours after we booked. Fairly cheap for a 4 person (2 children) 5 star resort. under 2000 euros

www.super-last-minute.de do good deals, so I'm told

With the airport deals, you can't really choose where you end up. I'd go to a travel agent here, if I were you. Shop around to see if you get a better deal at different places.

You could try STA travel if you are a student or under 26 (Grrrrrrr - am not eligible for that anymore )

STA travel also books overaged bargain hunters, but you don't get the Student Discounts.

Glad to hear some of us are 'overaged' :S hehe
We don't really want to plan where to go, that's the whole point, so the airport sounds at least possible, as it worked for some of you. Hmm. We'll see!

I'm hopefully popping in the Airport tomorrow to look at what kind of thing there is available, as I might be thinking of doing the same thing in September. If I find out anything useful I'll post again on monday.

ooh sounds great ClaireSuz! Looking fwd to reading what happened.

We were planning Berlin/Baltic sea two week holiday but plans just fell through We ( if we do not take off to Alicante) will just head to Munich airport next week and play last minute "lotto" also.

No personal experience (apart from browing the last minute offers at the airport avidly) but I know people who have done this. They just went to the airport (Munich, NOT Nuremburg!) first thing in the morning and were in Greece by lunchtime.
Like anything else when you take a risk, be prepared to be disappointed (the people I know were not).

Go one day in advance. Have big plans. End up in stupid Mallorca anyway.

I went to the airport on saturday and booked a holiday in Greece for September. It's not an amazing bargain, but quite reasonable I think (and it's not last last minute anyway). We went at about 6.30pm I think, and there were quite a few people around, but we didn't have to queue or anything. Last time I walked past it was around 4pm on a thursday and it was really quiet then.
I think if you can it's probably best to go a day or 2 in advance. On the boards I saw plenty of hols for a couple of days in advance. The travel agent we saw said that peak season the biggest problem is that the flights get booked up, even though there's still space in the hotels. That's why we went ahead and booked yesterday (of course he might have been lying!). It looks as though most of the holidays are for named accommodation which is a good thing.
Sorry it's not much help for how easy it is to book and go on the same day.

Thanks ClaireSuz for the info, I thought it might be harder in the hol season; makes sense. I'll let you know how it goes if/when I go for it.

A couple of us are looking at going for a trip over the quasi long weekend coming up (June 7-10) but surprise surprise there doesn't seem to be that much in the way of good deals to be had for traveling then. We had the bright idea to just show up at the airport and go to the "last minute flight" places and see what is available.
I have "heard" of people doing this, no one I actually know, so I was hoping that if anyone has tried this or has some direct knowledge about it that they might share it and help us out!
Thanks for any help eh! : )

Topics merged by admin

This is the best I can do: Last-minute holiday booking at the airport.

I'd have a look on www.skyscanner.net and leave the destination open. then double check with the airline's own website cause sometimes it's even cheaper

Thanks Kay, I somehow missed that thread in my search!
@GG - Skyscanner is one of my regular haunts, alas I still can't find much of a deal, hence the "go to the airport" Theory.

some coworkers have done that, and had a good trip, but I would head down maybe tuesday or wed afternoon, and see what is avail for the weekend, probably lots of stuff for returning later the following week, as its the end of the holidays next weekend.

Thanks Carm, I think we will probably go on tuesday and see what our chances are like!

you could also check out www.lastminute.de

For truly "last minute" (i.e., later today or tomorrow) your only real choice is L'Tur. Not the greatest here nor at the destination, but they do it. Airport. That's how we went to Turkey in March. Decent to very good prices, service OK.

woof.

Thanks BD, is L'Tur actually at the airport? Did you just show up the day you wanted to leave or...?
Heh heh I am getting used to poor service, I am just hoping to get a good deal!

hmmm, i don't want to discourage you, but i didn't have much luck last year with late booking. when we looked for s super-super--super-last minutes,it turned out that the prices freeze around 2 weeks before flight, and we couldn't find any really good deal...Maybe it had something to do with the season - septemeber-october, but on the other hand, those long weekedns are very popular as well

Post here if you manage to find smth. really good!

Funny you should post this Mook, i was talking to someone yesterday about doing the very same thing.

heh heh well I will let you know if we have any luck Dave! If you find anything interesting could ya let us know too please! : )