Do 'last-minute' FF tickets exist?

[fnewman]

I am certainly aware that the best shot at FF seats is usually 330 +/- days out, but are there ever cases when FF seats become available closer to departure if the flights are not filling up? If so, what's the best approach?

[Luanne]

I don't know if more of the "cheapie" ff seats become available closer to departure, but as long as seats are available, at least with United, you can always get ff seats using more miles.

[Dave M]

Absolutely, Frank!

Many airlines make a number of such award seats available, even on very popular vacation routes, within the last 30 days or so before a hoped-for departure. That's likely to happen only if the airline determines that a flight won't be full. Thus, it's best to seek such last minute award tickets for off-peak (days and hours) flights.

[Jimster]

I had no trouble getting ff award tickets chicago to london within a timeframe of 3 months out. This was with UAL I don't think other airlines may be this generous.

[hotmike98]

It's the luck of the draw. In February I just happened to check flights to Maui for spring break this year and was able to get two FF seats on American by stretching the flights to 11 days instead of nine.

[Pat H]

I had booked my DD a FF ticket to Pensacola last May to see her fiance. 8 hours before departure, I realized that MY name was on the ticket. The ticket was on US and of course their customer service was closed for the weekend. Couldn't get anyone to change the name or cancel the ticket and reissue another one. Couldn't find any other FF seats online with any of the airlines that I had FF miles with. Called Continental and they were able to get my daughter a ticket on Delta.

[camachinist]

Yes....

Example:

Award travel: Select flights

Select the best flights for you and click Add to my itinerary to continue.
Fresno, CA (FAT) to New York, NY (LGA) 	Saturday, May 20
Select 	Flight info 	Depart 	Arrive 	Availability 	Stops 	Dist (mi) 	On-time 	Flight Time
	United Airlines 6675
	13:40
Fresno (FAT) 	16:49
Denver (DEN) 	R3 X4 N4 	Non-stop 	844 	  	2:09
United Airlines 756
Airbus A320 	17:59
Denver (DEN) 	23:31
New York (LGA) 	R5 X8 N4 	Non-stop 	1619 	  	3:32
25000 Mileage Plus miles are required for this round trip

New York, NY (LGA) to Fresno, CA (FAT) 	Sunday, May 28
Select 	Flight info 	Depart 	Arrive 	Availability 	Stops 	Dist (mi) 	On-time 	Flight Time
	United Airlines 339
Boeing 757-200 	7:59
New York (LGA) 	10:16
Denver (DEN) 	R5 X9 N1 	Non-stop 	1619 	80% 	4:17
United Airlines 6675
	11:50
Denver (DEN) 	13:05
Fresno (FAT) 	R5 X5 N1 	Non-stop 	844 	  	2:15
25000 Mileage Plus miles are required for this round trip
	United Airlines 667
Boeing 757-200 	6:00
New York (LGA) 	7:15
Chicago (ORD) 	R9 X9 N1 	Non-stop 	733 	80% 	2:15
United Airlines 243
Boeing 757-200 	8:00
Chicago (ORD) 	9:30
Denver (DEN) 	R0 X6 N1 	Non-stop 	888 	80% 	2:30
United Airlines 6675
	11:50
Denver (DEN) 	13:05
Fresno (FAT) 	R5 X5 N1 	Non-stop 	844 	  	2:15
25000 Mileage Plus miles are required for this round trip
	United Airlines 667
Boeing 757-200 	6:00
New York (LGA) 	7:15
Chicago (ORD) 	R9 X9 N1 	Non-stop 	733 	80% 	2:15
United Airlines 245
Airbus A320 	9:05
Chicago (ORD) 	10:39
Denver (DEN) 	R0 X0 N1 	Non-stop 	888 	60% 	2:34
United Airlines 6675
	11:50
Denver (DEN) 	13:05
Fresno (FAT) 	R5 X5 N1 	Non-stop 	844 	  	2:15
25000 Mileage Plus miles are required for this round trip

That's 3 days out...... note all the first class seats (R/XF class) available. "N" is economy...

Pat

[Amy]

I often get last minute FF seats. I use my AA FF seats to fly my mom out here for visits roughly once every three months. I often cannot get my first choice for return or outbound, but since we're flexible I'd book second choice dates and then keep checking. Depending on the urgency or how close I am to the travel dates, I may check once a day or several times a day on aa.com. So far I have always managed to snag a new FF seat opening this way for a date that was preferrable over the original date.

[Judy]

Yes. But Delta, for one, charges a $50 late booking fee for any award tickets booked within two weeks of departure. As if they were going to FedEx you the paper tickets

[Carolinian]

One of the airlines that flies trans-Atlantic that regularly dumps more seats into its ff program in the weeks before departure is Air France. You can book those seats through the ff programs of DL, NW, and CO. They are one of the best airlines for finding late trans-Atlantic availibility.

[Amy]

Originally Posted by Judy

Yes. But Delta, for one, charges a $50 late booking fee for any award tickets booked within two weeks of departure. As if they were going to FedEx you the paper tickets

AA does as well. That is why when my dates are flexible I book in advance of the extra fee period the outbound and return, then aim to change them as we get closer to the date via checking for FF availability frequently. AA does not charge a fee to change the dates after booking as long as the itinerary remains the same. I think that Delta does charge to change the FF dates/times, even if the itinerary remains the same -- something like $50.

[fnewman]

Wow - good input - thanks !! I suspected that was the case, I had just never done it as I am usually good about booking way ahead of time. In this case, I need to do ATL - LAS on 1 Oct, returning 8 Oct. Perference is Delta, but could do almost anyone and can be somewhat flexible as to the time of day, at least on the trip out. I simply refuse to pay twice the mileage as I don't travel enough to build a lot excess miles.

Thanks also for the warning about Delta's last minute charges.

I'll keep trying

[Dave M]

UA, for one, has Saver seats available on 10/1 through SFO (departing at 8:00 a.m.) or through ORD (departing at 2:40 p.m.). The return on the 8th would be through DEN (departing LAS at 6:00 a.m.), ORD (departing at 6:20 a.m.) or IAD (departing at 1:00 p.m.).

[Sthack]

I guess it also depends on the route.......I was able to get a FF ticket 8 days before the departure date from ATL to DTW for the minimum amount of FF points (25,000) with NWA. I was quite surprise because this was for the weekend of Mother's Day.

[moonlightgraham]

Frank,
Just so happens I was checking Delta Tuesday for FF award travel ATL-HNL this weekend. I already have tix but was just nosey, because months earlier there was very little available. Now, I could book First Class or Coach under the Award Saver which is the minimum mile requirement. I remember this haeppening last year too!

I noticed too that Interval has had several nice Hawaii properties pop-up for exchange over the next several weeks (I grabbed a Cliffs Club months ago when I could have had a Westin Kaanapali just released this week....such is life).

I tell you, one year soon I'm just going to wing-it and wait until the last minute and see what I can pull off. Kind of nerve-wracking but if one stays outside the peak travel times I think it's definitely doable!
Tom

[stewyvr]

Originally Posted by hotmike98

It's the luck of the draw. In February I just happened to check flights to Maui for spring break this year and was able to get two FF seats on American by stretching the flights to 11 days instead of nine.

I had a similar experience with Air Canada, nothing was available for the longest time, and all of a sudden 4 tickets to Hawaii opened up for the dates I wanted. I think persistance is often the key. We were only booking two months in advance.

Good Luck

[Carlsbadguy]

I was recently able to do this with Delta, but had to pay the $50 fee per ticket.

[Zib]

I just recently booked to go to Vancouver Island for Aug 5th (prime time, I'm told). I've had Continental ff miles for a long time and could never book them. Requested Hawaii last year, way in advance, and they wanted me to fly
from home, San Jose, Ca, backwards to Houston and then turn around and go back over Calif and out to Hawaii, a 14 hour trip that usually takes 5 hours from west coast. But this time I got a great flight to Vancouver Is. The first person I spoke to couldn't put me on anything. Then I realized they partner with Delta so called back. This lady said a better flight would for me to fly Alaska. Great!! Wonder why the first lady couldn't do that??? So from now on I'm going to keep checking back and ASK about partner airlines!

[fnewman]

Yes, I learned about the 'partner' connection some time ago, but that has not helped me for this trip yet. However, I will keep trying and pay the $50 if I have to. that's cheaper than a ticket or using double miles (which I just can't bring myself to do)!!

[talkamotta]

In February, my son booked 2 tkts for me to Hawaii in October. He called to get my credit card so I could pay for the security fee etc. I gave it to him and he called Delta. I usually check my flights with Delta because I have had the last 2 flights booked with them cancel. I would have checked but not for a month or so. We have some family going with us and they wanted to try to get the same flights as us, so I gave them my confirmation number.

The confirmation had been cancelled because no fees had been paid. My son called them back (he is the medallion member) and they said if we wanted them we would have to pay the double miles fee. I know my son called them because he called me back. I know I should have check the confirmation and I spaced out the charge on my credit card. I think Delta should have given better customer service to a medallion member but whatever. I got round trip tickets for the now four of us for $500 each on America West. So that makes 3 points on the negative side for Delta.